Eucalyptus

Parts Used: Leaves.

Pharmacy name: eucalyptus leaves – Eucalypti folium (formerly: Folia Eucalypti), eucalyptus oil – Eucalypti aetheroleum (formerly: Oleum Eucalypti).

Botanical description.The homeland of eucalyptus is southwestern Australia and Tasmania, however, it is currently found in plantings and far from these places: in the Mediterranean states, in tropical Asia and Africa, where it is used to drain swamps, as it grows very quickly. The name “fever tree” is given to it in these areas for the reason that thanks to it (due to the drainage of swamps) the breeding grounds of the malarial mosquito disappear, and as a result malaria is less common or no longer occurs at all. There are many cultivated eucalyptus plantations in New Zealand, South America, California and southern China. The eucalyptus tree reaches a height of 70 m and has a grayish-white bark. On young shoots, sessile ovate leaves narrowed towards the top are placed oppositely, while older leaves have a regular arrangement and petiole, they are leathery, twice as thick and four times as long as young ones. On their blue-green underside, a central vein protrudes conspicuously, which branches at an acute angle; veins of the second order merge into a peripheral vein running parallel to the leaf margin. Whitish or red flowers develop into firm fruits.

Collection and preparation. Leaves are collected from old shoots and taken for medicinal purposes exclusively from cultivated plantations. The essential oil is obtained from the leaves by steam distillation.

active substances. As an active substance, essential oil with eucalyptol (cineol) should be considered. It is believed that raw materials should contain at least 3% of this essential oil. All other components – such as bitterness, tannins, flavonoids, resins, rubber and others – are only concomitant.

Healing action and application.Eucalyptus – especially its essential oil – is an integral part of very many medicines that are taken mainly for coughs, bronchitis and asthma; however, its leaves are also used as a tea for asthma and bronchitis. This tea suppresses the formation of sputum in the bronchi, the essential oil provides disinfection of the lungs and liquefaction of viscous sputum. o Eucalyptus tea: 3 teaspoons of leaves pour 1/4 liter of boiling water, let it brew for 15 minutes, drain and drink in small sips several times throughout the day. o Collection for cough, bronchitis and asthma: 2 teaspoons of a mixture consisting of coltsfoot leaves, eucalyptus and thyme in equal parts, in 1/liter of water. Preparation as described for eucalyptus tea. The German National Health Service restricts the use of eucalyptus tea and products containing eucalyptus, resolutely warning against their use in inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract, as well as in severe liver diseases. Babies and young children should not apply ointments and other products with eucalyptus oil to the face or nose area (experience shows that there may be consequences that are dangerous to health). The use is recommended only for colds of the upper respiratory tract and bronchitis. As for the use of eucalyptus oil, the number of products for rubbing, inhalation, and also for oral administration (mainly for colds) is downright immense. Moreover, eucalyptus oil contains many ointments and rubbings for rheumatism and gout. Babies and young children should not apply ointments and other products with eucalyptus oil to the face or nose area (experience shows that there may be consequences that are dangerous to health). The use is recommended only for colds of the upper respiratory tract and bronchitis. As for the use of eucalyptus oil, the number of products for rubbing, inhalation, and also for oral administration (mainly for colds) is downright immense. Moreover, eucalyptus oil contains many ointments and rubbings for rheumatism and gout. Babies and young children should not apply ointments and other products with eucalyptus oil to the face or nose area (experience shows that there may be consequences that are dangerous to health). The use is recommended only for colds of the upper respiratory tract and bronchitis. As for the use of eucalyptus oil, the number of products for rubbing, inhalation, and also for oral administration (mainly for colds) is downright immense. Moreover, eucalyptus oil contains many ointments and rubbings for rheumatism and gout. As for the use of eucalyptus oil, the number of products for rubbing, inhalation, and also for oral administration (mainly for colds) is downright immense. Moreover, eucalyptus oil contains many ointments and rubbings for rheumatism and gout. As for the use of eucalyptus oil, the number of products for rubbing, inhalation, and also for oral administration (mainly for colds) is downright immense. Moreover, eucalyptus oil contains many ointments and rubbings for rheumatism and gout.

Use in homeopathy. Although in this case we can speak only in terms of unsupported data from tests of medicinal properties, nevertheless, we note that the homeopathic remedy Eucalyptus in dilution, as a rule, is D 1used in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract, tuberculosis of the kidneys and urinary tract, as well as diseases of the renal pelvis. Dosage: 5 drops several times every day. Side effects. When using eucalyptus leaves as a tea, side effects are practically unknown, but eucalyptus oil should be used with caution. As a result of the irritating effect of the oil, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. In such cases, the use of the product should be discontinued and the negative effect quickly disappears, leaving no aftereffects. It is possible that here we are dealing with an allergy to eucalyptus oil, which only a few develop.

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