What is eucalyptol?
Many people believe that Koalas are drunk or ‘high’. Eucalyptus leaves do not make them drunk or high, but instead, provide a minimal amount of energy. Koalas, therefore, sleep for 18-20 hours per day to conserve their energy for the night-time.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Eucalyptol, also known as cineole, is commonly used as a flavoring agent in everything from foods to toothpaste to cough drops. Like many of the terpenes we’ve covered, it’s also an effective insecticide
Eucalyptol itself has a fairly high lethal dosage in rats, meaning rats can consume quite a bit without any problems, but I couldn’t find much data on how much humans can safely consume. However, eucalyptus oil is the most bountiful source of eucalyptol and it can be toxic when ingested. (Unless you’re a koala, but if you’re reading this you’re probably human.) Fortunately, applying diluted eucalyptus oil to the skin and smelling it are both safe.
Eucalyptus oil, and thus eucalyptol, are very popular in aromatherapy; inhaling eucalyptus oil has been shown to ease pain and lower blood pressure. In other words, always smell your cannabis.
Therapeutic Uses
- Shows potential to fight tuberculosis.
- Prevents both the spread of malignant cells and the creation of cholesterol.
- It causes the death of colon cancer cells and leukemia cells.
- Improves the lung function, asthma symptoms, and quality of life of asthma patients.
- It has an anti-inflammatory effect on bronchial asthma.
- Sinus infections can be successfully treated with cineole.
- An effective anti-bacterial that can fight E. coli, Staph. aureus, and more.
- An anti-inflammatory that agent can help with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
- Anti-fungal but MSU developed a type of fungus that produces eucalyptol that shows great potential as a fuel additive.
- Improves circulation and decreases pain when used topically for peripheral neuropathy.
Cannabis Strains with Eucalyptol
- Super Silver Haze
- Headband
- Bubba Kush
- Girl Scout Cookies
Other Sources of Eucalyptol
- Eucalyptus
- Bay leaves
- Camphorwood
- Damiana
- Ginger
- Tea tree oil
- Mugwort
- Turmeric
- Rosemary
Eucalyptol as a Functional Ingredient
Damiana is a great source of eucalyptol, and it brings a lot of other benefits. Damiana can increase the supply of oxygen in the blood, possibly due to the circulation-boosting eucalyptol, which can improve sexual expression.
It also helps people maintain stable energy levels throughout the day while easing tension. In other words, it won’t make you jittery or cause a crash the way caffeine can.
How to Eat More Eucalyptol
From the Minimalist Baker
Ginger Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/4-1/2 tsp ground or fresh grated ginger
- sweetener to taste
- pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2-3 ginger candies (optional)
Directions
Heat the milk and water in a medium saucepan. Once it comes to a simmer, reduce heat slightly and whisk in cocoa powder, ginger, sweetener, and salt. Whisk vigorously to incorporate.
Once the cocoa is hot enough for your liking (about 3-5 minutes), remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Stir once more.
Take your ginger candies and rub them along the rims of your serving glasses or mugs. Eat or discard; they get mushy when added to the beverage.
Pour in hot cocoa and top with coconut cream, whipped cream, or marshmallows – whatever you like.
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Image credit: The Leaf Online
