Last week we talked about the miracle of Lavender essential oil and it’s many uses. It is really surprising how many uses there really are for these essential oils. One of the reasons that I love using them so much is because I feel like I am getting back to my roots by using these plants for medicine! This week, we are learning about Eucalyptus essential oil!
Eucalyptus essential oil is one of my main essential oils that I always make sure to keep around the house. I diffuse it at bedtime with peppermint so that the Hippy Hubs and I will wake up with NO STUFFY NOSE! I love to make a vapor rub with it to help during times of cough, congestion, mucus build up, illness, and more. I am really partial to how amazing it works in my Arnica Sore Muscle salve. Yes, Eucalyptus essential oil has so many uses, that it is definitely another one of those essential oils that I would like to have on hand during the zombie apocalypse. (I am still planning for that…just in case, lol)
You can read the first and second posts in this series here:
The Miracle of Lavender Essential Oil
What IS Eucalyptus Essential Oil?
Eucalyptus is one of the oldest native medicinal plants used in Australia by the aborigines, who thought of it as a “cure all”. Eucalyptus essential oil, also known as Eucalyptus Globulus (remember the Latin names! This is how you will know you are buying the correct essential oil. Many companies have different Eucalyptus essential oils, and the only way you can be sure that you are buying the correct one is by it’s scientific name!), is most widely known for its abilities to help with respiratory issues.
Eucalyptus essential oil has an herbaceous camphor smell that will open up your nasal passages with just one whiff from the bottle. It is considered a middle note, and mixes well with peppermint, citrus, and lavender.
Eucalyptus essential oil has many healing properties that help several different parts of our bodies, leading it to be great for use with balancing several chakras, depending on what problems you are facing.
Sacral Chakra (second chakra) - Eucalyptus is great for use in healing lower backaches and sciatica so it makes this essential oil perfect for use in balancing the sacral chakra.
Heart Chakra (fourth chakra) - With its use in helping upper respiratory issues, it makes for a great essential oil to use on the heart chakra. It can be used to help release tightness, allowing emotional issues and physical pains to disperse.
Throat Chakra (fifth chakra) - You can help to balance your throat chakra by using Eucalyptus essential oil when you notice symptoms having to do with a sore throat or vocal cords. It helps to open the flow of communication!
Third-Eye (sixth chakra) - Sinus and nasal congestion effects the third eye’s ability to function properly, so using Eucalyptus essential oil in an inhalant (such as steam, diffuser, or pocket aromatherapy inhalers) greatly increases the functionality of the third eye by removing the congestion from your sinuses.
Eucalyptus essential oil is:
- Antibacterial
- Antiviral
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-aging
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-rheumatic
- Antiseptic
- Analgesic
- Anti-infectious
- Anti-catarrhal
- Antineuralgic
- Antispasmodic
- Insecticidal
- Expectorant
- Deodorant
- Diuretic
- Decongestant
- Mucolytic
- Expectorant
- Stimulant
- Vermifuge
- Vulnerary
Physical Uses of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Many people experience irritation or redness from using this essential oil neat (without carrier oil) I would suggest diluting the recommended amount of drops with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, sesame oil, etc. If you want to use this essential oil neat, please do a test patch on a small area of skin, before rubbing all over yourself.
- Arterial Vasodilator - To help dilate the circulatory system (increasing circulation) add one drop to your massage oil and massage over area of concern
- Allergies/Hayfever - Diffuse with equal amounts of lemon, lavender, and peppermint to ease allergy symptoms
- Asthma - If you are having an asthma attack, rub 1-2 drops (diluted for children, with carrier oil) on your chest and directly inhale from the bottle.
- Bronchitis/Coughs - Use topically or aromatically through diffusion. Combine several drops with a carrier oil and massage on the chest, back, and throat. Also, massaging a few drops of eucalyptus with a carrier oil, on your feet can greatly help stopping your cough, in fact, this works so well that there actually is an old wive’s tale pertaining to putting vapor rub on your feet before bed to rid yourself of an annoying cough
- Congestion - Combine with equal amounts of peppermint and diffuse throughout illness. This stuff works so well that I like to diffuse it at night (during allergy season) so that I wake up in the morning congestion free! Sniffing straight from the bottle works just as well here too
- Cooling/Fever - In the summer heat, combine equal parts eucalyptus and peppermint with some aloe vera gel, water, and witch hazel and spray all over to cool your body down. For a fever put a couple drops on a wet washcloth. Eucalyptus oil is great at helping to reduce the body’s temperature.
- Disinfectant - With its powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties, Eucalyptus essential oil is perfect for use in your cleaning supplies! I love to use it in the bathroom!
- Ear Inflammation - (NEVER PUT ESSENTIAL OILS IN THE EAR) Massage a drop around the outside of the ear (diluted for children)
- Expectorant - to drain the lungs of mucus, rub a drop onto the reflex points of the feet as well as rub one drop on the chest (dilute for children)
- Inflammation/Overexercised Muscles/Pain/Tennis Elbow/ Arthritis/Rheumatism - massage 1-2 drops over the area of concern, always massaging towards the heart to support the lymphatic system.
- Lice - Eucalyptus essential oil is an insecticidal, so it makes the perfect addition to your shampoo (along with some orange oil, peppermint oil, and pine oil!) to help rid yourself of these nasty little critters!
- Neuralgia - I personally have experienced and used this! Rub a few drops on the spot in concern, not only will it feel great, it helps with opening up your circulation which is also affected by neuralgia.
- Pneumonia and other respiratory viruses - With Eucalyptus, you can help to clear the lungs by diffusing it constantly and rubbing it over the chest. Also massaging it onto the reflex points of the hands and feet, help as well.
- Rhinitis/Sinusitis - Inhale directly from the bottle (or an aromatherapy inhaler), massage a drop onto the sinuses, or apply a hot compress. Massage a couple drops into the reflex points on the feet as well. I used to get sinus infections at least monthly and was sick ALL the time before I found aromatherapy. I have no had a sinus infection in over 2 years now!!!
- Tuberculosis - by massaging a couple drops onto the chest and back, as well as diffusing constantly, you will be able to help fight the bacterial infection as well as clear out the chest. Peppermint and lavender essential oil make great additions to this as well.
Emotional Uses of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil has a fresh earthy scent that promotes emotional and physical healing and well being.
For emotional and spiritual uses in aromatherapy, you can either make a spray (3/4 part water, 1/4 part witch hazel and add essential oils) and spray yourself and the room you’re in, diffuse the essential oils in a diffuser, or apply the essential oils (with a carrier oil) to the soles of your feet/back of the neck/temples/wrists.
- Cooling, refreshing, and stimulating, allowing for the removal of mental exhaustion and fatigue, while rejuvenating the spirits.
- It aids in healing illnesses, thereby allowing for relief from mental stress and exhaustion, which usually occurs during times of great illness.
- Inspiring
- Vitalizing and Energizing, whenever your workout routine needs a boost, spritz your face with a combination of eucalyptus, spearmint, lavender, and lemon in your water/witch hazel mixture.
Spiritual Uses of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- Helps to bring spiritual transformation.
- Helps to bring relationships into the light, including with ourselves, to others, our work, and the divine.
- Can be used with uplifting, gently inspiring oils such as bergamot, lemon, and lavender to help support and activate transcendent inner work.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil Safety
Do NOT take Eucalyptus essential oil internally as it can be toxic if taken in large quantities internally. Avoid Eucalyptus essential oil if you are pregnant.
General Essential Oil Safety
Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2′s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper care and guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children oil the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you’ve never used before.
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