Blue Gum Eucalyptus

Written by Maryka Malano

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Blue gum eucalyptus, why is this a special ingredient? You may be thinking to yourself.

At Malano, we are moving close to the 1,500 raw ingredients mark and this feature is number 36. So, we have a long way to go, to give you all of the wondrous ingredients from nature. Mother earth has so many incredible plants, herbs, shrubs and trees that it is hard to discuss them all. Even within eucalyptus trees there are so many varieties that have their own unique chemistry. 

Blue gum is the common name, and its botanical name is Eucalyptus globulus, and another common name is Tasmanian Blue Gum. The main active ingredients (chemical constituents) in blue gum are 1,8 cineole, alpha-pinene, limonene, globulol, aromadendrene and alpha-terpinol. The main constituent in our blue gum is 1,8 cineole, however, 1,8 cineole variants can range from 45-95%. We use 80-85% because it has a beautiful aromatic profile and the higher cineole antioxidant activity. Cineole is found in over 200 essential oils and the one thing you may not know about it, cineole enhances a product’s skin penetration capabilities, which makes it excellent for pain creams and salves.

Blue gum trees are amongst the most widely cultivated eucalyptus in the world. It is in the family Myrtaceae. We also use Eucalyptus radiata and other types of gums and myrtles.

Various contributors at Stanford University wrote an article about Blue Gum: 

https://trees.stanford.edu/ENCYC/EUCglo.htm wrote an interesting article

 

Blue gum is a highly valued plant and is a tall native, it has numerous benefits, both medicinally and practically. 

So, let’s take a deep dive into the benefits of this amazing and versatile plant

1. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties – The leaves of the blue gum contain compounds that exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, very useful in your first aid kit, because it does assist with wound healing and skin infections.
2.  Insect repellent – The strong aroma of blue gum is effective with repelling insects and particularly if you combine with Lemon Scented gum and citronella. It is a great non-toxic alternative to many off the shelf insect repellents.
3.  Environmental benefits – Eucalyptus are well known for fast growth rates and the ability to thrive in a variety of climates. Making blue gum a valuable resource for reforestation projects and additionally, they improve soil quality and provide a beautiful habitat for wildlife.
4. Aromatherapy – Practitioners use blue gum for aromatherapy purposes and the benefits include; clearing and relaxing the mind, alleviating stress, and creating a calm and tranquil atmosphere.
5. Natural medicinal properties – Blue gum is renowned for it’s medicinal properties, and is used in traditional medicine to relieve respiratory conditions, including; colds, coughs, and nasal/ chest congestion. It has decongestant and expectorant properties.

With all of those benefits, you can see why we use a lot of blue gum in our products. 

So, which products can you find them in:

• We sell the Pure Essential Oil 15ml.
• Shampoo – Tasmanian Native Bush.
• Conditioner – Oily Hair.
• Soaps – Tasmanian Native bush.
• Pure Essential Oil Blends – Tasmanian Native Bush Blend.
• Ultra Soothe Cream.
• Congestion Salve

      Just on a side note, we do use Eucalyptus radiata, which is a little less strong in aroma, in Deodorant, Perfume with Purpose, Energizer essential oil blend, our Tasmanian Pine aroma reed diffuser and aroma oil and in our congestion salve.

Blue gum offers a range of benefits both therapeutically and practically. Whether your interest is your health and wellbeing, conserving the environment or just like an amazing aroma, this versatile oil makes a fabulous addition to your oil kit and has many potential uses. Why not give it a try? 

Many blessings.

The Malano Family xx