About.....Eucalyptus

  If your walls are hung with any floral crafts, chances are you've already experienced the fresh scent of Eucalyptus. But even if you're craft-less, you've likely caught a whiff-and a taste-of this popular herb. Its refreshing, nose-opening aroma can be found in Listerine, Vicks VapoRub™, Dristan Nasal Decongestant Spray™ and Hall's Mentho-Lyptus Cough Suppressants™. This Australian contribution to herbal healing contains the chemical eucalyptol, which has decongestant and antiseptic powers. A tea made from Eucalyptus has been shown to clear clogged nasal passages and prevent wound infection.

Australia's aborigines used Eucalyptus to treat fever, cough, and asthma, and European settlers quickly adopted it as medicine. It was used then to sterilize medical equipment, clean injuries and treat respiratory ailments. Today, herbalists recommend Eucalyptus as a topical antiseptic, a gargle for sore throats and an inhalant to relieve asthma, bronchitis, croup and nasal congestion.

Healing with Eucalyptus:

This all purpose herb can be steamed and inhaled, drunk as a tea or applied to the skin. To brew a pleasant-tasting medicinal tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried, crushed leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to two cups a day. You can also use a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in boiling water or in a bath as an inhalant. If you have access to fresh Eucalyptus leaves, place a handful in boiling water and inhale the steamy vapor. For an herbal bath, wrap a handful of leaves in a cloth and run bathwater over it. Besides smelling sweet, Eucalyptus can:

• Relieve congestion: "Eucalyptol (the herb's active ingredient) loosens phlegm in the chest, making it easier to cough up," says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University School of Pharmacy in West Lafayette, Indiana, and author of The Honest Herbal. To open clogged nasal passages, purchase an over-the-counter remedy containing Eucalyptus, or take a Eucalyptus bath.

• Prevent Infection: "Eucalyptol kills several types of bacteria and viruses," says Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotheraphy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City. For a minor cut or scrape, thoroughly wash the wound, then apply a drop or two of eucalyptus oil or a handful of clean, crushed leaves.

• Ease muscle soreness: Recently, a new Eucalyptus product, Eucalyptamint™, has been promoted as a treatment for muscle soreness. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, tested the ointment and discovered that it increases the flow of blood to muscle tissue, lending credence to the product's claim.

Safety Considerations:

Eucalyptus oil is considered non-irritating to the skin, but individuals sensitive to it may develop a rash. If your skin gets red or irritated from the oil, discontinue use. Do not give Eucalyptus to children under the age of two.

Warning: Never ingest Eucalyptus oil. Taken internally, it's highly poisonous. Fatalities have been reported from taking as little as a teaspoonful. Teas are made only from the leaves. 

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Last modified: December 12, 2006