Eucalyptus oil is a popular insect repellent, skin treatment and aromatherapy oil. Using eucalyptus oil wisely and with caution is important since it is a potent remedy that can produce sever side effects when used excessively or in combination with the wrong drugs. Eucalyptus is one of the plants that is commonly applied together with honey as a home remedy due to its medicinal healing properties of the compound eucalyptol present in it. Eucalyptus essential oil obtained from fresh leaves of the tall evergreen eucalyptus tree has and is used in a variety of over the counter drugs including rubs, inhalers, liniments, rash creams, and mouthwashes.

Eucalyptus essential oil is derived from the Eucalyptus tree - though 'tree' is a bit of a misnomer as the genus Eucalyptus covers over 700 different species of tree (and some bushes!). Members of the Eucalyptus family (known as eucalypts) are mostly indigenous to Australia, but are now also cultivated in California, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and China, and this is where most of the world's supply of essential oil comes from. Eucalyptus pure essential oil is obtained from the leaves and branches of the eucalyptus tree, also known as Eucalyptus Globulus. This tree originated in Australia, where the aborigines likely discovered its medicinal properties and started experimenting with the oil. Australian Aborigines in the dry outback chew eucalyptus roots for water. Europeans thought that eucalyptus might cure malarial fevers, and by the 1860s they were shipping the leaves and oil around the Mediterranean.

This particular eucalyptus has mucolytic, diuretic and antibacterial properties. It is used for hypertension and for throat and lung infections and inhaled for sinus and bronchial infections. The main effects of this particular eucalyptus though are mucolytic in that they help to liquefy thick mucus. Although eucalyptus does not cure malaria, the trees the Europeans planted around the swamps drew up much of the water and reduced the breeding area of malarial mosquitoes, thus reducing their numbers. Eucalyptus smithii works well as an antibacterial and antiviral oil. Increased resistance to illness seems to be a common experience. If you are interested in eucalyptus for this purpose, using it in combination with Lemon essential oil is a good blend.

Eucalyptus aromatherapy has an advantage over the other more traditional forms of aromatherapy in as much as it's already recognized as having beneficial properties. In its undiluted oil state, eucalyptus is currently being used to help with joint and muscular pains, sprains, poor circulation, rheumatoid arthritis, and sinus problems. Eucalyptus Essential Oil can be found in many bar soaps and hand washes. It is ideal in these products due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. As a Fragrance, Eucalyptus Essential Oil can be found in Perfumes, Air Fresheners and deodorants.

Eucalyptus oils, along with Abies Balsamea (Balsam Fir) Needle Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin Orange) Oil, and many others, are classed as leaf oils. These shouldn't be confused with fragrance oils, which are synthetically created fragrances that are designed to both mimic a scent and last a lot longer when sprayed on.

Eucalyptus oil products also get included in creams. These creams can either be used to help with cleansing the body or they can take advantage of some of the natural healing properties and be used as an antiseptic and applied to cuts, burn, blisters and bites - as well as giving pain relief to rheumatism and muscular spasms. You can use your eucalyptus branches and leaves as an embellishment or hanging ornament on your Christmas tree. Try using glitters and or gold and silver spray paints for a wintry white feel. You will love this project as you allow your creative juices to flow. There are also a number of body wash products available that include eucalyptus oil as one of the major ingredients. They're generally blended with some form of complementary oil, like lemon myrtle, which adds the cool and stimulating qualities as well as the antimicrobial and healing elements that the other oils don't possess.

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