Eucalyptus tea is a herbal tea made from the leaves of the Australian eucalyptus tree. This tea, usually served hot, is commonly used to treat colds andused for flu symptoms. However, you can also combine this with other teas as a calming tonic. Science has examined the health benefits of eucalyptus tea through several researches, but with mixed results.
What is eucalyptus tea made of?
Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree widely used for its medicinal properties. Although this popular plant species is native to Australia, it now grows in many regions of the world. Their bark is naturally enriched with gum, while the long stems and circular leaves are difficult to digest if eaten whole. However, you can make eucalyptus leaves into a tea that is safe for consumption. Additionally, you can use the leaves for topical use orInhalation benefits as an essential oil. The tea has a light green color and a strong smell that some people describe as woody. The scent of eucalyptus is also clean or fresh to others. Since many types of lip balms and skin creams are also made from eucalyptus, the scent is familiar to many consumers.
There are different varieties of the eucalyptus tree that you can use to make eucalyptus tea and eucalyptus oil. Botanists usually refer to the most common variety as the blue gum tree or the common fever tree. This fast-growing tree produces long, leathery gray-greenish leaves. The leaf glands contain a volatile essential oil known accordingly as eucalyptus oil. However, the tea should primarily consist of crushed leaves of the tree, and not the oil extracted from the leaves. So the warm drink is sometimes called eucalyptus leaf tea to avoid confusion.
Health benefits
Most scientific research focusing on the health benefits of eucalyptus is conducted using eucalyptus oil instead of eucalyptus tea. The oil is much more concentrated than the tea, so you probably won't get the sameBenefits from drinkingof the tea. According to a published in 2016StudyHowever, the leaves are known to contain flavonoids and tannins, which have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Eucalyptus tea is commonly used as a remedy to relieve cold or flu symptoms. The vapors are often considered healing because inhaling them helps open blocked airways.
In addition to treating a cold, people use eucalyptus to achieve a number of other health benefits. These would be, for example, the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and even diabetes. Furthermore, consumption should reduce dental plaque and bad breath, as well as eliminate head lice and avoid insect bites. Other health benefits would include relieving headaches and treating liver and gallbladder problems. The strong scent of eucalyptus is also used in making household products such as candles and potpourri because people enjoy the scent. Toothpaste, mouthwash, bath products, and body creams made from eucalyptus are also commonly found in household goods.
How can you make eucalyptus tea?
Eucalyptus tea bags or loose leaf tea can be purchased at many grocery stores, health markets, and online. It is best to follow the tea preparation instructions on the packaging. However, you can also make eucalyptus tea yourself at home. It is particularly important that you prepare the tea with leaves and not with eucalyptus oil, as mentioned above. Using the essential oil can cause harmful side effects.
Use a dried eucalyptus leaf (about a teaspoon) to make your tea. Place the crushed tea leaf in the bottom of a teacup. Then heat water to 90-95 degrees Celsius. If you don't have a temperature-controlled teapot, bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for a minute to lower the temperature just slightly. Then pour approx. 200 ml of water over the tea leaves and let them steep for up to 10 minutes. You can inhale the vapors while the tea steeps if necessary. However, strain the loose leaves from the cup before drinking.
Adding honey to your eucalyptus tea will make it sweeter, which can ease sore throat symptoms. You can also mix eucalyptus tea with peppermint or chamomile to enhance the drink's calming properties. However, this is not ordinary tea in the traditional sense of the word and is not made from tea plants, as is the case with black orgreen teais. So only the leaves of the eucalyptus tree are brewed, which contain no caffeine. Therefore, eucalyptus tea is completely caffeine-free, although the fumes are sometimes described as invigorating.
Health risks and possible side effects
Eucalyptus tea is a good source of antioxidants and is generally recognized as safe for adults. However, children are at high risk for toxicity and should seek approval from a healthcare professional before drinking this tea. The leaves of the eucalyptus tree have many impressive benefits. They can help relieve pain, promote relaxation, and relieve cold symptoms. Many over-the-counter products also use eucalyptus extract to freshen your breath, soothe irritated skin, and repel insects.
Such tea is normally considered drinkable, but ingesting eucalyptus oil can be toxic in relatively small doses. Eucalyptus tea is probably safe to consume if consumed in small quantities. However, there is not enough information to know exactly whether supplements containing larger amounts of eucalyptus are safe when taken orally. It is always safest to speak to your doctor before using this or any other herbal treatment.
