Eucalyptus Extraordinaire

If, like me, you grew up in the 80s amidst dusty rose and hunter green ruffles and valances, you definitely know the eucalyptus plant. It was in every dried flower arrangement on every entryway table top, fireplace hearth and dentist's office.

This association alone was enough for me to stay away from the plant for many years (see also hydrangea, especially pink). However, just as I warmed up to and eventually fell for hydrangeas (they were my wedding bouquet!) I realize that I haven't given eucalyptus a fair shake. The more I read about it as I am researching my oils, the more amazing it is!

Did You Know (Eucalyptus Style)*:

• There are over 700 species of the eucalyptus plant! of that enormous number, only 15 are not native to Australia.

• Eucalyptus forests cover 227,336,951 acres of Australia - 3/4 of Australia's naturally forested land!

• On very warm days, the air over a eucalyptus forest is a haze of tiny vaporized particles emitted by the trees - terpenoids - and are what give Australia's Blue Mountains their name.

• They can grow in both tree and shrub form, and are of interest to environmentalists and global developers as they are a very fast-growing wood source.

• The tallest species of eucalyptus tree are the tallest flowering tree in the world, growing to more than 60 meters, or 200 feet. The tallest measured specimen is 99.6 meters or 327 feet in height! Only coast redwood trees are taller, and they are coniferous.

• Most species grow their leaves in twos on opposite sides of the stem, and most are evergreen trees.

• The flowers have no petals, but instead are covered in brightly-coloured stamen; they are quite varied and pretty - you should google them!

• They are the primary source of food for koalas, who are one of the only animals who can tolerate enormous amounts of them - they are toxic to most in large quantities.

• The oldest definitive Eucalyptus fossils were found in South America, in a province of Argentina, and are dated to 51.9 Million Years Ago! Any eucalypti that grow there now have been introduced from Australia.

• Most are intolerant of frost and cold temps (I know the feeling) although some strains, from the high mountains of Tasmania, are cold-resistant and these are species we would see here in Canada.

• The plant was introduced to the rest of the world in 1770, after being collected by botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who arrived with Captain James Cook. Now around 250 species grow in California alone. They are also a great economic boon to places like Timbuktu and the Peruvian Andes.

• A downside of the eucalyptus trees is that they seem to produce compounds that inhibit the growth of other plants, and the resulting monoculture is a point of concern in places like California, Spain, Portugal and Uruguay.

• Eucalyptus wood is what is used to make didgeridoos!! (That can either be a pro or a con...)

• Honey can be made from some of the flowers' ample nectar.

• Eucalyptus trees in the Australian outback draw up gold from tens of metres underground through their root system and deposit it as particles in their leaves and branches. Not exactly a good source of gold prospecting though - they are only seen by x-ray.

• Aboriginal Australians used eucalyptus extensively in their bush medicine; from healing cuts, burns, and sores, to relieving diarrhea, helping with congestions, keeping away mosquitos, toothaches, muscle pains, and more. Many of these uses were adopted by Europeans upon visiting Australia and taken back to Europe. It was first known in England as "Sydney peppermint" and was prized for it's disinfecting and antiseptic properties.

Pretty freakin cool if you ask me!

Now for the essential oils! Here are a few ways that you can use your Eucalyptus Oil:

• Dilute with a carrier oil and use as a chest rub for congestion and coughing. After all, Vicks VapoRub is made with eucalyptus oil... aaaand a bunch of other things like petroleum and turpentine; (and PS their nasal inhaler contains levomethamphetamine... yeah, not good). However, do not use on children under 10, unless you are convinced that you have the proper dilution rate.

• Put a few drop into hot water and inhale the steam to help sinus pain and congestion. Just remember to keep your eyes closed!

• Combine with Thieves and dilute into a throat spray

• Combine with coconut oil, shea butter, cayenne pepper and other ingredients to create a warming muscle rub

• Mix with castile soap for a excellent disinfecting cleaner

• Use it to make your own toothpaste and mouthwash

• Diffuse in your house during cold season for its immune-boosting, phagocytic-enacting properties (1)

• Diffuse or inhale to treat asthma(2) and chronic bronchitis (3)

• Use with tea-tree oil and a carrier to treat cold-sores

• Diffuse for aromatherapeutic benefits, including energy and emotional cleansing

• My fave: soak a cotton ball and place in the shower for a spa-like experience.

So, what was your favourite thing you didn't know before about eucalyptus! And how do you use the eucalyptus essential oil?

* Eucalyptus Facts courtesy of Wikipedia (follow for original sources): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus

(1) BMC Immunol, Apr 18, 2008; pages 9-17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18423004

(2) Respiratory Medicine, Anti-inflammatory activity of 1.8-cineol (eucalyptol) in bronchial asthma: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. March 2003, Volume 97, Issue 3, Pages 250–256.

(3) Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi,Effects of Eucalyptus globulus oil on lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic bronchitis and mucin hypersecretion in rats. Lu XQ, Tang FD, Wang Y, Zhao T, Bian RL. Feb 29, 2004; pages168-71.