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Eucalyptus in bathroom


How Hanging Eucalyptus in Your Shower Can Benefit Your Health

Stepping into a hot shower can help release all the tension you’ve gathered after a long, stressful day. Now imagine breathing in deep to a minty, earthy aroma as it mixes with the steam—a distinctive scent that could only derive from a eucalyptus plant, which is native to Australia.

If that sounds like something you’d only experience in a luxurious day spa, think again. People are truly going the extra mile to amplify their shower experience by hanging a bundle of eucalyptus from their shower head. The “bath bouquet” trend isn’t exactly new, but likes to resurface on Reddit.

One post from user Mari1aAW, for example, recommends hanging eucalyptus in the shower for its amazing scent, but there’s actually more to this hack than meets the eye (or nose).

Eucalyptus has been shown to help relieve upper respiratory issues, which is why the plant’s essential oil is often the active ingredient in over-the-counter chest rubs and used with humidifiers.

When you hang eucalyptus in the shower, the steam releases the essential oils of the eucalyptus plant, which can aid in clearing nasal congestion and inflammation related to sinus and bronchial infections, at least temporarily.

Note: If you have dogs or cats in your home, make sure they have zero access to your eucalyptus as it’s extremely toxic for them to ingest. (Source: ASPCA)

Curious to see what showering with eucalyptus can do for you? You can buy fresh eucalyptus from your local florist, plant shop, the flower section of your grocery store, and even online—and don’t feel like you need massive bundle. One Reddit user commented, “We hang a few springs in each shower, not a huge bundle. The bundles we buy are about two inches in diameter (at the stalk), and that’s more than enough to cover two physical showers for a month.”

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Once you’ve got your eucalyptus, simply tie the stems together with a rubber band or natural twine and tie them to the shower head. Ideally, you’ll want to tie them toward the back of the shower head so they’re not directly in the water’s flow (similar to the image here). Some people even point them to the side or have them balance directly on top of the shower head instead of tying. It depends on what kind of shower head you’re working with.

A major bonus: Eucalyptus is super pretty, and that’s sure to lift your spirits, too.

So next time you’re laid up with congestion from a nasty cold or allergies, get a sprig of eucalyptus and hit the shower. It could be just the thing to clear you right up and give you a sense of calm.

Jenae Sitzes

Editorial Assistant

Jenae is the editorial assistant for Prevention.com, where she regularly covers nutrition, beauty, celebrity workouts, and health trends. Previously, she was an intern at ELLE and CountryLiving.com and a web producer for O, the Oprah Magazine. When she’s not writing about health and wellness, Jenae is either playing video games or reading tweets about The Bachelor.

How to Get Eucalyptus in the Shower: With or Without Branches

How to Get Eucalyptus in the Shower: With or Without Branches

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Corey Whelan on May 11, 2020

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Eucalyptus leaves contain oil, which is often distilled and sold as an essential oil for aromatherapy. Eucalyptus can be found in many products, including decongestants, cough suppressants, mouthwash, cosmetics, and muscle rubs.

Some of the compounds in eucalyptus oil provide potential health benefits that include promoting relaxation and clearing nasal congestion.

You can also reap the benefits and joys of eucalyptus by hanging it in your shower. Shower steam helps activate and release eucalyptus oil compounds into the air, allowing you to breathe them in. You can use either fresh or dried leaves for this purpose.

In addition to being pleasing to look at and having a scent that many people enjoy, eucalyptus in the shower may provide health benefits when inhaled. These include:

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Supplies

Based on how full you wish your bouquet to be, you’ll want to use around 7 to 12 eucalyptus leaf branches, but you can do this with as few as 3 or 4.

Steps

To make a bouquet for your shower:

  1. Gather the branches with the cut ends down.
  2. Clear the stems. Remove leaves from the bottom of each branch so that you have room to tie them together.
  3. Cut string or twine so that it’s approximately 24 inches long. Longer is better; too short and it’ll be difficult to tie and hang on your showerhead.
  4. Wrap the string tightly around the stems. Tie the branches together, right under the leafy part, so that the bare stems are below the twine. You may want to wrap a rubber band around the stems to temporarily hold them together while you secure the string around them.
  5. Use the ends of the string to attach your eucalyptus bouquet to the showerhead or another part of your shower. Make sure to tie it securely.
  6. Position the bouquet so that it is not directly under the water stream.
  7. Replace the bouquet every 3 weeks or until you no longer smell eucalyptus.

While you can find eucalyptus trees thriving in a lot of places, including your backyard, there are places to buy inexpensive branches. The added benefit? They’re already cut down to size.

If you prefer, you can reap the benefits of eucalyptus oil by using an aromatherapy diffuser or products such as eucalyptus soap when you bathe.

Let’s face it, we can’t all get our hands on fresh bunches of eucalyptus. There are other ways to get a similar effect.

Click on a link below to shop for that item online:

Keep eucalyptus branches away from the water

Eucalyptus oil can irritate skin and eyes, especially when not diluted in a carrier oil. Water and oil don’t mix or create a diluted mixture. For this reason, don’t place the leaves directly under the water stream. Rather, let the steam from your shower activate and release the oil into the air.

Swallowing eucalyptus oil has caused seizures

Don’t swallow eucalyptus oil. If swallowed, eucalyptus oil can cause seizures in some people.

Another reason to keep the leaves away from the water stream is so that the oil doesn’t go into your mouth or eyes.

Eucalyptus can irritate skin

Stop using eucalyptus if your skin becomes irritated or if you see signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives. It isn’t uncommon to be allergic to eucalyptus.

Call your doctor or 911 if you have a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis.

Not for kids or pregnant women

Eucalyptus oil is generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But don’t use eucalyptus oil near children or if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, without your doctor’s approval. Studies on the use of inhaled or topical eucalyptus oil in these groups are limited.

Toxic to pets

Inhaling or coming into contact with eucalyptus oils can be toxic to animals, including dogs, cats, and horses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Don’t use eucalyptus oil as aromatherapy if there are pets in the home.

Eucalyptus is a type of evergreen tree or large shrub that’s native to Australia. It’s also known as the silver dollar tree. Eucalyptus currently grows in many locations and is popular worldwide.

There are many varietals and hybrids of the eucalyptus plant. Each has a slightly different scent defined by woodsy green notes, which many people find soothing.

Compounds in eucalyptus help some people find relief from nasal congestion, coughing, and body aches. Some of its relief comes simply from its invigorating scent.

You can reap many of the benefits of eucalyptus by hanging it in your shower or adding it to your shower in other ways.

Last medically reviewed on May 11, 2020

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Corey Whelan on May 11, 2020

Read this next

Eucalyptus shower - a new fashion for body care

Evening shower is a relaxing ritual that helps you get away from your daily worries and get ready for sleep. Warm water opens the pores of the skin, so that the active ingredients of cosmetic formulations penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. To make taking a shower in a spa procedure, we will tell you a little secret - it has been tested by hundreds of girls abroad. nine0003

What is a eucalyptus shower

No, you don't have to make a eucalyptus broom or even soak it in hot water. It is enough to hang a few branches of fresh eucalyptus on a shower head: you can buy it in florist shops - eucalyptus is often used to decorate bouquets. It is enough to buy 6-7 branches and change them every 2 months. This is necessary to get the desired effect: the evaporation of fragrant essential oil. When heated, the leaves release ether, the molecules of which mix with the molecules of steam and quickly spread throughout the bathroom. nine0003

You can buy eucalyptus in a floristic salon

Photo: pixabay.com

Why is eucalyptus useful? A warm shower with eucalyptus is especially effective if you feel a stuffy nose and a scratchy throat. Also, essential oil has a positive effect on the beauty of the skin and hair due to the vitamins B1, B2, E, cinnamic and coumaric acids contained in it - blood circulation, metabolism are accelerated, hair becomes shiny and dandruff is eliminated. Eucalyptus shower is useful after training - muscles relax, joint pain is relieved. nine0003

Contraindications for eucalyptus shower

  • People with cardiovascular diseases are at risk: hypertension, tachycardia, varicose veins.
  • Pregnant and lactating women, children under 7 years of age should not take such a shower.
  • Make sure you are not allergic to eucalyptus oil by squeezing a leaf to release its juice and applying it to your skin. If there is no itching and redness, then you do not have an allergy.

check yourself for allergies

Photo: pixabay.com

How often can you shower

If you have no contraindications, you can shower 1-2 times a day. We do not recommend staying in a closed bathroom for more than 15 minutes: the scent of eucalyptus is strong enough to cause a headache or malaise. If after taking a shower you feel unwell, refuse the procedure, replacing it with an aromatic lamp or candles.

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