Sinus congestion can be caused by allergies, cold and flu, pollutants and smoke. The mucus you experience results from your body producing histamine, a chemical that dilates blood vessels and triggers runny eyes and nose. Luckily, there are a few natural remedies, such eucalyptus, which help to alleviate some of the symptoms that are caused by histamine production.
Eucalyptus Leaves
The Eucalyptus tree is a hardy evergreen tree with a gray trunk and blue-green sword-shaped leaves. Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia. Aborigines chewed the roots for water to survive in their dry climate. Settlers in Australia introduced eucalyptus into the traditional medicine system. It is known best as an effective relief from sinus congestion.
How Eucalyptus Can Be Taken
Eucalyptus oil is used in cough syrups, inhalants, lozenges, cough drops and medicinal teas. It is also rubbed on the chest, back or throat to relieve congestion, or it can be used with a steam vaporizer. You can add two drops of eucalyptus oil to steaming water, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam.
Benefits of Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus lozenges increase the production of saliva, making you swallow more and reducing the urge to cough that comes from excess mucus in the nose and throat. As an expectorant, it dilates the bronchial tubes. When eucalyptus is inhaled it prompts the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear and the throat, to open up so mucus can drain from the ear, resulting in decreased pain and pressure.
It Is in the Oil
Oil is extracted from the fresh leaves, branch tips and even dried leaves of the Eucalyptus tree. The active ingredient is cineol or euclyptol. To be effective as an expectorant, the oil must contain at least 70 eucalyptol. It is similar to menthol, acting on receptors in the nasal mucosa and relieving nasal congestion. Euclyptol oil is also found in camphor laurel, rosemary, sage, sweet basil, tea tree, wormwood and other aromatic plant foliage.
Side Effects and Cautions
Eucalyptus can be toxic if used excessively. It is advised that it not be used in children under two years of age, chronically ill persons, anyone with low blood pressure and breastfeeding or pregnant women. It also affects blood sugar levels, so it should be used with caution by diabetics. Symptoms of excess use include vomiting, gastric pain, diarrhea and depression of the central nervous system.
No comments:
Post a Comment