Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus, E. camaldulensisEucalyptus roots draw water so fast that they helped dry the swamps, leaving the malaria mosquitoes nowhere to breed.
What is Eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is a plant of the Myrtaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: leaves, essential oil.
What is Eucalyptus used for?
Traditional use: In the early Republic it was planted to drain the swamps of Çukurova and Tarsus and fight malaria; people call it the “malaria tree”. Scientific evidence: limited. The EMA recognises eucalyptus oil for relieving coughs in colds as a traditional use.
Is Eucalyptus safe?
Safety label: caution. Swallowing even a few millilitres of the oil can cause seizures and loss of consciousness in children. Do not apply it to the faces or noses of babies and young children. The steam can trigger attacks in people with asthma.
Traditional use
In the early Republic it was planted to drain the swamps of Çukurova and Tarsus and fight malaria; people call it the “malaria tree”. The leaves are boiled for colds and the steam inhaled.
Aboriginal peoples use the leaves for fever and wounds and cleanse places with smoke from the branches.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Young and old leaves look very different: young ones are round and grey-blue, old ones long and sickle-shaped.
Preparation
Fresh or dried leaves are put in hot water and the steam inhaled; a few drops of oil are used for steam.
What science says
The EMA recognises eucalyptus oil for relieving coughs in colds as a traditional use. There are controlled studies in bronchitis and sinusitis with its main compound, cineole (eucalyptol).
Safety
Swallowing even a few millilitres of the oil can cause seizures and loss of consciousness in children. Do not apply it to the faces or noses of babies and young children. The steam can trigger attacks in people with asthma.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Drugs broken down in the liver | Cineole speeds up liver enzymes and may lower some drug levels. |
| Diabetes medicines | Can lower blood sugar. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Eucalyptus.
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographEucalypti aetheroleum: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Eucalyptus globulus
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe