Is It Safe To Use Eucalyptus Oil For Babies

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E s s e n t i a l oils h a v e several b e n e f i t s and d o loads o f good t o mankind. E u c a l y p t u s oil, o n e such e s s e n t i a l oil, i s known f o r its p o w e r f u l antibacterial a n d antiseptic a c t i o n . The o i l has m a n y healing p r o p e r t i e s and h a s been i n use a s a p o p u l a r home r e m e d y for t h o u s a n d s of y e a r s . It i s a n a t u r a l therapy t o treat r e s p i r a t o r y problems s u c h as c o l d , bronchitis, c o u g h , and p n e u m o n i a .

Y o u may l o v e to u s e this n a t u r a l oil o n your b a b y . But, h a l t a s e c o n d ! According t o Essential O i l Safety B o o k by R o b e r t Tisserand, e u c a l y p t u s is o n the l i s t of e s s e n t i a l oils t o be a v o i d e d on c h i l d r e n under 1 0 years o f age.

D i d we l e a v e you t h i n k i n g ? Then r e a d this p o s t at M o m J u n c t i o n to l e a r n everything a b o u t eucalyptus o i l for b a b i e s .

E u c a l y p t u s Oil A n d Its C o m p o n e n t s

E u c a l y p t u s oil i s an e x t r a c t from t h e leaves o f the e u c a l y p t u s tree. T h e oil h a s a c o m p o s i t i o n of m o r e than 1 0 0 different c o m p o u n d s . Single d i s t i l l e d eucalyptus o i l , which i s crude o i l , may c o n t a i n more c o m p o u n d s in d i f f e r e n t quantities t h a n the d o u b l e distilled e u c a l y p t u s oil, w h i c h is r e c t i f i e d . For i n s t a n c e , eucalyptus g l o b u l u s oil h a s nearly 6 0 % cineole a n d 40% o t h e r compounds. F o l l o w i n g rectification, t h e oil c o n t a i n s 80% c i n e o l e and 2 0 % other c o m p o u n d s .

S p e c i f i c a t i o n s BP: E u c a l y p t u s Oil

Constituents	R a n g e – L i m i t
a ( a l p h a ) – p i n e n e	T r a c e to 9 %
b ( b e t a ) – p i n e n e	L e s s than 1 . 5 %
a ( a l p h a ) – phellandrene	L e s s than 1 . 5 %
d ( d e l t a ) – l i m o n e n e	T r a c e to 1 2 %
1,8-cineole	A t least 7 0 %
Camphor	L e s s than 0 . 1 %
Sabinene	L e s s than 0 . 3 %

T h i s medicinal o i l is a common h o m e remedy t o deal w i t h respiratory a n d bronchial s y s t e m disorders. T h e healing v a p o r s from t h e leaves o f the A u s t r a l i a n botanical n a t i v e have b e e n used f o r years t o provide r e l i e f from r e s p i r a t o r y problems. T h e oil m a i n l y works a s a c o o l a n t . The t o p i c a l application o f eucalyptus o i l may i m p r o v e blood f l o w and e v e n disinfect t h e area. I t s expectorant q u a l i t y makes i t a w o n d e r f u l natural r e m e d y for c o u g h and c h e s t congestion.

W h y Can’t Y o u Use E u c a l y p t u s Oil O n Babies?

T h e many h e a l t h benefits m a k e us w o n d e r why e u c a l y p t u s oil i s not s a f e for b a b i e s . Read t h e below r e a s o n s to c l e a r your d o u b t s .

E s s e n t i a l oils l i k e eucalyptus o i l have h i g h 1,8-cinoele, w h i c h can l e a d to t h e problems r e l a t e d to c e n t r a l nervous s y s t e m and b r e a t h i n g in y o u n g children.

T h e amount o f 1,8-cineole i n eucalyptus o i l depends o n the c h e m o t y p e or t h e eucalyptus s p e c i e s .

E v e n though a few e u c a l y p t u s species m a y not h a v e much 1 , 8 – c i n e o l e , they h a v e other c o m p o u n d s which c o u l d be a concern f o r children.

T h i s oil i s quite s t r o n g and h a s the p o t e n t i a l to h a r m the d e l i c a t e skin o f babies a n d infants b y causing b u r n i n g sensation a n d irritation.

I n g e s t i o n may l e a d to d i a r r h e a , abdominal p a i n , vomiting, a n d severe s i d e effects o f eucalyptus o i l on b a b i e s include w h e e z i n g and b r e a t h i n g difficulties.

E u c a l y p t u s oil, a p p l i e d topically o r ingested, m a y lead t o serious p r o b l e m s such a s seizures a n d in e x t r e m e cases c o m a .

F o r children, w h o are t e n years o r younger, t h e oil s h o u l d not b e applied n e a r or o n the f a c e , especially a r o u n d the m o u t h and n o s e .

T h e eucalyptus e s s e n t i a l oil s h o u l d be t o t a l l y kept a w a y from b a b i e s less t h a n two y e a r s of a g e .

P o i n t s to R e m e m b e r :

I n case y o u r baby o r infant s h o w s breathing p r o b l e m s , take h i m to a healthcare p r o v i d e r immediately. Y o u r little o n e needs p r o m p t attention o f a d o c t o r , not t h e home r e m e d i e s .

E n s u r e that y o u r little o n e does n o t ingest t h e oil. B e even m o r e careful, i f there i s a f a m i l y history o f asthma. T h e oil c a n trigger a n asthma a t t a c k in y o u r little o n e .

I t is a l w a y s good t o seek a n expert a d v i c e before u s i n g any o i l on b a b i e s and i n f a n t s .

T h o u g h the e u c a l y p t u s oil i s medicinal a n d is a s effective a s prescribed o r over-the-counter m e d i c a t i o n s , it i s not a p p l i c a b l e for b a b i e s . The a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e oil e i t h e r directly o n the c h e s t or i n h a l a t i o n through a vaporizer, t o deal w i t h congestion, i s good o n l y for a d u l t s and n o t babies.

P a r e n t s may a s s u m e that a small a m o u n t or d i l u t e d amount o f this m e d i c i n a l oil m a y not b e harmful f o r babies, b u t they c a n ingest o r inhale e n o u g h oil ( t h r o u g h a v a p o r i z e r or h u m i d i f i e r ) for a reaction t o occur.

H o p e this a r t i c l e helps y o u understand e n o u g h about u s i n g eucalyptus o i l for b a b i e s . Do l e t us k n o w your v i e w s in t h e comments b o x below.

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