Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil
Several different species of Eucalyptus Essential Oils exist. Eucalyptus globulus is the most commonly available. To differentiate the different Eucalyptus oils available, they typically go by their full botanical name. However, Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil sometimes goes by the name Blue Gum.
Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil is probably most well known for its wonderful benefits for respiratory applications including helping to ease congestion and pressure, colds, flu, fever and bronchitis. It's also a great essential oil to use in massage or other topical blends to ease muscular pain and arthritis.
Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil primarily consists of the oxide 1,8 cineole (also known as eucalyptol or just cineole). The cineole content is what is primarily responsible for giving Eucalyptus globulus its aroma and key therapeutic benefits for respiratory health and pain relief. Per the recommendation of Robert Tisserand, avoid using Eucalyptus Essential Oil on or around the face of children under 10 years of age. See the Essential Oil Safety section below for more information.
Aromatically, Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil has a fresh, woody and bright medicinal aroma. The term camphorous is sometimes used to describe the medicinal characteristics of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. However, it's the 1,8 cineole that is responsible for giving the oil its distinctive eucalyptus aroma.
Botanical Name
Eucalyptus globulus
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Leaves
Color
Clear
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Top - Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Strong
Aromatic Description
Fresh, medicinal, woody, earthy.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil Uses
Respiratory infection, bronchitis, infectious disease, fever, catarrh, sinusitis, fever, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism, arthritis, urinary infection, cystitis, parasitic infection. [Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th Anniversary Edition (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2016, 585-586.]
Major Constituents
1,8-Cineole
a-Pinene
(+)-Limonene
Globulol
(E)-Pinocarveol
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of constituents.
[B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1981-1987 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1989), 199-200. B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988-1991 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1993), 122-125. Sources cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 272.]
Eucalyptus Globulus Safety Information
Tisserand and Young indicate that due to its 1,8 cineole content, Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil may cause CNS and breathing problems in young children. They caution against using Eucalyptus Globulus Oil on or near the face of children under 10. Their dermal maximum recommendation is 20%. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 273.] Eucalyptus Oil is very toxic when taken orally (no essential oil should be taken internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner). [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 141.]
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for educational purposes only. The references to safety information, constituents and percentages is generalized information. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
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