Healthy Plants: Eucalyptus

What is a eucalyptus plant?

Eucalyptus is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to Australia but now grows in other places as well, which includes some of the tallest flowering plants on the Earth. It can be purchased at a floral shop or in the floral section of a grocery store.

Information about eucalyptus:

There are over 400 different species of eucalyptus. The Chinese, Indian Ayurvedic, Greek, and other European styles of medicine have used eucalyptus for thousands of years. In order to get the strong, sweet, and woody scent from the eucalyptus, one must distill the leaves to extract the oil which is a colorless liquid.

What are the health benefits?

Antimicrobial properties:

In England, eucalyptus oil has been used to clean urinary catheters and now research is being conducted to determine new strategies on how E. camaldulensis essential oil (a type of Eucalyptus) and existing antibiotics could interact together to treat infections. Researchers have found that essential oils from eucalyptus leaves are effective against strains of bacteria, such as E. coli and Staph infections.

Respiratory problems:

It can help relieve cold-like symptoms and when fresh leaves are used, one can gargle to relieve a sore throat, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Eucalyptus oils have been used in many cough medications, such as Vicks VapoRub.

Oral care:

Research has shown that individuals who chew gum with eucalyptus extract had a lower amount of plaque build-up and healthier gums while improving bad breath and gingivitis in other people.

Pain relief:

Research has shown that eucalyptus oil may have analgesic properties that help with pain relief. Eucalyptamint has been used to treat muscle and joint pain that is linked to sprains, arthritis, bruising, and backache. Studies have shown that when the eucalyptus ointment was put on the participants, they had temporary pain relief which is useful for athletes after a game and before a warmup since the ointment raises muscle temperature. Eucalyptus also has anti-inflammatory properties that could help people with arthritis.

What are the best ways to use eucalyptus to receive these health benefits?

Put it on your shower head! It is not a very new thing to do, but people have been putting a eucalyptus plant in their shower to help with a stuffy nose and relieve stress from a long day.

Use the leaves as a diluted essential oil. This can simply be placed on the inflamed region of skin or on the chest to relieve congestion but keep it away from the eyes as it may cause irritation.

Help improve soil condition from the wood of a eucalyptus plant. The wood can also help control the growth of weeds and be used as an insecticide. To use the wood, treat it as mulch and chop the wood into little pieces and the oils in the mulch will do the rest!

Watch out for:

When purchasing eucalyptus oils make sure the oil is diluted before applying it directly to the skin. Also, do not consume eucalyptus oil if it has NOT been diluted because ~3.5mL can be fatal. Also, eucalyptus leaves have been known to help lower blood sugar levels in those with diabetes but if eucalyptus leaves are consumed while taking diabetic medications, the blood level could lower too much, so consult with a physician beforehand.

This is a rainbow eucalyptus: