Eucalyptus Is a Natural Cold and Pain Reliever
Eucalyptus is commonly found in over-the-counter cold medications and cough drops. The oil extracted from the leaves of Australian eucalyptus trees helps relieve nose and chest congestion, soothe coughing, and ease sore throats. Beyond its cold-remedying properties, eucalyptus is also an anti-inflammatory that helps reduce pain. In one study, people recovering from knee surgery reported that eucalyptus oil helped reduce pain. A topical cream that contains eucalyptus oil and menthol (the active ingredient in peppermint) is used to treat sore muscles and minor skin irritation. The oil may also have some use as an insect repellent. Humans should never eat eucalyptus (leave that to the koalas). The easiest way to use eucalyptus is to put a few drops of oil in hot water or a diffuser and breath in the healing mist.
