By Ruth Tan

Amongst the array of honey products, have you tried Eucalyptus honey before? Besides its very distinct taste and odor, what makes it so special is its host of health benefits. Eucalyptus is one of the plants that is commonly applied together with honey as a home remedy due to its medicinal healing properties of the compound eucalyptol present in it.

Eucalyptus essential oil obtained from fresh leaves of the tall evergreen eucalyptus tree has and is used in a variety of over the counter drugs including rubs, inhalers, liniments, rash creams, and mouthwashes. The eucalyptus tree, also known as fever tree, blue gum tree or stringy bark tree, has the botanical name Eucalyptus Globulus.

It is native to Australia but was introduced to other parts of the world including India, Europe and South Africa a few centuries ago. Though many countries do produce eucalyptus oil, Australia is still the worlds prime supplier of eucalyptus oil. The health benefits of the colorless eucalyptus oil which is extracted from the fresh eucalyptus leaves, branch tips, and dried leaves, remind me of honey properties — anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and stimulating.

In fact I first started reading up Eucalyptus honey when a salesman tried to sell his bottles of Eucalyptus honey at a flea market and taught me how to use it as an expectorant for mild coughs and colds. Eucalyptus essential oil is typically a volatile oil and its primary active constituent euclyptols numerous health benefits have attracted the world to explore its usage as a conventional medicine as well as an aromatherapy oil.

You probably also noticed that eucalyptus oil in aromatherapy is becoming increasingly popular as it blends so perfectly well with many other essential oils including thyme essential oil, rosemary essential oil, marjoram essential oil, lavender essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and frankincense essential oil. As an ingredient in over-the-counter drugs, Eucalyptus oil is sold and promoted over-the-counter for it is used for temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and for temporary relief of nasal congestion and coughs associated with a cold.

Eucalyptus oil has been compared to menthol because it acts on receptors in the nasal mucosa, which help to alleviate nasal congestion. For eucalyptus to provide an effective expectorant and antiseptic action, the volatile oil has to contain at least 70% eucalyptol. It has been reported that one of the first medicinal uses of Eucalyptus was by the Australian aborigines, who not only extracted valuable water from its roots, but used its leaves to relieve fevers.

Besides being a good remedy for respiratory problems, Eucalyptus honey is a good antiseptic owing to its germicidal properties. On its exposure to air, ozone is formed which is a well-known antiseptic. Hence Eucalyptus honey is used for healing wounds, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions and sores. It is also effective on insect bites and stings. It is often recommended to patients suffering from rheumatism, lumbago, sprained ligaments and tendons, stiff muscles, aches, fibrosis and even nerve pain.

The analgesic and anti inflammatory Eucalyptus honey is massaged on the skin surface in circular motion to help relieve muscle and joint pains. Another important reason why people add eucalyptus oil to baths, spas and saunas is that it provides a cooling and refreshing effect. Eucalyptus oil stimulates and is effective in removing exhaustion and mental sluggishness and rejuvenates those who are suffering from stress and mental disorders.

Eucalyptus essential oil has applications in skin care products, soaps, detergents and household cleaners, is well often applied topically to treat skin infections, and is used as a prime ingredient in many mouthwashes and toothpastes as it is very effective against cavities, dental plaques, gingivitis and other dental infections due to its germicidal and antiseptic properties.

The antiseptic and deodorant nature of eucalyptus oil makes it a perfect room freshener for hospitals and sickbed atmosphere. It also kills bacteria and germs in the air and hence keeps the room environment clean. However, one should take care while using eucalyptus oil.

If taken in large quantities, eucalyptus oil is toxic. Life-threatening poisonings have been reported from overdoses of eucalyptus oil. Symptoms of overdose or toxicity include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, central nervous system depression, a drop in blood pressure, circulation problems, collapse, and coma.

Only a few drops of Eucalyptus oil are enough to cause life-threatening poisoning in some children. Eucalyptus supplementation is not advisable for children, older or chronically ill people, pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. Insulin-dependent diabetics should carefully monitor blood sugar since eucalyptus may affect blood sugar levels. Eucalyptus may affect the metabolism and clearance of drugs; hence anyone under medication treatment should avoid the use of eucalyptus.

Source: R. Tan is the owner of the website benefits-of-honey.com which is a rich honey resource community specially built for all the honey lovers and fans in this world. She has packed this website with a wide range of quality contents on honey based on her knowledge and experience with honey, so as to promote its invaluable benefits which she believes could bring many positive spin-offs in everyone’s daily life.