So, I’ve been a bit more sniffly than usual these past few months. No! I am NOT allergic to my kittens no matter what Mr. Man says. Anyway, I’m a little out of practice with my allergy abatement protocol and was suffering more than I needed to be. One night when I was determined to do better about my bed-time routine, I noticed a forgotten bottle on my nightstand – Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Oh yeah! That will help. So, I grab a cotton ball, place it on that pretty seashell that Mr. Man brought home from one of his Baja trips, and hit it with three drops of eucalyptus oil. Ah, that smells nice.
When I wake up the next morning, my sinuses are clear! Like I could breath through my nose! First thing in the morning! Eucalyptus oil, I love you. I’m so sorry that I forgot about your magical properties.
According to Wikipedia, Eucalyptus oil contains a chemical called cineole which among other things may have antibacterial effects on the respiratory tract. So it may have more than just a placebo effect on my sinuses. Another chemical component, eucalyptol, gives the oil its cooling properties.
Eucalyptus oil can applied topically, but I would recommend diluting in a carrier oil if you want to use it on your skin just to be extra safe. If you wanted to play with blending your own essential oils, you could make a sore muscle soothing blend with four drops of eucalyptus oil, two drops of ginger essential oil, and four drops of rosemary essential oil in a base of four teaspoons of a carrier oil like almond or grapeseed oil.
Eucalyptus oil is used in as a flavoring component in things like gum or cough drops. However, it can be toxic and I would suggest that you DO NOT want to ingest it. It can be dangerous for children. It can also be dangerous for cats (I think that most essential oils are not good for cats) so be careful about how you use it around your furry friends. My kittens haven’t had a bad reaction to my nighttime routine, but I am careful to keep essential oils away from anything that they could get on them and/or ingest.
In the winter I like to put eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint on a cotton ball in my room and the kiddos’ room at night. It seems to keep the worst of the winter ague away.