Got congestion? There’s an essential oil for that. Eucalyptus Essential Oil can treat just about any breathing-related issue in no time, and it smells ah-mazing. If you catch a whiff of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, it's like mint and pine, with a dash of honey.

Hailing from Australia, which is covered by nearly 230,000,000 acres of eucalyptus forest, this all-natural essential oil has a history of medicinal uses. Australian natives have long used Eucalyptus Essential Oil for congestion and fevers, and it became well-known worldwide during World War I when it quelled a meningitis outbreak. Today, Eucalyptus Essential Oil is prominent in the world of aromatherapy, though it is still widely utilized medically, especially for congestion.

From opening your nasal passages and soothing a sore throat to loosening the mucus in your chest – which encourages a productive cough – and providing a speedy recovery from cold sores, Eucalyptus Essential Oil really is a be-all and end-all cure. And, believe it or not, you may already have Eucalyptus Essential Oil in your medicine cabinet without realizing it.

Many over-the-counter ointments like Vicks VapoRub contain eucalyptus essential oil or eucalyptol. However, these ointments can also contain petrolatum, a mineral oil that traps toxins and bacteria onto your skin, leading to irritation. Eucalyptus Essential Oil can also be found in many OTC cough and cold medicines, and sore throat sprays, although some of these products have unwanted side effects. It’s better to stick with good for you essential oils.

Breathe Easier with Eucalyptus

For Your Nose

Sinus and nasal congestion are no fun, but all-natural Eucalyptus Essential Oil can help. Add several drops of the essential oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam through your nose. To ensure you're getting the most out of the healing treatment, drape a towel over your head to trap the steam in. The steam will thin and drain the mucus in your nasal passages and the decongestant properties of eucalyptus will help to relieve the rest of your symptoms. You'll want to breathe in and out through your nose over the sweet-smelling steam until you feel a loosening in your nasal passages.

Alternatively, you can add a few drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to a wet washcloth, and hang it up while you take a hot shower. The steam from your shower combined with the vapor from the washcloth will help clear your stuffy nose. Or, since you already know all about the health benefits of baths, add a couple drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to the bath water and take a nice, long soak.

For a more convenient option, just plop our Our Get Well Soon Bath Bomb into your tub, which is full of Eucalyptus Essential Oil in the form of a fun fizzy bath bomb. In addition to eucalyptus, our Get Well Soon Bath Bomb also contains feel-better essential oils like grapefruit and peppermint to uplift your mood, purify your body, and soothe away any aches and pains. It’s also loaded with nourishing ingredients like baking soda to gently exfoliate your skin, Jojoba and Argan oils to moisturize red and flaky patches, and Rosehip oil to calm inflammation and trap in hydration.

Last, but not least, to clear up congestion without leaving your couch, swish a clean washcloth in a bowl of hot water containing a couple drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Squeeze out the excess water and drape the washcloth over your nose and mouth. Breathe in, and ahhhhhhh.

For Your Chest, Cough, & Throat

We here at SLAB Handcrafted Soap have something to get off our chest… mucus! Use Eucalyptus Essential Oil to loosen up the mucus in your system. You can use the methods described above to inhale the essential oil, or you can create your own chest rub. Mix a couple drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil with the carrier oil of your choice and rub it onto your chest and throat. This can also help to quell a cough. As the mucus in your chest loosens up, you'll be able to cough it out productively instead of dry coughing to your wit's end.

Some folks also swear by adding a single drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to a spray bottle full of water. Mix it well and then spritz your concoction into your mouth to soothe a sore throat.

For Your Cold Sores

As an added bonus, Eucalyptus Essential Oil is anti-inflammatory, so it can help heal even the most stubborn of cold sores. Dab a drop onto your cold sore to ease the pain and speed up the healing process.

Folks… Start Your Immune Systems!

Eucalyptus Essential Oil can also help you avoid all of the above issues from the get-go! It’s great for your immune system, as it both stimulates and increases your white blood cells which eat up any harmful organisms to stop an infection in its tracks. To get its immune-boosting effects, add several drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to your diffuser and breathe in the medicinal vapors throughout the day or all night long.

For year-long benefits, wash your hands and body often with a soap containing eucalyptus, like our Eucalyptus Lavender Soap.  

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Share this post with someone you think could use some Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Don't forget that it's never too early to start your holiday shopping, especially since we always have specials going on all weekend.