Eucalyptus Tree Facts
Eucalyptus is a genus of trees. Most species of Eucalyptus are native to Australia. There are more than 700 species of eucalypts and Australia is the home for almost all of them. You can see eucalypts in almost every part of Australia.
Eucalypts have many local names, like 'ironbark', 'box', 'mallee', 'stringybark', and 'gum trees'. No other trees have special fruits and flowers like Eucalypts have.
Eucalyptus trees are grown for their medicinal properties. The healing power of the tree comes from its eucalyptus oil and this oil is made from the tree's oval-shaped leaves. In order to get the essential oil, the leaves are dried, crushed and then distilled.
The bark and leaves of the eucalyptus tree contains high concentrations of cineole. The fragrance of eucalyptus is primarily that of cineole. Only the koala bear, few insects, and ring-tail possum can eat eucalyptus bark and leaves. No other creatures can withstand the high levels of cineole (including humans).
Eucalyptus trees love water. This is the reason why they are often planted in areas with high malaria rates. Eucalyptus also grows very fast. Compared to other hardwoods which usually take 18-25 years to reach early maturity, many varieties of eucalyptus trees just take about 10 years.
Almost all eucalypts are evergreen. Many of them change their leaves when they get older but certain kinds keep their round shape all their lives. The leaves are covered with oil glands and these oils are used to treat colds and coughs. Eucalypts make a lot of nectar, providing food for many insects.
People need to know that eucalypts often drop entire branchess off as they grow. This is why you can find many dead branches in the eucalyptus forests. The Australian Ghost Gum Eucalyptus papuana, or also known as the "widow maker" has its nickname due to the high number of tree-felling workers who were killed because of a falling branches. For this reason, we should never camp under large eucalyptus branches.
Eucalyptus oil vapour will rise on warm days above the bush, creating the well-known distant blue haze of the Australian landscape. This oil catches fire easily, and bushfires can quicly travel through the oil-rich air of the tree crown. Not only that, the fallen branches and dead bark are also flammable.
Eucalyptus Oil
It is reported that eucalyptus oil is used to silence a cough, freshen breath and soothe cold sores. Many cough medicines today have eucalyptus oil as one of their active ingredients (for example; Vicks VapoRub). Its anti-inflammatory properties can be used to ease symptoms of herpes.
Eucalyptus oil is also used to get mucus out of your chest. When you inhale vapor made with this eucalyptus oil it loosen mucus and therefore when you cough, it's expelled. Rubbing with this essential oil also produce the same effect.
The smell of the eucalyptus oil is also useful as it can keep bugs like mosquitoes away. Eucalyptus leaves are used by Australian aborigines to prevent infection and treat wounds. Today, the diluted oil is still used on the skin to fight inflammation and promote healing.
Many people with asthma also used this essential oil to reduce mucus as well as to help loosen it by inhaling steam with added eucalyptus oil. However, eucalyptus oil is not recommended for those who are allergic to eucalyptus as it can worsen their asthma.
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