Essential Oil Spotlight: Eucalyptus

As we come into our spring months with mold in the air from the rain and plants beginning to bud, so many North Texans are getting hit with allergies. What if you could find an essential oil that not only helps you breathe, but also aids with headaches, viral infections, cough, muscle pain and inflammation? What if there was an oil that could replace half the items in your medicine cabinet, like over –the-counter vapor rub, pain medication, muscle rub and NSAIDs? That oil happens to be our feature of the month and it couldn’t have come at a better time… meet EUCALYPTUS.

Eucalyptus is one of the most universal and versatile of all essential oils.  It is a diverse type of flowering hardwood trees and shrubs from the myrtle family of plants, called Myrtaceae. Eucalyptus can be found in tropical areas all over the planet, including Australia, the Americas, Africa and China. The Australian species, Eucalyptus regnans, is the tallest flowering plant on Earth. How’s that for impressive?

Eucalyptus has been used for its healing powers in Australia since 1788. During World War I, it was used to control meningitis and influenza. Today the essential oil commonly comes from the Eucaluptus globulus species. It is used in everything from dust mite spray to toothpaste, and continues to be one of the top produced essential oils around the world.