Eucalyptus Essence

Description

EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus spp)

Family: Myrtaceae (shrubs and trees)

Source: The Essential oil is obtained from the Leaves.

Fragrance:: Fresh, strong, camphor-like.

Volatility: Top note.

General description and habitat:

Native to Australia, there are about 600 species; have been introduced successfully to other warm parts of the world, especially Central Asia, North Africa and California; generally sub-tropical; rapid, tall growth; height up to 27 meters; evergreen, commonly known as gum trees; the leaves of the Tasmanian blue gum are considered to be the best for therapeutic purposes.

Principal constituents:

Cineop or eucalyptol, aldehydes, ketones, sesquiterpenic alcohols, terpenes.

History

History and folk use:

German doctors in the early 1870s were the first to describe its properties. Commercial distillation started in Australia in 1854.

Properties & Uses

General properties: Anticatarrhal, antiseptic, stimulant.

Primary Uses:

Bronchitis,	Catarrh
Colds	Genito-urinary disorders
Influenza,	Rheumatism

Secondary Uses:

Arthritis,	Asthma,	Beuralgia,
Burns,	Coughs,	Cuts,
Cystitis,	Diarrhea,	Emphysema,
Exhaustion,	Fever,	Fibromyalgia,
Headaches,	Herpes,	Inflammation,
Kidney Stones,	Laryngitis,	Measles,
Mood Swings,	Nervous Disorders,	Rhinitis,
Sinusitis,	Sore Throat,	Sprains,
Stiffness,	Strains,	Tonsillitis,
Urinary Infections,	Water Retention.

This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for arthritis.

References:

Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.

Renedo, J., Otero, J.A., Mira, J.R. Essential oil of Eycalyptus globulus L. from Cantabria (Spain). Planta Med Phytotber 24 (1990): 31-35.

Zrira, S.S., Benjilall, B.B., Fechtal, M.M., Richard, H.H. Essential oils of twenty-seven Eucalyptus species grown in Morocco. J Essential Oil Res 4 (1992): 2 59-264.

Contraindications

Do not use with chemotherapeutic treatment.

It is not approved by the FDA for internal consumption.

Eucalyptus oil has approval status by the German Commission E.

The German Commission E notes the possibility for the oil to weaken, or shorten, the effects of other drugs as it works via the liver enzyme system.

References:

Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.