EUCALYPTUS (EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS)

There are over 500 species of Eucalyptus trees and they have blue-green long, narrow, tough leaves, creamy white flowers and smooth pale bark.

The 'eu' and 'kalypto' means 'well' and 'covered' in Greek, referring to the cup-like membrane that covers the flower bud and is thrown off as the flower expands.

Eucalyptus essential oil is extracted from Eucalyptus globulus from the Myrtaceae family and is also known as Tasmanian blue gum or blue gum.

The Australian Blue Gum can sometimes reache a height of 100 meters (300 feet), making it one of the highest trees in the world. The Australian Aborigines call the Eucalyptus 'kino'. One of their uses for it was to cover serious wounds with the leaves.

Eucalyptus was introduced to Europe in 1788 and the first oil exported to England was called 'Sydney peppermint'. It was extracted from Eucalyptus peperita which is a more industrial type of oil. The aroma is stimulating and cleansing, especially in the winter months. It is a powerful, penetrating, bactericidal and anti-viral oil and was often used in hospitals and to aid the sick.

Eucalyptus has a clear, sharp, fresh and very distinctive smell. It is pale yellow in colour and watery in viscosity. Eucalyptus oil is extracted from the fresh or partially dried leaves and young twigs.

Therapeutic Uses

The therapeutic properties of Eucalyptus oil include: analgesic, anti-rheumatic, anti-neuralgic, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, balsamic, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, expectorant, insecticide, rubefacient and stimulant.

Eucalyptus has a cooling and deodorizing effect on the body, helping with fevers, migraine and malaria.

For the respiratory tract, it helps with coughs, asthma, throat infections, sinusitis and catarrhal conditions. It soothes inflammation and eases mucus, clearing the head from the stuffiness of colds and hay fever. Eucalyptus oil is useful as a warming oil, when used for muscular aches and pains, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains and poor circulation.

In skin care it can be used for burns, blisters, herpes, cuts, wounds, skin infections and insect bites. Eucalyptus oil can boost the immune system and is helpful especially in cases of chicken pox, colds, flu and measles.

Safety precautions

Eucalyptus oil should be used with care and people with high blood pressure and epilepsy should avoid it. Excessive use of the oil may cause headaches.

Note: Top Note