Lemon Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus citriodora, also called lemon scented eucalyptus is sweet, lemony, fresh, with a woody hint. The oil has a strong citronella like aroma with a sweet balsamic undertone. Because of the higher citronella content than citronella it is a very effective insect repellent. It is an elegant evergreen tree native to Australia and now wildly cultivated in various locations such as Egypt, Spain, India and South Africa. It requires large quantities of water and is often planted in malaria-ravaged regions to improve ground drainage. The tree grows swiftly and can easily grow as high as 45 meters. Its bark is smooth and bluish gray. The juvenile leaves are large, alternate, peltate and hairy, which become narrowly lanceolate in maturity and reveal lemon scent when crushed. The tree has white flowers and capsule-like fruits that contain numerous minuscule seeds. Essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora is extracted from the leaves by steam distillation.
Medicinal Uses
Source: Steam distilled from the leaf; organically farmed; grown in Australia.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Properties: Cooling Considered analgesic, calming, sedative and anti-hypertensive. Used for cystitis and bug repellent.
Contraindications: Do not ingest. Can cause photosensitivity of the skin; wait at least four hours before going out in the sun or tanning.
Eucalyptus leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies.An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antibacterial. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses.
APPLIED TO THE SKIN
For preventing mosquito bites: a 30%, 40%, or 75% lemon eucalyptus oil solution. However, the higher concentration does not seem to be more effective than the lower concentration. Commercial products available in the US (e.g., Repel Lemon Eucalyptus) contain 10% to 30% lemon eucalyptus oil. Directions on these products suggest applying the oil no more than twice per day. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the oil.
Other Uses
A lemon-scented essential oil is obtained from the leaves. It is used, especially in perfumery but also medicinally. The leaves yield between 0.5 to 2.0% essential oil. This species is a very rich source of citronella, which is much used in the perfumery industry. Some batches of the essential oil contain 98% citronella. Glabrous leaves may contain oil with 65.5% citronellal, 12.2% citronellol, and 3.6% isopulegol; hairy leaves contain more oil with 86.6- 90.1% citronellal, 4.6 - 6.0% citronellol, and 0.7 - 0.8% isopulegol, 1-pinene, b-pinene, and isovaleric aldehyde are also recovered. The leaves and the essential oil are used as an insect repellent. The leaves are also an ingredient of pot-pourri.