More and more traditional medicine is becoming popular. People sometimes completely abandon chemicals during treatment, because they believe that herbs and infusions from them will not do harm like the means obtained in the laboratory. But is it? Today we look at rod-shaped eucalyptus. The healing properties of this plant have been known since time immemorial, and it really brings many benefits. But, like all useful things, it has its own contraindications. What is this plant?
Rod Eucalyptus: Description
This is a giant tree in dense forests, and small on the poor soil of coastal coasts. It reaches a height of 50 meters, evergreen, as we all know the Christmas tree. The bark of the eucalyptus tree is white with a gray tint, very smooth, but there are bald spots in it, as with age it sometimes crackes, exfoliates and falls off.
The young foliage of this tree is opposite, stalk-bearing and sessile, broadly and narrowly lanceolate. Leaflets up to two centimeters wide, up to ten long. More mature foliage is much larger, it reaches a size of up to 25 centimeters in length and about three in width.
Eucalyptus, a photo of which can be seen in this article, during the flowering period looks quite remarkable. This giant adorns itself with many inflorescences located axillary umbrellas, their color can vary from snow-white to bright yellow and pink, after flowering, fruits begin to form. Ripening, they have the form of four-walled boxes in which, as in the package, there are seeds.
Rod Eucalyptus: Distribution
This tree grows in dry forest regions of the Black Sea coast in the Caucasus. It can also be found in the Krasnodar Territory, Georgia, Azerbaijan (Lankaran region).
In New Zealand, in southern China, in South America and California, there are a lot of cultivated plantations of eucalyptus trees and shrubs. In small quantities, this plant is found in Asia, the tropics of Africa and the Mediterranean countries.
In many of the countries listed above, imported rod-shaped eucalyptus was cultivated. Australia and Tasmania are considered the birthplace of this evergreen giant.
In Russia (Krasnodar Territory), eucalyptus could take root, as it is a fairly frost-resistant tree. It can easily endure prolonged frosts with air temperatures up to minus twelve degrees.
The chemical composition of the leaves
Rod Eucalyptus is famous for its beneficial properties. Its main active ingredient is essential oil, which in the foliage contains up to three percent. The composition of the oil contains about eighty percent of cineole, the remaining substances are pinel, myrtenol and aldehydes (caproic, caprylic, isovalerianic).
Also in the leaves there is a small amount of esters, resins, tannins, volatile substances, organic acids and bitter substances.
Eucalyptus rod-shaped leaves are medicinal raw materials. A mixture is prepared from them, from which medicines are subsequently made in the form of lozenges, filter bags and tiles for the preparation of infusion, pure essential oil.
Effects on the body
What makes rod eucalyptus so remarkable? In nature, this tree is popular with koalas, this is their main food. Bears never get sick, because they eat eucalyptus foliage daily. People also learned how to benefit from the essential oils of this plant. What is it capable of?
- Effectively combats inflammatory processes.
- Restores breathing.
- It provides analgesic effect in muscles and joints.
- Stimulates the withdrawal of sputum from the lungs.
- Relieves a runny nose and sore throat, relieves coughing attacks.
- Helps in healing damaged skin tissue.
- Improves the condition of the skin.
- Suppresses the progression of gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. Effectively combats the harmful effects on the body of various microbes, bacteria and viruses, including influenza, streptococcus, staphylococcus, trichomonas, typhoid bacillus, tuberculosis microbacteria, pathogens of dysentery.
- Rod Eucalyptus has been recommended as an effective repellent.
Indications for use
Based on the above effects, we can safely talk about the indications for use. In what cases and under what diseases will the funds made on the basis of eucalyptus leaves be useful?
Diseases that affect the throat, nose and ears:
- laryngitis;
- otitis;
- rhinitis;
- chronic and acute tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- flu;
- ARVI;
- angina.
Means containing eucalyptus essential oils, tinctures and infusions can be used not only for the complex treatment of an existing disease, but also for prevention.
Diseases affecting the respiratory tract:
- tuberculosis;
- tracheitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea);
- bronchitis;
- bronchial asthma;
- gangrene and abscesses of lung tissue;
- pleurisy.
The fight against inflammation caused by viruses and physical effects:
- burns or frostbite of tissues;
- wounds, cuts, abrasions, eczema;
- herpes (the most common type of virus can be suppressed by the action of eucalyptus essential oils, it can also be used with inflammation that has already manifested);
- purulent mastitis;
- inflammation of the edge of the eyelids - blepharitis;
- furuncle and furunculosis;
- acute inflammation that occurs in adjacent sebaceous glands or hair sacs - carbunculosis.
Eucalyptus rod-shaped has a fairly wide range of applications. Its leaves are used for the preparation of preparations, decoctions and infusions, aimed at treating many diseases and gynecological nature. Eucalyptus has also established itself as an anesthetic. It is used to relieve pain in joints and muscles with radiculitis, rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, myositis and neuralgia.
Pharmacodynamics
The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus leaves were noted by mankind many centuries ago. Eucalyptus, a photo of which is available in our article, is used in pharmacology, and funds prepared on the basis of its leaves are distinguished by a gentle sedative characteristic.
Infusions on alcohol and water based from eucalyptus leaves have antiviral, antibacterial and anti-prosthetic characteristics, have high fungicidal qualities. They are used for inhalation and oral administration. Due to the above prescribed properties, such agents can significantly help in the removal of sputum from the lungs, in the treatment of a cold, including chronic.
Eucalyptus oils and alcoholic extracts treat damaged skin. They help in the healing of wounds, prevent the occurrence of inflammation or fight against them. Also, oils and tinctures are used to treat various skin diseases, including purulent ones. Thanks to the anesthetic properties, eucalyptus perfectly eliminates burning, itching, relieves redness and swelling of the skin. Its leaves can also be used for cosmetic purposes in the fight against acne, acne, and traces of them.
Means made from eucalyptus leaves can become a mild sedative and prophylactic with a low concentration of aroma oil, its amount should be about 0.3-1.5%. If a healing property is expected from eucalyptus to combat a progressive disease, then the concentration of aroma oil should be from 2 to 4.5%.
The increased content of natural bitterness and natural oils in the eucalyptus rod-shaped can help in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, as it contributes to a better and softer digestion of food.
Use of eucalyptus leaves during pregnancy
Almost all people who use folk recipes for the treatment and prevention of diseases believe that natural components are not capable of harming and are only beneficial. This judgment is fundamentally wrong. Medicinal herbs are also a medicine, and definitely affect the body, so you can’t ignore the advice of a doctor in any case. Rod Eucalyptus is a little studied plant, and products prepared from its leaves are prohibited for use by pregnant women. If there is no other alternative to treatment, then it is worth notifying your obstetrician-gynecologist that eucalyptus will be used to eliminate any symptoms of the disease.
Do not use eucalyptus products when breast-feeding a baby. The essential oils of this tree have a pronounced aroma and a bitter taste. Once in milk, they will fundamentally change its taste. The baby can simply refuse to breast, will be capricious.
Contraindications
As we have already noted, plants are also medicines, and they have a number of contraindications. Rod Eucalyptus is no exception. Its leaves should not be used if:
- individual intolerance to the components that make up eucalyptus;
- inhalation is not recommended for asthma, whooping cough, bronchospasm, atrophy of the upper respiratory tract mucosa.
Side effects
Since rod-shaped eucalyptus is well perceived by the body, only allergic reactions with the following symptoms can occur to products from its leaves:
- muscle spasms;
- redness and rashes on the skin;
- swelling, itching;
- hyperemia;
- nausea and reflex vomiting may occur;
- in rare cases, there is a slight disturbance in the digestion and intestinal function, bloating, flatulence may appear.
Side effects are extremely rare, but still, before using eucalyptus, take a sensitivity test by applying a small amount of the product to an intact skin area.
