Essential oils are known to offer lots of health benefits. One such essential oil is eucalyptus oil which is often used as a home remedy to treat respiratory problems because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
The many uses of eucalyptus oil may tempt you to use it on your baby who may be suffering from cold or congestion. But before you do so, it is important to understand if eucalyptus oil is safe for babies.
Eucalyptus oil is obtained from the leaves of eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus oil is used in medicines, as a perfume, and also has some industrial uses. It is a colourless liquid and has a sweet and strong woody smell. More than 700 species of eucalyptus are found in the world, of which only 500 odd species produce the essential oil.
Eucalyptus oil is used as a natural therapy to treat pneumonia, bronchitis, cough, cold and other respiratory diseases.
It stimulates immunity too. It improves respiratory circulation and has antioxidant properties. Cineole present in eucalyptus oil is an organic compound that has a lot of medicinal benefits like reducing pain and inflammation.
Eucalyptus oil offers a cure for the following ailments:
A common query among parents is whether eucalyptus oil is safe for babies. While it is true that eucalyptus oil has many beneficial properties, using eucalyptus oil for babies with colds may be unsafe because of many reasons:
If you do want to use eucalyptus oil on a baby’s blocked nose, it is important to know the right and safe way of using it.
You can use eucalyptus oil to soothe and open the airways of the baby’s nostrils if you take a few precautions.
Although eucalyptus oil may be used with some precautions, it is still not recommended to treat colds in babies because of its side effects. Here are alternative methods you can use instead.
Instead of using any essential oil for treating baby congestion, one may follow other methods to give comfort to babies. These include the following:
Nasal aspirator
A nasal aspirator can be used to clear mucus from the baby’s nose. It can also be used to clear the baby’s airways so that the child can breathe easily.
Hot water compress
This loosens the thick mucus that is blocking the nose, throat, or the baby’s chest. Use a small cotton cloth dipped in hot water and squeeze out the excess water. Apply the hot water compress on the affected area to give the baby some relief from congestion. The cloth should be mildly hot so that it does not burn the baby.
Eucalyptus oil offers a number of benefits but it is not suitable for children, especially those younger than 10 years old. It may cause side effects, which could range from mild to severe. If you do use eucalyptus oil for your baby, and if the baby experiences any breathing difficulties after inhaling the oil, consult a doctor at once. Please totally refrain from using the oil for babies under two years of age.
Conclusion
Even small or diluted amounts of eucalyptus oil can lead to serious reactions in babies, and it is advisable to steer clear of it. Use one of the recommended alternative solutions to clear your baby’s congestion.