As promised we are beginning our first Scents Of The Season with Eucalyptus; and according to Dr. Josh Axe, “it’s one of the best essential oils for sore throats, cough, seasonal allergies and headaches, as well as “help to boost your immune system, protect you from a variety of infections and relieve respiratory conditions.”
What comes to your mind when you first inhale the aromatic scent of Eucalyptus?
Can you feel yourself breathing a litter easier?
What about staying more alert?
Or perhaps soaking in a warm relaxing bath to help relieve your tired achy muscles.
And don’t forget about your cleaning products, or insect repellents.
The options you have for using eucalyptus in your everyday life are plentiful, and your decision on which variety to use will depend upon your specific need or intention.
I don’t know about you, but for me, if I am presented with too many options it becomes confusing or frustrating, and I begin to feel slightly uneasy about making the wrong choice.
My hope is that this post will help alleviate any doubts, and inspire you to choose more confidently which Eucalyptus oil will be best suited for your need.
So let’s dive right in as we get acquainted with four of the most popular varieties in the Eucalyptus family.
Eucalyptus Globulus was the first in the family that I was introduced to, and it was love at first sniff.
The aroma brought me back to one of my fondest memories of my mother gently massaging Vick’s Vapor Rub on my neck, chest, and back.
This classic eucalyptus has a penetrating woody, fresh, and a bright medicinal aroma that actually cleared my sinuses within minutes.
The qualities of this oil are uplifting, great for clearing your mind, aids in concentration, and helps to soothe exhaustion; including the wonderful therapeutic benefits when used with massage to help ease muscular and arthritis pain.
It is the perfect oil to add to your diffuser blend to help purify germs from the air, and may aid in protecting your health during the cold and flu season.
Eucalyptus Radiata has a gentler, softer, and a camphor-like aroma with just a hint of floral and citrus.
This oil has many of the same supportive properties as Eucalyptus Globulus when it comes to maintaining a healthy respiratory system, staying focused, and soothing inflammation.
You can diffuse it to help purify your air by reducing unwanted microbes, including fungus, viruses, and bacteria.
And last but certainly not least it is a wonderful non toxic oil to incorporate into your household cleaning products.
Eucalyptus Dives is sometimes referred to as peppermint eucalyptus.
It has a fresh, minty and penetrating scent with many of the same therapeutic benefits as Eucalyptus Globulus.
This oil has been shown to offer immune support and helps to re-energize your body and uplift your mind especially after periods of lethargy.
Eucalyptus Dives cooling menthol aroma helps support normal breathing, stop sniffles, clears sinuses, and can also help alleviate sore muscles symptoms.
Eucalyptus Citriodora is one of the more unique species in the Eucalyptus family. This essential oil is rich in citronellal, giving it a lemony fresh scent with a hint of camphor and rose.
This distinctively characteristic essential oil has the ability to help discourage insects, bugs, and germs, and it literally shines in your natural cleaning blends.
Have we peaked your interest in wanting to give the Eucalyptus family a try? We hope so.
Click on the recipe links below, and be sure to share your favorite Eucalyptus blends and how you incorporate them into your everyday life on our Facebook Page
Ten Mosquito and Bug Repellent Recipes (Courtesy of LabAroma)
How To Make Eucalyptus Radiata Cleaning Spray (Courtesy of Pineapple Farmhouse)
Diffuser Blend Recipe Below (Eucalyptus Globulus – Courtesy of Aromatherapy Everyday)
Until Next Time…
Now as much as we simply love our Essential Oils, there are a few Safety Precautions you will need to consider when using Eucalyptus, so please check out the information below.
Eucalyptus Oil Safety
“Due to the strong, potent nature of eucalyptus oils, they should be avoided on or near the faces of children under 10 years old. This includes steam blends.
Care must also be taken with asthmatics. Although research has shown that eucalyptus can help with bronchial asthma, it also has shown that it can potentially trigger an asthma attack. Some eucalyptus oils may also antidote homeopathic remedies.
Aromatherapy Everyday does not recommend ingesting essential oils.
The aldehyde component in eucalyptus citriodora, and citronellal, can be a moderate skin allergen if used above 3% dilution. As with most oils, if oxidized, eucalyptus oil can cause skin irritation or sensitization. We recommend doing a patch test to check for skin sensitivities.
It is also worth noting that eucalyptus is considered to be toxic to cats, so use with caution around your feline fur-babies.
When diffusing make sure you pets including dogs, cats, birds etc. are free to leave the area if they want to.
As always, knowing the Safety Data concerns is a very important consideration when using any and all essential oils, and caution should always be used when it comes to any medical conditions, small children, pets, pregnant/nursing, taking certain medications, or elderly.
Click this link for further information on Essential Oil Safety Guidelines.
