More and more traditional medicine is becoming popular. People sometimes completely refuse chemical preparations in the treatment, as they believe that herbs and infusions from them will not cause harm in the same way as the drugs obtained in the laboratory. But is it? Today we will look at the eucalyptus rod-shaped. The medicinal properties of this plant have been known since time immemorial, and it really brings many benefits. But, like everything useful, it has its contraindications. What plant is this?
Eucalyptus rod-shaped: description
This is a giant tree in dense forests, and a small one on poor soils of seaside coasts. It reaches a height of 50 meters, evergreen, like the well-known 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 cracks in places, flakes off and falls off.
The young foliage of this tree is opposite, amplexica and sessile, broadly and narrowly lanceolate. Leaflets up to two centimeters wide, up to ten long. More mature foliage is much larger, it reachessize up to 25 centimeters long and about three wide.
Eucalyptus, the photo of which can be seen in this article, looks quite remarkable during the flowering period. This giant adorns itself with many inflorescences arranged in axillary umbrellas, their color can vary from snow-white to bright yellow and pink, after flowering, fruits begin to form. When ripe, they have the shape of four-walled boxes, in which, as in the package, there are seeds.
Eucalyptus pruritus: distribution
This tree grows in the forest dry areas of the Black Sea coast in the Caucasus. It can also be found in the Krasnodar Territory, Georgia, Azerbaijan (Lenkoran region).
In New Zealand, in the south of 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 above countries, the imported eucalyptus rod-shaped was cultivated. Australia and Tasmania are believed to be home to this evergreen giant.
In Russia (Krasnodar Territory), eucalyptus was able to take root, as it is a fairly frost-resistant tree. He can easily endure prolonged frosts with air temperatures down to minus twelve degrees.
Chemical composition of leaves
Eucalyptus rod is famous for its beneficial properties. Its main active ingredient is an essential oil, which in the foliagecontains up to three percent. The oil contains about eighty percent cineole, the remaining substances are pinel, myrtenol and aldehydes (caproic, caprylic, isovaleric).
Also, the leaves contain a small amount of esters, resins, tannins, phytoncides, organic acids and a bitter substance.
Eucalyptus rod 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 preparing an infusion, pure essential oil.
Effect on the body
Why is the eucalyptus rod so remarkable? In nature, this tree is popular with koalas, it is their main food. Bears never get sick because they eat eucalyptus leaves every day. People, too, have learned to benefit from the essential oils of this plant. What is it capable of?
- Effectively fights inflammation.
- Restores breath.
- Gives an analgesic effect in muscles and joints.
- Stimulates the excretion of mucus from the lungs.
- Reduces runny nose and sore throat, relieves coughing fits.
- Helps in the healing of damaged skin tissue.
- Improves the condition of the skin.
- Suppresses the progression of gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. Effectively fights the harmful effects on the body of various microbes, bacteria and viruses, includingflu, streptococcus, staphylococcus, trichomonas, typhoid bacillus, tuberculosis microbacteria, dysentery pathogens.
- Eucalyptus eucalyptus has been proven to be an effective repellant.
Indications for use
Based on the above effects, we can safely talk about indications for use. In what cases and for what diseases will the remedies produced on the basis of eucalyptus leaves be useful?
Diseases that affect the throat, nose and ears:
- laryngitis;
- otitis media;
- rhinitis;
- chronic and acute tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- flu;
- ARVI;
- angina.
Means containing eucalyptus essential oils, tinctures and infusions can be used not only in the complex treatment of an existing disease, but also for prevention.
Diseases affecting the respiratory tract:
- tuberculosis;
- tracheitis (inflammation of the tracheal mucosa);
- bronchitis;
- bronchial asthma;
- gangrene and lung tissue abscesses;
- pleurisy.
Fight against viral and physical inflammation:
- burns or frostbite of tissues;
- wounds, cuts, abrasions, eczema;
- herpes (the most common type of virus can be suppressed by exposure to eucalyptus essential oils, it can also be used for already manifested inflammation);
- purulent mastitis;
- inflammation of the edge of the eyelids - blepharitis;
- furuncleand furunculosis;
- acute purulent inflammation that occurs in the adjacent sebaceous glands or hair follicles - carbunculosis.
Eucalyptus rod-shaped has a fairly wide range of applications. Its leaves are used to prepare remedies, decoctions and infusions aimed at treating many diseases and gynecological problems. Also, eucalyptus has proven itself well as an anesthetic. It is used to relieve pain in the joints and muscles with sciatica, rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, myositis and neuralgia.
Pharmacodynamics
The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus leaves have been noticed by mankind many centuries ago. Eucalyptus, the photo of which is available in our article, is used in pharmacology, and products prepared on the basis of its leaves are distinguished by a gentle sedative characteristic.
Alcohol-based and water-based infusions from eucalyptus leaves have antiviral, antibacterial and antiprosthetic characteristics, and have high fungicidal qualities. They are used for inhalation and oral administration. Due to the above properties, such remedies can significantly help in removing sputum from the lungs, treating the common cold, including chronic.
Oils and alcohol infusions of eucalyptus treat damaged skin. They help in wound healing, prevent or fight inflammation. Also, oils and tinctures are used to treat various skin diseases, includingpurulent. Thanks to its 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 be a light soothing and prophylactic agent with a low concentration of aroma oil, its amount should be about 0.3-1.5%. If a medicinal 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 eucalyptus rod can help in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, as it contributes to better and softer digestion of food.
Using eucalyptus leaves during pregnancy
Practically all people who use folk recipes for the treatment and prevention of diseases believe that natural ingredients are not capable of harm and only benefit. This judgment is fundamentally wrong. Medicinal herbs are also a medicine, and definitely affect the body, so you should never ignore the advice of a doctor. Eucalyptus rod is a little-studied plant, and remedies prepared from its leaves are prohibited for use by pregnant women. If there is no other alternative treatment, then it is worth notifying your obstetrician-gynecologist that in order to eliminate any symptoms of the disease,apply eucalyptus.
Do not use eucalyptus products when breastfeeding. The essential oils of this tree have a pronounced aroma and a bitter taste. Once in milk, they will radically change its taste. The baby may simply refuse to breastfeed, will be capricious.
Contraindications
As we have already noted, plants are also medicines, and they have a number of contraindications. Eucalyptus rod is no exception. Its leaves should not be used if available:
- individual intolerance to the components that make up eucalyptus;
- inhalations are not recommended for bronchial asthma, whooping cough, bronchospasm, atrophy of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.
Side effects
Since the eucalyptus rod is well perceived by the body, only allergic reactions with the following symptoms can occur on funds from its leaves:
- muscle cramps;
- redness and skin rashes;
- swelling, itching;
- hyperemia;
- may experience nausea and reflex vomiting;
- in rare cases, there is a slight disturbance in digestion and bowel function, bloating, flatulence may appear.
Side effects are extremely rare, but before using eucalyptus, take a sensitivity test by applying a small amount of the product to an undamaged area of \u200b\u200bthe skin.
How to use
Because eucalyptus products come in a variety of forms,there are many ways to use them and dosages. The most common procedure is inhalation. It is produced according to the following scheme.
One glass of boiling water requires 15 milliliters of infusion of eucalyptus leaves or 15 drops of essential oil. It is necessary to prepare a solution for inhalation immediately before use, as the oils may evaporate. The procedures are carried out for treatment within three days, 3-4 times a day.
