Eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus oil)

Eucalyptus oil is well known for its fresh, uplifting aroma.

Eucalyptus oil is extracted from fresh or partially dried leaves and young twigs of eucalyptus trees.

Eucalyptus oil also has a long and rich history of being used for many different purposes, including some medicinal ones that are not necessarily scientifically proven.

In this article you can read about how eucalyptus oil is made and all its uses, properties, etc.

Properties of eucalyptus oil

Undocumented properties

There is insufficient scientific evidence that eucalyptus oil can alleviate the following health problems:

Properties studied with lack of evidence

• Asthma: Some studies suggest that the substance eucalyptol, found in eucalyptus oil, may break up mucus. Some people with severe asthma have been able to reduce their dosage of steroid medication by taking eucalyptol. Note: do not try this without first consulting your doctor

• Properties of the oil: There is still uncertainty as to whether all the properties of eucalyptus leaves are also found in eucalyptus oil; for example, the leaves contain some substances that may help control the body's blood sugar – but whether these are also found in the oil is still unclear

• Eucalyptol: This substance is extracted from eucalyptus oil and can be used for various medicinal purposes (such as breaking up mucus in asthma mentioned above) – and it seems that eucalyptol can be taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks without any health risks

• Bronchitis: Some studies have shown that eucalyptus can help bronchitis in rats as well as humans. However, the research to date in this area is too sparse or incomplete to conclusively establish that eucalyptus oil can help bronchitis

• Immune system: Eucalyptus oil may have a stimulating effect on certain parts of the immune system. This gives the oil the potential to be used in infectious diseases and immunosuppressive diseases, as well as after cancer tumor-related chemotherapy. The study can be viewed here

• Pain and inflammation: There are a number of studies that have shown that eucalyptus oil can be used to reduce pain and inflammation in the human body and despite eucalyptus oil being used in products for pain and inflammation (such as cooling gels), these properties are not considered scientifically proven

Proven properties

The following properties are scientifically proven and can therefore be attributed to eucalyptus oil:

• Antiseptic effect

• Reduction of cold and flu symptoms (due to the antiseptic effect of eucalyptus on pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract)

Eucalyptus oil application

Dental care

In dentistry, eucalyptus oil is used in solvents such as root canal fillings. In addition, eucalyptus oil is a very common ingredient in mouthwash, toothpaste, dental floss, etc.

Insecticide

Eucalyptus oil is used in various insecticides; for direct application to the skin as well as in mosquito candles, sprays, etc. In addition, eucalyptus oil is also used as an organic pesticide in some parts of the world.

Consumer goods

Eucalyptus oil is especially used to give a fresh scent in consumer goods such as

• Sweets (especially sweets for sore throats)
• Chewing gum
• Creams, ointments and soaps
• Cosmetics and especially perfumes

In some countries, eucalyptus oil is also used in

• Meat products
• Beverages
• Baked goods

Eucalyptus oil is also used in certain chemical applications and can even act as a fuel in its own right.

Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy, eucalyptus oil is mainly used in the following ways:

• Inhalation
• Diffusion in the air
• Direct application on the skin

Manufacturing

The species used to produce eucalyptus oil include:

Is eucalyptus oil real?

China accounts for around 75% of the world's eucalyptus oil production, but the majority of this oil is derived from camphor oil and is therefore not genuine eucalyptus oil.

The main producers of genuine eucalyuptus oil are:

When buying eucalyptus oil, it is therefore a good idea to look at the country of production and read the product declaration.

Precautions

• Ingestion: Eucalyptus oil should not be ingested (by mouth) – either as a food supplement or beverage. As little as 3.5 ml of undiluted eucalyptus oil can be fatal

• Skin: Only use eucalyptus oil diluted on the skin

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Because the effects of eucalyptus oil on fetuses and infants are unknown, contact with the oil should be completely avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding

• Children: Eucalyptus oil can be harmful to children – they should not ingest the oil or apply it to their skin

• Fatal dosage: The fatal dosage for eucalyptus oil is probably between 0.05 ml and 0.5 ml per kg body weight. Children's low body weight therefore makes them particularly vulnerable to eucalyptus oil poisoning. There have been cases of children being poisoned after consuming as little as 4-5 ml of eucalyptus oil

• Diabetes: Because eucalyptus can lower blood sugar levels, it is suspected that eucalyptus in combination with diabetes medication can lower blood sugar levels too much

• Surgery: Because eucalyptus can affect blood sugar levels, it can make it difficult to control blood sugar levels during and after surgery. It is therefore recommended to stop taking eucalyptus about 2 weeks before surgery.

• Medication: Certain medications can interact with eucalyptus (interaction). This especially applies to diabetes medications and certain medications that are broken down by the liver. If you are taking medication and are considering using eucalyptus-containing products (such as eucalyptus oil) you should always consult your doctor first

• Herbal products: Eucalyptus can increase the toxicity of herbs containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Herbs containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids include: