Eucalyptus: The Way to Smoother Breathing


The eucalyptus is a popular Australian remedy that was first introduced to the world by the aborigines as a treatment for many kinds of ailments. Its uses range from treating wounds, suppressing colds, relaxing the mind to repelling insects.

History

In the 19th century, the Director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens introduced the eucalyptus plant to the West. Upon which, cultivation of the tree has spread to Europe and North America.

Ecology

The eucalyptus is a tall, evergreen tree of the myrtle family that is mainly found in Australia and Tasmania. It bears pendent leaves and umbels of white, red or pink flowers. Its value lies in its timber, gum and of course, its oil. One of its species, known as the blue gum eucalyptus, is found in the United States. It has a trunk that grows to 300 feet or more and is covered by peeling papery bark. The leaves, when young, are opposite, sessile, soft, oblong, pointed and have a hoary blue colour. When matured, they are alternate, petioled, leathery and shaped like a scimitar. The flowers are solitary and white, with no petals, many white stamens and a woody calyx.

Aroma

The eucalyptus has a clear and sharp piercing aroma coupled with a sweet undertone but bitter taste. Like peppermint oil, it feels cool to the touch.

Health Notes

A prominent quality of the eucalyptus is that its cooling effect makes it a febrifuge (substance that reduces body temperature), which is recommended for most kinds of fevers.

The antiseptic nature of the eucalyptus leaf has made it the ideal remedy for most viral infections, respiratory problems, burns, blisters and wounds. Its characteristics are aplenty, from decongesting, analgesic, antiviral to deodorising. When the oil is burned, it is effective in killing most airborne bacteria and viruses.

It improves blood circulation and therefore relieves muscle aches and pains.

Its piercing scent, which is also similar to peppermint, helps to relieve breathing congestions caused by colds and hay fever, which is common in most households. Being an expectorant, eucalyptus is good for relieving chesty coughs.

Its smell may also be used as an insect repellant. The calming effect of eucalyptus also offers emotional benefits to the users. It has a stimulating effect on the nervous system and helps calm a person emotionally.


More Resources

Visualization For Self Healing
Visualization and guided imagery are two of the mostpowerful healing powers of your mind. All you needto do is use your imagination for some astonishingresults.
Treat Osteoporosis Naturally
Osteoporosis is a condition that faces every baby boomer; man or woman. Women are more prone to getting this after menopause, but men can also have "porous bones.
Healing Through Stories
Stories are powerful. How many times have you heard a childbeg, *Tell me a story.
Our New Years Resolution - Get Rid of The Toxins in our Lives
It is hard to believe, almost unthinkable. Everyday we are exposed to so many toxins in our lives.
When Humor Hurts, When Humor Heals
For some, it's a familiar scenario. You've been sitting for hours already in the stuffy boardroom.
Becoming A Certified Reflexologist
Reflexology is something I've used and loved since I was 8 years old. I began learning about Reflexology when my aunt bought me a book by Mildred Carter - whom I consider to be the mother of American Reflexology.
Green Tea prevents and fights the risks of Cancer, why you should be drinking Green Tea
Do you drink Green Tea?Then you should read the information below.Lately, green tea has been getting a lot of attention, recent reports and scientific studies found that green tea has the ability to reduce greatly the risk of many cancers and in some cases it has shown signs of reducing tumors.
Glutamate - A Pain Transmitter Your Subconscious May Be Able To Limit
Glutamate is one of the most important transmitters of chronic pain. By using visualizations you may be able to use your subconscious to limit the impact of glutamate on your pain.
So What is Organic?
With allergies on the increase and sensitivities to synthetics becoming life threatening,we are looking for products which aren't going to make us sneeze or break out in rashes or irritate our children's sensitive skin. We scan the supermarket and health food store shelves and find there is a huge range of products on our shelves that claim to be "all natural" and "organic", but are they?When it comes to skin care or body products, the ingredients used are generally derived from plants.
An Aspirin A Day Can Give You Cancer
I want to share a health alert with you. So many people today are taking an aspirin a day - many upon the recommendation of their doctors and many simply because they think it is the "healthy" thing to do.
Using Pain To Institute Change In Your Life!
Why do you do something that harms you? Why do you do something that has an overall negative effect in your life? Why do you do something that will make you unhappy later?The answers to those questions are not easy. When you are overeating, or eating unhealthy foods you are happy and content during the time that you are eating them.
Different Detox-cleansing Regimes
Your body should clean itself naturally, but today's diets make that process difficult. Many turn to internal body cleansing to rid the body of waste products and toxins.
How To Rid Your Home Of The Nations #1 Health Menace
With today's new building procedures, our homes are more dangerous than ever before!Scientific evidence now shows that the air inside our homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside. And because we spend about 90 percent of our time inside, indoor air quality has become one of the top environmental health threats in the country.
Citronnelle
Remember the last Dumpling Festival? Did your mother or grandmother hang a pair of small bundle of sweet-scented grass in the morning on top of the door? Did they claim that the grass has the power to dispel evil when you use the water boiled with the leave for bathing? Did you remember the distinct, unmistakable lemon-like fragrance that left you feeling very invigorated? That leaf is none other than Citronnelle.Description of CitronnelleLike lemongrass and rosemary, citronnelle also belongs to the grass family, which is rich in essential oil.
Ayurveda, Indias Science of Life, Health and Longevity
Ayurveda is India's ancient science life, health, and longevity. It is thought of by many scholars to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
Aromatherapy
What is aromatherapy? Used for centuries, aromatherapy is known to have been utilized by the Egyptian physician, Imhotep; and Hippocrates. The first person to dub the term "aromatherapy, was French chemist, Rene-Mauric Gattefosse during the 1930s.
Fruits and Juices Important for Relieving Hemorrhoids Part I
Foods to AvoidChili PeppersIt has been found that when you eat a lot of chili peppersthat you can get a burning sensation in the rectum or anus.It is best to avoid eating too many peppers, especially if youhave an advance case of hemorrhoids.
Ayurveda Approach to Genital Herpes
Dosha theory which help in diagnosis of the diseases.According to ayurveda three doshas or three energetic forces control the activities of the body.
Foam Pillows are Changing the way the World Sleeps
For countless people worldwide, getting a good night's sleep on a regular basis is an elusive, if not almost impossible, goal. The causes for this malady are numerous, and could consist of overwork, stress, pain, a sleep disorder, and the list goes on.
Health Improvements for Your Family
Your husband always seems tired. Your son is always hungry.

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Body Work
Body Work is more than just a massage, it's a whole concept. Body work theororizes that within our anatomy, is a story of unresolved problems and past traumas -- both physical and psychological.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Old Medicine, New Synergies
The terms alternative medicine and complementary medicine are often wrongly used as synonyms. Actually, the termalternative medicine refers to medicine systems likeAyurveda or Acupuncture that are used in place ofconventional medicine, while complementary medicine refersto those therapies like massage that are used inconjunction with conventional medicine.
Lavender Pure Essential Oil
Lavender pure essential oil is cultivated and harvested in the Mediterranean today. More specifically, lavender is grown in Provence, France.
A Morning Smoothie to Help You Stop Constipation
Chronic constipation can be hard to stop or elimination, since the colon have become weak. In most cases it will have to be retrained on how to have a bowel movement.
Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Climate Control
The problem of high levels of CO2 in ambient air appears to be a modern one. Yet, this is not one of the new fads that crop up from time to time and then disappear again, never to be mentioned again.
Why Most People Dont Really Want To Heal (Part 1)
I recently attended a metaphysical lecture facilitated by Guy Williams, a friend of mine who also happens to be a minister of Religious Science. After the lecture, Guy opened the floor for prayer requests, and one of the attendees asked for healing for a family member who was experiencing a significant health crisis.
Storing, Handling And Using Essential Oils
Pure Essential Oils are a natural product and contain no preservatives or additives. A few of them can also be quite dangerous if not handled correctly.
Natures Way To Relieve Arthritis Pain
PINEAPPLE AND PAPAYASMedical authorities say that pineapples and papayas can relieve arthritis pain.Research shows that pineapples and papayas have potent anti-inflammatory properties from high levels of bromelain and papain, which are natural enzymes.
Secrets Of Aromatherapy Part I - Physical Remedies
Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of awide range of minor physical complaints including burns,colds, flu, sinus problems, cold sores, eczema, headache,indigestion, menopause, menstrual irregularities, muscleaches, nausea and toothaches.Diluted in healing carrier oil such as aloe vera,essential oils can relieve the pain of minor burns.
Aromatherapy for the Mind, Body, and Spirit - Sandalwood Essential Oil
For over 4000 years, the Sandalwood tree has played a significant part in Eastern culture as a material for art and artifacts, a medicine, and a divine aroma. Sandalwood products are obtained from the sandalwood tree (Santalum album), which is a member of the Santalaceae family native to southern tropical Asia.
Eucalyptus Pure Essential Oil
Eucalyptus pure essential oil is obtained from the leaves and branches of the eucalyptus tree,also known as Eucalyptus Globulus. This tree originated in Australia, where the aborigines likely discovered its medicinal properties and started experimenting with the oil.
Bad Breath and Gingivitis
Does this sound familiar to you? My dentist and hygienist mentioned that I had irritated gums as they cleaned my teeth. This is a symptom of gingivitis.
Ayurveda Approach to Genital Herpes
Dosha theory which help in diagnosis of the diseases.According to ayurveda three doshas or three energetic forces control the activities of the body.
What Disorders Can Acupuncture Treat and How Does It Work?
How did acupuncture start?The story was met with widespread disbelief.During a visit to China in 1978, cardiologist Doctor Isadore Rosenfeld witnessed open-heart surgery on a patient, anaesthetised only with acupuncture.
Your Home is a Toxic Waste Dump!
Did you know that the household and beauty products that you purchase at your local store are unhealthy for your family? You probably don't know this because the chemical and manufacturing industries don't have to provide us with this information. Of course, many of these chemicals were originally intended to enhance our lifestyles.
Pros and Cons of Isopropyl Alcohol
Recently, the term "isopropyl alcohol" has been liken to poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts, what exactly is isopropyl alcohol? Where is it used? What are its characteristics? Is it dangerous? Perhaps too many reports have caused public panic, and therefore, direct associations with isopropyl alcohol have been made, such as with the aromatherapy bottle, and controversies arises; such reports have led to over-generalized and inadequate knowledge of isopropyl alcohol, knowing some aspects but not the others.Dr.
Pyrethre: Pest Terminator
HistoryThe pyrethre herb is supposedly named after a famous temple in ancient Greece called Parthenon, hence the name Parthenium.In the 13th century, Welsh physicians used pellitory (pyrethre) as a remedy for toothache.
Are You Really Overweight?
If you are overweight, you know it by how you feel, how your clothes fit or how you look. But, by how much are you really overweight? And how much weight do you need to lose? One measure of how much you should weight is by determining your Body Mass Index, BMI.
Is Heat or Ice Better for Arthritis Pain?
You probably know that applying heat or ice to a painful joint can help relieve pain, but have questions about these simple techniques. Which one? Why? How often? How long?The only time you must choose "ice" is during the first 48 hours after a sudden injury or surgery.
Health in the Self
What is health?Is health the absence of disease? Is health a birth right or simply luck? According to Ayuveda, India's ancient art of healing, the meaning of health is a single word: Swastha. Swa = self + Stha = established.