Eucalyptus leaves can help with a lot of health problems, from relieving pain to making your breath smell better. You should stay away from eucalyptus oil, even in small amounts, but you can drink eucalyptus tea.
1. High in antioxidants
You can’t eat eucalyptus leaves when they are new, but you can make tea from dried leaves. This tea is not the same as eucalyptus oil, which can be harmful if eaten. Do not add eucalyptus essential oil to your tea; instead, choose a tea that says “eucalyptus leaves tea” on the lid. You can get a lot of flavonoids and other antioxidants from eucalyptus leaves.
These help protect your body from oxidative stress and free radical damage. Some of the flavonoids that are most important in eucalyptus are quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, isorhamnetin, and catechins. These chemicals may help protect against some types of cancer, heart disease, and dementia when eaten in large amounts.
For instance, a big study with 38,180 men and 60,289 women found that a diet high in flavonoids was linked to an 18% lower risk of dying from heart disease. Most people agree that eucalyptus tea is safe for adults and a good source of these vitamins. However, kids are more likely to become sick from eucalyptus, so they should talk to a doctor before drinking this tea.
2. May relieve cold symptoms
Eucalyptus is often found in cold and cough medicines and is often used to treat colds naturally. It has been shown to thin mucus and make the airways and bronchioles in your lungs bigger. It also works naturally to reduce inflammation. These effects are mostly caused by eucalyptol, which is a chemical found in eucalyptus oil and is also known as cineole.
Some studies have shown that eucalyptol can help with cold symptoms like coughing a lot, stuffy nose, and headaches by reducing swelling and mucus buildup. Also, eucalyptol might help asthma problems get better.
You can breathe in eucalyptus oil through your nose, and it might help with cold symptoms. Plus, a lot of oral decongestants have it in them. But you shouldn’t eat or drink the oil because even small amounts can be harmful. Before using eucalyptus or changing the medicines you’re taking, you should talk to your doctor.
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3. May treat dry skin
Using eucalyptus may help dry skin by making it contain more ceramide. Ceramides are a type of fatty acid that your skin uses to keep its barrier thick and keep its wetness in. Ceramide levels are generally lower in people who have dry skin, dandruff, or skin diseases like dermatitis and psoriasis.
Using eucalyptus leaf extract on the skin has been shown to increase the production of ceramide, its ability to hold water, and its ability to protect itself from outside damage. There is a chemical in it called macrocarpal A that seems to increase the production of ceramide.
A study with 34 people found that using a lotion with eucalyptus leaf extract and synthetic ceramide greatly reduced the redness, itching, dryness, and flakiness of the hair. Because of this, eucalyptus leaf extract is found in a lot of hair and skin goods.
4. May reduce pain
It may help with pain to breathe in eucalyptus essential oil. Eucalyptus has a lot of anti-inflammatory chemicals in it, like cineole and limonene, which may help with pain. A three-day study with 52 people who had knee replacement surgery found that breathing in eucalyptus oil mixed with almond oil for 30 minutes every day greatly lowered blood pressure and how much pain the people felt.
However, another study that looked at 123 people with cancer found that breathing in eucalyptus oil for three minutes before a medical treatment did not make them feel less pain. This suggests that more research is needed.
5. May promote relaxation
A lot of people think that eucalyptus can help reduce the effects of worry. In one study, 62 healthy people who breathed in eucalyptus oil felt a lot less anxious before surgery. Eucalyptus has a chemical called eucalyptol in it that has been shown to help with nervousness.
Also, breathing in eucalyptus oil for 30 minutes has been linked to lower blood pressure in people who have recently had knee surgery, which shows that it calms people down. Researchers think that it lowers the activity of your sympathetic nervous system, which is in charge of your stress reaction, and raises the activity of your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you relax.
6. Can help keep your teeth healthy
Eucalyptus leaf oil, or eucalyptol, might be good for your teeth. Eucalyptus leaves have a lot of ethanol and macrocarpal C, which is a type of polyphenol. There are fewer of the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease when these chemicals are present.
A study of 97 people found that those who chewed gum with eucalyptus leaf extract five times a day for at least five minutes had a lot less plaque buildup, gum bleeding, and gum pain than the control group.
7. Can act as a natural insect repellent
Because it contains eucalyptol, eucalyptus oil naturally keeps bugs away. Studies have shown that it keeps mosquitoes and other biting bugs away for up to eight hours after being put on the skin. For longer and better results as an insect protection, eucalyptus oil with more eucalyptol is better.
In fact, the CDC says that lemon eucalyptus oil, which comes from the lemon eucalyptus tree, is a safe and effective way to keep bugs away. Eucalyptus oil may also be able to get rid of head lice.
One randomized study found that this oil got rid of head lice twice as well as a common treatment. A new study, on the other hand, says that more research is needed. This is why eucalyptol is often added to mouthwash. (healthline)