Aromatherapy / Eucalyptus Oil

Herb Of The Week / Aromatherapy / Eucalyptus Oil

We have covered Lavender Oil and Peppermint Oil. I will skip Tea Tree
Oil because I just covered it not long ago. Instead, I'll tell you of
useful oil that most of us have heard of, but maybe never have
actually purchased by itself as an essential oil. But first, a little
bit about essential oils for those who may have missed last week's
post.

ESSENTIAL OIL DETAILS:
Essential oil from plants, herbs and flowers is a precious substance.
As an example, it


Essential oils are very POWERFUL. For instance one drop of oil from
the tobacco plant would be disastrous.

WARNINGS:
Essential oils are for external use only.
Do not ingest!
Never use near eyes!
Store blends out of reach of children!
For children under 6: cut amounts in half.
Test on skin for sensitivity.

As you might expect, essential oils are not usually sold by the pints.
1 oz of an essential can easily cost up to $10 or more.


On to our first essential oil...


Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) oil is distilled from the leaves of
the eucalyptus tree, native to Australia. It has a strong camphorous
odor. Australian Aborigines (Autralian natives) have used eucalyptus
leaves for thousands of years for colds, as a decongestant, to relieve
asthma and fevers and for its bactericidal and anti-viral actions. It
effectively opens breathing passages, which is why it can be found in
a number of over-the-counter preparations. Remember Vicks Vapor Rub!!
The principal active ingredient in eucalyptus oil is "eucalyptol"
which has strong germicidal and disinfectant properties. Once again,
eucalyptus oil is a fine decongestant and has strong germicidal and
antibacterial effects. Since scents, fragrances and odors have a
profound effect on our mental well being, on a psychological level, it
helps to combat exhaustion and dispel mental sluggishness.

As an aside, products containing eucalyptus oil were the most
effective herbal insect repellents tested. In the last post about
peppermint oil, I didn't mention that peppermint oil is also an
effective insect repellent. A pretty good natural insecticide for
houseplants can be made with a mixture of peppermint oil and
eucalyptus oil. Soaking a dog collar with peppermint oil and
eucalyptus oil is believed by some to be just as effective as a
commercial flea collar.

To alleviate cold symptoms, place a few drops of the eucalyptus oil on
a handkerchief and deeply inhale the aroma when needed. To relieve
sinus and chest congestion, combine five drops of eucalyptus oil with
one drop of peppermint oil. Add crushed eucalyptus, peppermint,
coltsfoot and comfrey herbs. Mix them well and then stick into a clean
cotton sock. Knot the end tightly and place inside your pillowcase
overnight. The aroma of the herbs will help relieve congestion.


ASTHMA / COLDS / FLU / SINUSITIS
Breathe in steam made from 1 or 2 drops oil added to pan of
near-boiling water or a commercial steam inhaler. Or drink 2 cups tea
a day.

COUGH - Add a few drops of oil to a pan of hot water; cover your head
with a towel and inhale the steam.

EARACHE - Breathe in steam made from 5 or 6 drops oil added to pan of
near-boiling water or a commercial steam inhaler. Or drink 2-4 cups of
eucalyptus tea a day.

Take care with using too much of eucalyptus oil. It can potentially
irritate the skin, so e sure to use the exact amount specified with
recipes. Combing eucalyptus oil with massage oil reduces the chance of
irritation. Keep eucalyptus oil away from children under the age of
six. Do not use on sunburn skin or wide-open wounds. Avoid if you
have high blood pressure or epilepsy.

Eucalyptus oil products should never be applied to the face of an
infant or small child--especially on or near the nose--because they
can cause cause asthma-like reactions. Extreme cases could potentially
result in death by asphyxiation.

Don't take eucalyptus if you have digestive problems, inflammation of
the stomach or intestines, a biliary duct disorder, or liver disease.

And of course, pregnant women should not take eucalyptus.


((TIPS FOR CLEARING STUFFINESS SO YOU CAN BREATHE AGAIN)):

Drink more water, this will help to loosen up the mucous instead of
making it thicker.

Hot chicken soup with lots of fresh garlic will get your nose running
and help you fight off the infection.

Drink hot green tea with lemon.

Use a steam inhaler with eucalyptus oil.

Eat some horseradish or some hot peppers to get your sinuses flowing.

Avoid ice cold drinks.

Stay away from milk, cheese and wheat.

Go to a steam room or take a steamy shower.

Remedies for a sore throat:

Gargle with salt water, or lemon juice and honey.

Drink ginger tea (two tablespoons chopped fresh ginger in a cup of hot
water.)

Use lozenges...Zinc lozenges soothe your sore throat and kill bacteria
on contact.


But why take my word for it?

By good utilization of search engine technology, we can look up
information as in depth as we desire in our own free time. As we
mention all the time, with every post, that you can research anything
mentioned in this newsletter on your own. Some good search engines are
www.mamma.com or www.google.com. or www.dogpile.com or
www.askjeeves.com ...etc. By entering one or more keywords you can do
your own research.


Until next time remember .... most illness (upwards of 80% according
to experts) can be attributed to FOUR important factors that can
weaken your immune system and your ability to fight off disease:


1. Anxiety, depression, anger, resentment, guilt and other STRESS
factors
2. Improper and/or inadequate NUTRITION habits
3. A sedentary lifestyle that does not include enough EXERCISE
4. Not enough rest and quality SLEEP time

The United States Surgeon General warned Americans in a landmark 1988
report on Nutrition and Health that "diet related diseases account for
68% of U.S. deaths"


Remember, we ALWAYS recommend that you ALWAYS consult a professional
herbalist, naturopathologist or physician. We are just passing along
what we hope to be useful information.

Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly
regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of
strength, purity or safety of products. Decisions to use herbs or
supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using
prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with
their pharmacists or health care providers before starting.


Bye-Bye,

Q