How to Use Eucalyptus Essential Oil

INSIDE: COME SEE HOW TO USE EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL IN WOUNDS AND TO KEEP BUGS AWAY

The Australians gave us some amazingly useful things from their trees. Thank you mates!

Eucalyptus oil is no different. While eucalyptus trees used to be native to Australia, once their leaves were discovered to have oils that aided in breathing, wound cleansing, and bug deterrent – the whole world figured out how to grow these babies!

**TIP – keep it away from your CATS – it has been known to cause drooling and unsteady gait – while some might find this funny…..I wouldn’t recommend letting cats around eucalyptus essential oil.

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The main ingredient in Eucalyptus globulus is cineole. Cineole is extracted from the leaves of the tree – either by steaming the leaf or drying and crushing the leaf. The cineole should be above 70% in your eucalyptus oil. I mentioned the importance of choosing the right essential oil company in this post, so I won’t go into it again BUT please think before you BUY! And now –

How to Use Eucalyptus Essential Oil

1 – Breathing

Eucalyptus essential oil has a property that interacts with the mucous membranes (pink parts of the nose and mouth that secrete mucous) of a human. This reduces mucous production, as well as loosening up what is already there. Here are a few ways to get these effects:

• Add 5 drops to your diffuser during cold and flu season.
• Add 2 drops to a washcloth and hop in a hot shower. Place the washcloth on your chest and deep breathe.
• Add 5-7 drops to a carrier oil, rub on chest and throat. This is a homemade “Vick’s VapoRub” like concoction.
• Add it to your favorite car vent clip, giving your whole car a clean air feeling.

2 – Bug Repellent

Flying, biting insects are MY worst enemy!!! I get eaten alive for most of the year. Thank GOD they go away when it gets cold!!! But since these insects don’t like strong smells, eucalyptus essential oil can be an effective repellent – when mixed with the right stuff! Homemade bug spray:

• 4 ounces of witch hazel
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Mix it well in a small glass bottle (cause plastic lessens the effectiveness of the oil) and spray it on. Be mindful not to ingest this!!!!

3 – Wound cleanser

Since the 1800’s, surgeons have been using eucalyptus essential oil as an antiseptic during and after surgeries. So……why wouldn’t we??

Well, I’m a medical professional….so….while I think it’s a great thing to use at home for treatable wounds, I wouldn’t ask your surgeon to use it during surgery anymore.

Cleaning a wound, that can be treated at home (if it needs stitches, go to the doctor…..we are talking MINOR cuts or scrapes), with eucalyptus essential oil is easy. Merely add a few drops to water and pour over the wound. The antiseptic properties will remove bacteria. OR if you have some castille soap on hand, you can add a few drops to the soap and scrub the wound.

4 – Wound healer

This is where the real wound stuff happens.

Adding eucalyptus essential oil to aloe vera gel creates a barrier around the wound, while promoting healing. You can still apply a bandage, just make sure you change it frequently.

Another option – AND I highly recommend this one – is adding eucalyptus essential oil to a mixture of beeswax and coconut oil to make a salve. It will keep the wound clean, help heal it, and protect it from foreign invaders!

5 – Breath freshener

DO NOT SWALLOW THIS!!!!!

After brushing and flossing, add 2 drops to 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of water, swish it around for 30 seconds, then spit it out. I don’t recommend swallowing or ingesting any essential oils. I haven’t seen enough research about the effects it has on your body. Until I do, I DO NOT recommend ingesting them!

6 – Joint Pain Reliever

Eucalyptus essential oil might have the highest anti-inflammatory properties. It also has some analgesic properties leading to pain relief. To accomplish this you can do several things:

• Add several drops to your diffuser and keep it close to you.
• Toss 5-10 drops into a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and rub on your achy joints and muscles.
• Combine 5-10 drops to your favorite lotion.

I hope you find this list helpful and relaxing and refreshing. Have other ideas? Share below!

Be well,