Eucalypts, which are evergreen, form about three-quarters of the tree flora of Australia. They are often called "gums" which is a misnomer as the exudation from the bark is not a "gum" but a tannin-like substance. Eucalyptus are typically Australian although a few species have been found in neighbouring countries. The extensive plantations in Africa, South and North America, Europe, India and China were planted with Australian seed.Eucalyptus are widely distributed over the Australian continent. They range from the dwarfed and stunted forms called "Mallees" to the tall trees which grow in coastal and mountainous regions. More than 600 species have been described by botanists who have provided voluminous and conflicting literature on many of the species.
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Specification of Eucalyptus Oil
Product Code
LJP/EO
Name
Eucalyptus Oil
Botanical Name
Eucalyptus Globules
Obtain
By steam distillation from leaves and twigs.
Appearance
Colorless to pale yellow
Specific gravity
0.90500 - 0.92500 at 25.00 °C.
Optical Rotation
+1.00 to +4.00
Referactive Index
1.45800 - 1.46500 @ 20.00 °C
Solubility
Soluble in alcohol and oils
History
The eucalyptus oil story began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet and Surgeon-General John White. Within a few weeks of arriving, White recorded in his diary the presence of olfactory oil in the eucalyptus; the genus being named eucalyptus by the French botanist L’Heritier in the same year. Governor Philip sent a sample to Sir Joseph Banks. Surgeon-General White distilled a quart of oil from the "Sydney Peppermint", Eucalyptus piperita Sm., which was found growing on the shores of Port Jackson, where Sydney now stands.When the oil was tested in England, it was reported to be "much more efficacious in removing all cholicky complaints than that of the oil obtained from the well known English peppermint, being less pungent and more aromatic". Following this discovery other people extracted eucalyptus oil, including the pioneer, Dr Officer in Tasmania, and the pastoralist Charles Armitage, but none of them exploited it.Baron Ferdinand von Meuller, the Government Botanist in Victoria, encouraged Joseph Bosisto, a Victorian pharmacist, to investigate the essential oils of the eucalyptus on a commercial basis. Joseph Bosisto was a Yorkshireman who had qualified as a Pharmacist in Leeds and London. He arrived in Adelaide in 1848 at the age of 21. In 1851 he moved to Victoria in search of gold, but instead opened a pharmacy in Richmond, where he built a laboratory to investigate the chemical and medicinal properties of Australian plants.As a result of the collaboration with von Meuller the essential oil industry of Australia began in 1852, when Bosisto commenced operations in a small, rudely constructed still at Dandenong Creek, Victoria, using the leaves of a form of E. radiata (then known as E. amygdalina) which grew profusely in the district. Bosisto soon built other distilleries at Emerald, Menzies Creek and Macclesfield.
Property
Eucalyptus has a clear, sharp, fresh and very distinctive smell, is pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity.The Australian Blue-gum can sometimes reaches a height of 100 meters (300 feet), making it one of the highest trees in the world.
There are over 500 species of Eucalyptus trees, with tough long and narrow blue-green leaves, creamy white flowers and smooth pale bark.The 'eu' and 'kalypto' means 'well' and 'covered' in Greek, referring to the cup-like membrane that covers the flower bud, which is thrown off as the flower expands.The Australian Aborigines calls it 'kino' and they use the leaves to cover serious wounds.
Eucalyptus oil was introduced to Europe in 1788, and the first oil exported to England was called 'Sydney peppermint'. It was extracted from Eucalyptus peperita which is a more industrial type of oil.The tree uses a lot of water while growing and has been used to clear water-logged land, draining the water from swamps where malaria mosquito may be found. The tree was thought to prevent malaria in the past, due to this draining action.
Benefits / Uses
May help in insect bites, useful for cold, cough, headaches, muscular pains, rehumatoid, sprains etc. Also use for pains, migrains, in room spray, diffuser, massage, inhalation, sauna and bathe
Chemical Composition
The main chemical components of eucalyptus oil are a-pinene, b-pinene, a-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, aromadendrene, epiglobulol, piperitone and globulol.
Safety Data
It is non-toxic and non-irritant. Do not use on broken on irritated skin and don't use internally.
