Some important uses of Eucalyptus oil you may not know - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Eucalyptus oil is very commonly used as remedy for headaches and colds, but did you know it has many more amazing benefits for your body as well? Well, here are the top 7 health benefits of eucalyptus oil you probably didn’t know about.

Dental hygiene: Eucalyptus has a very refreshing smell and is a great addition to toothpastes and mouthwashes. But what makes it the perfect ingredient to keep your teeth safe is the fact that it contains cineole, an antiseptic that kills bacteria that can cause bad breath. A study found that eucalyptus oil was actually perfect for your oral health. It not only killed harmful bacteria but also helped maintain overall hygiene by reducing the amount of plaque buildup, maintained the health of your gums and reduced gum bleeding as well.

Cough and cold: Eucalyptus oil has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for colds and respiratory disorders. It has been used as an addition to steam inhalation to relieve a cold and as an instant remedy for a blocked nose. All this is due to its immensely effective antibacterial qualities that have been known to wipe out even drug resistant bacterium from the respiratory tract. Moreover the vapours of eucalyptus oil acts as a powerful decongestant which when inhaled help in relieving the symptoms of bronchitis and a congested nose.

Antiseptic: Eucalyptus oil contains active ingredients like citronellol, citronellal and 1,8-cineole, that make it a very potent anti-bacterial agent. Commonly used to treat skin infections and added to some surgical plasters eucalyptus oil has been used widely to both inhibit infections and reduce inflammation.

Can treat skin infections skin infections: Known to have strong antibacterial qualities, eucalyptus oil is very useful in treating skin infections. Its most potent compound cineole that can treat almost all kinds of bacterial infections. Eucalyptus oil is very commonly used by various cultures to treat wounds and even fevers.

Insect repellant: The strong aroma of eucalyptus oil makes it a perfect insect repellant. You can either apply it directly on your skin (mix it with some cream) or use it in a vaporizer to keep insects like mosquitoes and flies at bay.

Relieves pain: The oil has a very cooling effect when applied on the skin, making it a very potent analgesic. Apart from that the components of the eucalyptus oil have been known to have a very relaxing effect on the nervous system and muscles and increases blood flow to the area – effectively reducing inflammation. So, the next time you have a headache, migraine or joint pain try applying some eucalyptus oil to the area for some instant relief.

Stimulates the immune system: Eucalyptus oil has been found to have very amazing immune strengthening properties. According to a study published in BMC Immunology found that when administered, eucalyptus oil had the ability to not only strengthen the response of macrophages (the cells that kill infections), but also helps the cells within the body to produce their own innate protective mechanism.

Apart from all the above benefits, eucalyptus oil has also been studied for its inhibitory effect on the progression of diabetes. Although these studies are not many and have not been tried on a human model, there is a future possibility that one day it might become a remedy for diabetes.