Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is one of the plants named in my Crooked Crows® products, so here is what I would tell you about it across the counter: what it is, which part is used, how people have traditionally prepared it, and when to leave it alone.
This page is educational, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, nursing, managing an illness or taking medication, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before you use this plant.
A little botany, so you know what you have
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). H. Zell. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The plant I mean is Eucalyptus globulus, in the plant family Myrtaceae. Other common names include blue gum.
Useful field marks (identification only):
- Tall tree with peeling bark.
- Round, silvery juvenile leaves and long, sickle-shaped adult leaves that smell strongly when crushed.
Plant parts used
Leaf. This is the part traditionally used and the part you will find in my products.
Traditional uses
Aboriginal Australians have long used eucalyptus leaves in traditional ways, and the leaf and oil spread worldwide as a familiar steam, rub and bath scent for stuffy cold-season days.
These are traditional descriptions, not proof that eucalyptus treats, cures or prevents any disease. A lasting health concern deserves a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Preparations
These are the kitchen methods I use. They are not official doses.
On the skin
- Use it only in a finished, properly diluted product such as a balm, oil or salt soak.
- Patch-test on a small area of skin and wait a day before wider use.
This is an external-use plant in my shop. Do not swallow it.
Cautions — who should skip it, or ask first
- Eucalyptus oil is toxic if swallowed, even in small amounts. Keep it away from children and pets.
- Do not apply eucalyptus oil near the face of infants or young children.
- Dilute before skin use, and stop if irritation appears.
- Diabetes medicines and some drugs processed by the liver: ask your pharmacist before taking any eucalyptus product by mouth.
- Stop if you get a rash, itching, stomach upset, or anything that feels off.
From the shop
You will find eucalyptus in: Assorted Apothecary Bath Soak Salts Healing Herbs, Respiratory Relief Oxymel Herbal Honey and Vinegar Extracts, One Bath Soak Salts Herbs Trial Size Sample in Velvet Bag, Respiratory Relief Herbal Extracts Subscription, Respiratory Relief Tea Blend Subscription, Trial Size Tea Sample Crooked Crows®, Crooked Crows® Sampler Bath Blend Soak Salts, Herbal Tea Sampler in a Keepsake Tin.
If you are not sure whether a product is right for you, write me before you order.
References
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (scientific name and family).
- Elangovan S et al. Antibacterial Properties of Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil against MRSA: A Systematic Review. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023. PubMed 36978341.
- Toloza AC et al. Eucalyptus essential oil toxicity against permethrin-resistant Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae). Parasitol Res. 2010. PubMed 19902249.
This page is for education and traditional-use context, not medical advice.
A Note from Erin
Everything I share here is my own opinion, and I’ve listed my references so you can read the sources for yourself. I’m not a doctor, and nothing on this blog is medical advice. When I mention an herb or one of my products, I’m telling you how it has traditionally been used, not promising that it will cure, treat, or prevent anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before trying any herb, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, take medication, or have a health condition.
