THE ANCIENT POWER OF EUCALYPTUS
WHAT THE ABORIGINES KNEW THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO
Australia’s indigenous people, the Aborigines, recognised the power of Eucalyptus. They revered the plant, deeming it sacred, and used it to promote health, to cleanse and in ceremonies to cure the spirit.
They would crush and soak the Eucalyptus leaves in water to create a medicine that could treat fevers and offer pain relief for a variety of conditions.
Their love of Eucalyptus did not stop there; however, they also used the bark to build canoes and the fine, hard wood of the tree to craft spears, boomerangs and shields.
WHAT WE KNOW NOW
Scientists today recognise the active organic compound behind Eucalyptus’ magic to be 1,8-Cineole, otherwise known as Eucalyptol; a well known anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial compound that is found in Tea Tree, Ginger and Spanish Sage.
Eucalyptol and its benefits are well established. It has been studied extensively and has proven to be a significant remedy in medicine. It is found in many products, from mouthwash, to cough remedies, to products that deal with inflammation and others that help look after the skin.
Studies show that Eucalyptus fights bacterial, viral and fungal infections and that it also has the ability to clear the respiratory tract of nasties.
HOW WE USE THAT KNOWLEDGE
Our botanist identified that within the 17 species of Eucalyptus we grow on the Isle of Wight, Eucalyptus globulus had the highest 1,8-Cineole content.
Our Eucalyptus is handpicked from our trees at Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight. Using a method similar to the Aborigines, we extract all the flavour from our Eucalyptus globulus leaves, via a patient tea-like extraction method.