The volatile oil that comes from eucalyptus leaves is a popular ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines. Studies show that it has some benefits, but most of them are still early and have limited or mixed results....CONTINUE READING
In traditional medicine, eucalyptus leaves were used to treat coughs, colds, bronchitis, fevers, and wounds. They also used it as a germ-killing antiseptic.
Most eucalyptus leaves have a lot of a chemical called eucalyptol, but the amount can vary depending on the species. These chemicals have some medical effects, which makes eucalyptus good for your health. By eating eucalyptus leaves, you can treat the following:
1• Relieves pain.
The eucalyptol compound in eucalyptus oil gives the skin a cooling feeling. In lab dish tests, this eucalyptol compound blocked pain pathways, which suggests it could be used as a pain reliever. Studies on animals have also shown that eucalyptus oil can reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
2•Insect repellent.
Ticks are tiny bugs that can spread bacteria and parasites, which can lead to diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Lemon eucalyptus oil is one of the few natural ingredients that the government says can keep ticks away, but you shouldn’t use it to make your own tick repellent. Use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered product if you want to use lemon eucalyptus during tick season. So, you’ll get the right amount of oil to keep you safe.
3•Cleans the airways.
Mouthwashes often have eucalyptus in them. Cineole, also called eucalyptol, is a disinfectant that can kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. It also feels fresh and cool in your mouth, making it feel clean and fresh. Using a mouthwash with eucalyptus and other oils, like menthol, might also help stop plaque from building up on your teeth.
4• Helps with sore throats.
A sore throat might feel better if you add eucalyptus oil or fresh leaves to a throat gargle or spray. In a small study, people with upper respiratory infections used a throat spray with oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, and others. Within 20 minutes, those who used the eucalyptus spray had much less of a sore throat than those in the control group.
5. Helps with head pain.
Eucalyptus oil might help make a headache less painful. A small study done a long time ago showed that putting a mixture of eucalyptus and peppermint oil on the forehead and temples relaxed muscles and helped the brain work better. But it didn’t help with the pain. Some people might also get headaches from eucalyptus.
6• Helps you stop coughing.
One of the most common ways to use eucalyptus is to help with coughs and colds. It’s a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough syrups, lozenges, and chest rubs, and again, the eucalyptol compound is what makes it work. Eucalyptol is mucolytic, bronchodilating, and anti-inflammatory, which means it breaks down mucus, opens up airways, and lowers inflammation.
Quite a few studies have looked at the effects of eucalyptus on different lung diseases and conditions. Reviewing all of these studies showed that eucalyptus can help relieve coughing caused by bronchitis, colds, and other infections. The review said that it was not clear what the clinical importance was, so more research is needed.
7. Relieves congestion.
Eucalyptus oil is an expectorant, which means it makes it easier to cough up mucus by making it thinner. People with congestion often put eucalyptus oil or fresh leaves in a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam. There are also ointments with eucalyptus that you can put on your chest and nose to help clear your sinuses and chest.
8. Could make blood pressure lower.
Nicotine interferes with nitric oxide, a natural substance in your body that is important for healthy blood vessels and blood pressure. Studies show that smoking causes damage to blood vessels and high blood pressure.
In tests on rats that were constantly exposed to nicotine, eucalyptol compounds lowered blood pressure and raised blood nitrite levels.
Nitrites become nitric oxide. The people who did the study think that eucalyptol might help control the amount of nitric oxide and oxidative stress. Since these are early studies on animals, they may not apply to people.
•What to do with eucalyptus:
Concentrated eucalyptus oil is stronger than fresh eucalyptus leaves from a tree. Both can probably help with small problems, but in different ways.
1. Inhale essential oil.
The most common ways to enjoy aromatherapy are to smell essential oils and breathe them in. You can put eucalyptus essential oil in a diffuser or vaporizer or breathe in eucalyptus steam to help with coughing and congestion.
2: Put diluted essential oil on your skin.
You can also put eucalyptus oil on your skin. Always mix it with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or grapeseed oil first to keep your skin from getting irritated.
3•New leaves in the shower.
Try tying together a bunch of fresh eucalyptus leaves and putting them on your shower head. The hot steam will help the oils in the leaves come out, which will help your sinuses feel better. The smell of fresh air could also help you wake up.
•Eucalyptus essential oil is not safe for everyone to use.
You can put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the air around children under the age of two, but don’t put it on or near their faces. You shouldn’t give cough drops or syrups with eucalyptus to kids under the age of six.
If you have seizures or a seizure disorder, don’t use eucalyptus oil. Talk to your doctor first if you have liver disease, low blood pressure, kidney disease, or if you take any medications. Eucalyptus can make some conditions worse and interact with some medicines.
Even though eucalyptus might help in some ways, it’s important to remember that it’s not a medicine and shouldn’t be used in place of medical care. Before starting a new treatment or supplement, it’s always best to talk to your doctor about your health..<<CONTINUE READING>>
