- Region
- Oceania
- Origin
- South-eastern Australia and Tasmania; now planted worldwide. Eucalyptus globulus and other species
Oceania · Herb · № 172
Eucalyptus globulus
Herb · Oceania
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus oil is used for coughs and blocked noses with colds and externally for muscle pain; the European Medicines Agency recognises these as traditional uses. Strong clinical evidence is limited.
Safety notes
The oil is toxic if swallowed; even small amounts can seriously poison children. Do not use on or near the faces of babies and young children; keep out of reach of children. Always dilute.
Cautions by tradition (4)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Not internally, caution with young children.
- Natural skin and hair care: Do not take internally. Do not use on or near the face of young children.
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Do not take the oil internally and do not use it with young children.
- Curanderismo of northern Peru: Do not take the oil internally or use it on young children. Healers say the plant is 'hot': not too often.
Preparation
Oil diluted in rubs or for steam inhalation; leaves as tea or in smoking ceremonies. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Aboriginal peoples used leaves of various eucalyptus species for wounds, fevers and colds, including by placing leaves on hot stones and inhaling the vapour; eucalyptus smoke plays a role in smoking ceremonies. In 1788 surgeons of the First Fleet were already distilling oil from the leaves.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Antiseptic, antispasmodic, stimulating, fever-reducing, lowers blood sugar, anthelmintic.
Preparation and amount
10 drops of oil in 25 ml almond oil as a chest rub for colds, bronchitis and asthma; 5 drops in water as a gargle; compress; diluted oil on cold sores; massage with rosemary for rheumatism; steam inhalation (10 drops).
Caution: Not internally, caution with young children.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
The scent of cineole opens the nose; the oil is used diluted for colds and for rough feet.
Preparation and amount
External: eucalyptus oil in a bath oil for colds and in a foot scrub (see the recipes).
Caution: Do not take internally. Do not use on or near the face of young children.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
For cough, colds and congested airways; leaves in the room or under the bed against fleas. Farmers put fresh leaves in their hats against the sun.
Preparation and amount
Put a handful of leaves in boiling water and breathe the steam.
Caution: Do not take the oil internally and do not use it with young children.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Attributed effects
For bronchitis, colds, sinusitis and asthma, and in steam baths for rheumatism and bone pain.
Preparation and amount
Put the leaves in boiling water and inhale the steam under a cloth; or in a steam bath with other herbs.
Caution: Do not take the oil internally or use it on young children. Healers say the plant is 'hot': not too often.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Helps with all forms of healing, protects the home, financial success, under the pillow against colds, protection, healing, health.
Herbal magic and rituals
Attributed effects
In herbal magic associated with healing, purification and protection.
Preparation and amount
Eucalyptus comes from Australia, where Aboriginal peoples used the leaves in smoking ceremonies, as dressings and for colds. Since the nineteenth century the trees have been planted all over the world, from California to Ethiopia, and eucalyptus oil became a household remedy everywhere.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Health oil (do not swallow).
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)Herbal oil (oil infusion)Compress, poultice and pasteSteam and bath
Tags
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- Penelope Ody, The Complete Medicinal Herbal (1993; 2017)
- Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman & Susan Gregg, Herbal Remedies Made Simple (2018)
- Rainer W. Bussmann & Douglas Sharon, Medicinal Plants of the Andes and the Amazon (2015)
- Joseph W. Bastien, Healers of the Andes: Kallawaya Herbalists and Their Medicinal Plants (1987)
- Louis Girault, Kallawaya. Guérisseurs itinérants des Andes (1984)