If your parents treated your cold with Vick's Vaporub when you were a child, you know the powerful and pungent scent of eucalyptus leaf, which also goes by the scientific name eucalyptus globulus and colloquially as the "blue gum tree." Although all species of eucalyptus are native to Australia, not all have been successfully cultivated outside of that country or have been equal usefulness as medicinal herbs; eucalyptus globulus however is the most widely cultivated species outside of Australia, and virtually all dried eucalyptus leaf comes from this species. (It has in fact become an invasive species in California.)
Eucalyptus leaf is just that, the leaf of a tree rather than an herb in the technical sense, but traditionally, people of Asia, Australia and Oceania have found it no less useful. Fresh c/s eucalyptus leaf is steamed in order to extract the essential oil; the strong scent of the oil extracted from this natural herb is claimed to be therapeutic and is pleasing to some. However, it is not pleasing to insect pests; it is among those organic herbs that are useful as a non-toxic insect repellent. The active chemical in this extract, eucalyptol, is among those derived bulk herbs for use in pharmaceutical medications as well.
Most commonly, dried or powdered eucalyptus leaf is brewed up as an herbal tea. It is said to have anti-bacterial properties as well as anti-viral, and may relieve bronchial congestion. While the organic herbs offered at Starwest are guaranteed to be of the highest quality however, no claims are made about the effectiveness of this or any other wildcrafted herb, root, seed or other botanical extract. Those planning to purchase bulk eucalyptic leaf for any therapeutic purpose are advised to consult a licensed herbalist.
