Generic Name: eucalyptus
Brand and Other Names: fevertree, gum tree, red ironbark, white ironbark
Drug Class: Herbals
What is eucalyptus, and what is it used for?
Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia and the oil distilled from dried leaves of certain species of eucalyptus is used for medicinal purposes. Eucalyptus oil is used for many conditions including colds, nasal congestion, skin ulcers, minor muscular or joint pains. There is, however, insufficient scientific evidence to support its efficacy in any of its uses.
Eucalyptus is believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and pain-relieving properties. Eucalyptus oil is used medicinally for the following purposes:
- Cold and nasal congestion
- Asthma
- Bronchial infections
- Skin rashes and itching
- As insect repellant and for itching from insect bites
- Minor cuts, scrapes, ulcers or burns
- Minor muscle aches or joint pains
Eucalyptus oil is used in steam inhalations for respiratory tract conditions and the diluted oil is applied directly on the skin for skin conditions and muscular and joint pain.
Other uses of eucalyptus include:
- Component of dentistry products used as sealers and solvents for root canal fillings
- Fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics
- Aromatherapy
- Mouthwash, antiseptic, liniment and ointment
- Component in toothpaste, cough drops, and lozenges
- Food flavoring (as dried leaf)
Warnings
- Never ingest undiluted eucalyptus oil; it is highly toxic and potentially fatal, and even small quantities can cause severe adverse effects
- Do not apply eucalyptus oil on skin without diluting
- Use with caution if you are allergic to eucalyptus or any other essential oil
- Do not take diluted eucalyptus oil orally if you have conditions that include acute intermittent porphyria, heart disease, kidney disease or liver disease
- Do not apply eucalyptus containing lotions or creams on the face or nose of children
- Eucalyptus can lower blood sugar, use with caution if you are diabetic, and monitor blood glucose levels
What are the side effects of eucalyptus?
Common side effects of eucalyptus include:
- Local allergic reactions with topical application including:
- Redness
- Burning
- Irritation
- Serious side effects if eucalyptus oil is taken orally include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Bluish skin (cyanosis)
- Muscle weakness
- Impaired balance, coordination and speech (ataxia)
- Seizures
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Multi-organ failure
This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug.
Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
SLIDESHOW
How to Get Rid of a Cold: Natural Remedies See SlideshowWhat are the dosages of eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus Oil
- Arthritis: 5-20% in an oil-based formulation or 5-10% in an alcohol-based formulation
- Nasal Congestion: 1 tsp in boiling water for steam inhalation; also rub on the chest and around the nose
What drugs interact with eucalyptus?
Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation.
- Eucalyptus has no severe interactions
- Serious Interactions of eucalyptus include:
- astemizole
- cisapride
- dihydroergotamine
- dihydroergotamine intranasal
- dronedarone
- ergotamine
- erythromycin base
- erythromycin ethylsuccinate
- erythromycin lactobionate
- erythromycin stearate
- everolimus
- lovastatin
- ranolazine
- sertindole
- silodosin
- simvastatin
- sirolimus
- terfenadine
- tolvaptan
- Eucalyptus has moderate interactions with at least 100 different drugs.
- Eucalyptus has mild interactions with at least 301 different drugs.
The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker.
It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information. Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions about the medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Avoid use of any form of eucalyptus during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
What else should I know about eucalyptus?
- Eucalyptus oil used for steam inhalation or topical application is generally safe in adults
- Keep eucalyptus oil out of reach of children
- In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical help or contact poison control center immediately
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Summary
Eucalyptus oil is used for medicinal purposes, including the common cold, asthma, bronchial infections, skin rashes, insect bites, minor muscle aches or joint pain, and minor skin injuries. Never ingest undiluted eucalyptus oil, even small quantities; it is highly toxic and potentially fatal. Common side effects of eucalyptus include local allergic reactions (redness, burning, irritation), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, drowsiness, shortness of breath (dyspnea), bluish skin (cyanosis), muscle weakness, impaired balance, seizures, and others.
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What Is the Best Thing to Put on Fire Ant Bites?Fire ants are one of the most aggressive insects found all over the world. They don’t bite but sting and it burns, hence their name. These ants are dark reddish-brown in color and nest in soil or the landscaping areas.
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What Happens if a Pregnant Woman Gets a Cold?Having an ordinary cold shouldn't be harmful to the baby or mother. Pregnant women are highly likely to pick up a cold at some time during pregnancy because it's normal to catch two or three colds a year. A healthy lifestyle is a must to keep the immune system strong and to prevent colds.
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How Long Does Asthmatic Bronchitis Last?The duration of the disease usually depends on the patient’s overall health and age. In patients with acute bronchitis symptoms may last less than 10 days. In patients with severe asthmatic bronchitis, the symptoms are recurrent and usually last between 30 days to even 2 years with flares and remissions.
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What Can You Take for a Cold While Pregnant?You may take over-the-counter (OTC) treatment after consulting with the physician because these are generally safe. OTC medications for colds and flus include acetaminophen, guaifenesin syrup and saline nasal drops or spray. You can also use natural remedies to treat a cold during pregnancy.
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What Home Remedy Is Good for Ant Bites?Various home remedies may help treat ant bites instantly. Some of the good home remedies for effective treatment of ant bites vary.
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COPD vs. AsthmaCOPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma both have common symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. COPD is caused by tobacco smoking, while asthma is caused by your inherited genetic makeup and its interactions with the environment. Risk factors for asthma are obesity, exposure to cigarette smoke (even secondhand smoke), and personal history of hay fever. There is no cure for either disease, but symptoms can be managed with medication. A person with asthma has a better prognosis and life expectancy than someone with COPD.
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What Is the Treatment for Asthmatic Bronchitis?Asthmatic bronchitis refers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes carrying air inside the lungs that occurs because of asthma. Treatment for asthmatic bronchitis involves bronchodilators, steroids, treating secretions, leukotriene inhibitors, antibiotics, oxygen administration and avoiding triggers.
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What Does a Lymphoma Skin Rash Look Like?Lymphoma skin rashes may be itchy and appear as red or purple with dry scales. Learn about skin lymphoma symptoms and treatment.
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How Do You Get Rid of a Cold Overnight?Cold symptoms are part of your body’s healing processes. Most of the time, it does not require any help. However, you can get rid of a cold faster, even overnight, by resting, drinking hot fluids, blowing your nose, gargling with salt water, taking a hot shower, using a humidifier and taking OTC pain relievers and decongestants.
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Does Being Cold Make Your Muscles Ache?Cold weather can tighten the muscles and joints, leading to muscle aches and pain.
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Is Drinking Cold Water Bad?About 60 percent of the body is made up of water. It forms a major part of the blood. The cells and the body cannot function right if the water levels go down. Drinking cold water often causes “cold stress” in the body.
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How Do I Get Rid of Heat Rash on My Face?What is heat rash on the face and how do you treat it? Learn what medical treatments can help ease heat rash on your face and speed up your recovery from heat rash.
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What Does a Stress Rash Look Like?Stress often affects the skin adversely. It causes the formation of a stress hormone that increases oil production in the body, making it prone to acne. Stress may also cause itchy welts to appear on the skin.
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Home Remedies for Mosquito BitesMosquito bites appear as red, itchy rashes, which resolves in a few days. A few mosquitoes act as a vector to spread diseases like Malaria, West Nile virus, Yellow fever, Dengue, Chikungunya, Encephalitis (brain infection), and Zika virus.
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Asthma in ChildrenAsthma in children manifests with symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. Rates of asthma in children are increasing. Asthma in children is usually diagnosed based on the description of symptoms. Lung function tests may also be used. A variety of medications are used for the treatment of childhood asthma.
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Are Hives and Rash the Same Thing?Learn how to tell the difference between a rash and hives and how to treat both.
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How Do You Know If You Are Allergic to Mosquito Bites?Mosquito bite allergies can cause issues if untreated. Learn the signs of a mosquito bite allergy, what causes it, and what you can do to treat it.
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Asthma ComplexitiesThere are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.
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How Do You Know if Bites Are From Bed Bugs?How can you tell if you have bed bug bites? Learn what makes bed bug bites unique and how to treat them.
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What Happens When a Horse Fly Bites You?Horseflies, also called the green-headed monsters, are small flying insects. Female horseflies feed on blood to reproduce. Like mosquitoes, female horseflies require a protein meal to produce eggs.
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Adult-Onset AsthmaAdult-onset asthma is asthma that is diagnosed in people over 20 years of age. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Treatment may involve anti-inflammatory medications or bronchodilators.
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How Do I Treat Chigger Bites?Learn what medical treatments can ease your chigger bite symptoms and help you manage this condition.
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How Do You Stop Mosquito Bites From Itching?Mosquito bites can be irritating. Learn what causes the itch and how to stop it.
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When Should You Worry About an Insect Bite?Treatment depends on the type of reaction to the bite or sting. A small or mild reaction such as redness and pain may require a local application of ice. Clean the area with soap and water to remove foreign particles.
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What Is Severe Asthma?Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused due to the airway’s hypersensitive response to allergic stimuli. Severe asthma or status asthmaticus is defined as asthma that is uncontrolled, despite adherence with maximal optimized therapy and treatment of contributory factors or asthma that worsens when high dose treatment is decreased.
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What Class Is Severe Asthma?Asthma is termed as a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused by the airway’s hypersensitive response to allergic stimuli (dust, pollen, pollution, smoke or unhygienic conditions). This results in the narrowing of airway passages, making it hard to breathe. It is often genetic and passed down from families and precipitated during childhood.
Treatment & Diagnosis
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- Exercise Preventing Asthma?
- Asthma in Women, Asthma in Pregnancy
- Colds: 10 Tips to Prevent The Common Cold
- Shingles: A Painful Rash -- Is It Shingles?
- What Is Exercise-Induced Asthma?
- What Are the Side Effects of Asthma Inhalers?
- Best Exercises for Asthma: Yoga, Swimming, Biking, and Walking
- Fifth Disease: Fathoming Fifth Disease
- Cold Sore Treatment
- OTC Cold and Cough Medications
- When to Call the Doctor for Fever, Nausea, Diarrhea, Colds, and Coughs
- Bug Bite Treatment
- Air Travel, Colds, and Sinus Infections
Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
https://reference.medscape.com/drug/fevertree-gum-tree-eucalyptus-999455#0
https://www.rxlist.com/eucalyptus/supplements.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/eucalyptus-oil
https://www.rxhealthmed.ca/natural_products/eucalyptus-oil/