Eucalyptus Oil has been used for over 100 years for many different remedies. [caption id="attachment_537" align="alignleft" width="179"] Eucalyptus[/caption] According to Bush Medicine, A Pharmacopeia of Natural Remedies, Australian Aboriginals use eucalyptus leaf infusions (which contain eucalyptus oil) as a traditional medicine for treating body pains, sinus congestion, fever, and colds. Eucalyptus oil was first distilled by Dennis Considen and John White, surgeons on the First Fleet, in 1788 to treat convicts and marines in Port Jackson in Sydney, Australia. In 1894, Lunsford Richardson a US Pharmacist from North Carolina, created a salve for his [caption id="attachment_536" align="alignright" width="267"] Vicks Vaporub has been used on children for more than 100 years and contains Eucalyptus Oil (1.2%)[/caption] children, after he traveled to France. This salve became Vicks VapoRub, and contained various essential oils including Eucalyptus Oil. A Penn State studied showd that Vicks VapoRub may be effective for helping cough and congestion, and helping children and even adults sleep. Some say it is the 1,8 Cineole (also known as eucalyptol) that is found in eucalyptus essential oil that may help aid breathing. It's great to use while working out or running! Listed below are popular essential oils that contain 1,8 cineole. Over 200 essential oils contain 1,8 cineole (in smaller amounts) Before you get excited to use eucalyptus or a blend or mixture that contains eucalyptus (or other essential oils that contain 1,8 cineole). There is caution with utilizing oils that contain 1,8 cineole, especially with small children ages 2 to 5. 1. DO NOT NASALLY INSTILL. As with any essential oil, do not insert drops or mixture with essential oils into nostrils. Majority of the few reported cases of adverse effects from essential oils that contain 1,8 cineole were either ingested in large quantities (5ml, 10ml, 30ml+) or they were nasally instilled. For this reason, you may want to take a precautionary measure. It is recommended that you do not use topically (even when [caption id="attachment_539" align="alignright" width="160"] Do Not Put drops of essential oils in nostrils.[/caption] diluted) around nasal cavity or mouth of an infant or small child (age 6 and younger). 2. USE CAUTION AROUND INFANTS If you are cautious with infants, do not apply essential oils or blends that are high in 1,8 cineole (even diluted). There are alternative oils to eucalyptus. Or diffusion may be an alternative method. Over the counter ointments that contain 1,8 cineole even in low concentrations are not recommended for children under the age of 2. Majority of the few cases that documents adverse breathing effects from 1,8 cineole involved children under the age of 2 (and improper use). Note: Essential oils 1,8 cineole are generally safe for children over the age of 2 when used properly (topically diluted or aromatically - non direct). 3. DILUTION IS RECOMMENDED WHEN USED TOPICALLY. Most people that I work with apply oils that contain 1,8 cineole "neat" or without dilution with no adverse effects. But if you choose to use caution with a child age 2-5, you can dilute an oil such as eucalyptus or cardamom by placing 1 drop of oil per teaspoon of a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. This is about a 1% concentration. Many over the counter ointments that are safe for children generally have a concentration of around 1%. Vicks 4. DO NOT USE HIGH QUANTITY. As with any essential oil, you should not use a high quantity, especially in the case of eucalyptus (or oils that contain 1,8 Cineole). Let's talk about ingestion, for breathing or congestion issues, ingesting 1,8 cineole may not be the most effective way to take care of it. [caption id="attachment_538" align="alignleft" width="263"] Essential Oils should be measured by drops, not spoonfuls. 1 drop of essential oil is roughly 60mg. So if an oil has 50% 1,8cineole. 1 drop contains 30 mg 1,8 cineole.

On the other hand 1 teaspoon 5ml, has over 4 grams of oil and at 50%, that's over 2 grams which is dangerously high![/caption] Let's say the average person ingests a couple drops of cardamom, it isn't dangerous or life threatening. So what is too high? Danger limits have been established but safety limits are unclear. 1/2 teaspoon may not seem like much but thats 2.5 ml or about 40 drops of essential oil in one sitting. That is a high quantity! On the other hand, 1 drop of essential oil is 0.0625 ml or 60mg (depending on oil) is relatively low. Again, ingesting copious amounts of essential oil is not advised. 1,8 cineole has more than 2,000 mg/kg oral LD50 (the dose required to kill 50% of the animal population, while caffeine has 200mg/kg oral LD50. Millions of American's drink caffeine everyday. Note: There may be other factors of toxicity involved. But this example gives perspective and gives meaning to numbers. We've already touched upon topical use. Dilution is important. There is one case that a mother mother used a 40 ml head lice treatment with 11% Eucalyptus oil for 10 minutes on a 4 year old girl. That's 4.4 ml or 70 drops of eucalyptus oil! After washing it off she put on a head lice conditioner with 2.5% concentration eucalyptus. After 3 hours, the girl had a seizure. This case is atypical, meaning it doesn't represent all children or people. There have been reports of seizures with internal use, but this was the first case on just topical use (albeit it was a high concentration on the head). For this reason, less is more. When used topically with young children, dilute. When used aromatically with young children, use indirectly in a diffuser that does not diffuse the oils straight. Is it worth trying 1,8 Cineole oils?  After going over all the precautionary measures, why would a person use oils that contain 1,8 [caption id="attachment_534" align="alignright" width="147"] 1,8 Cineole is found in over 200 essential oils and is extensively researched for its benefits.[/caption] cineole? 1,8 cineole has thousands of studies pertaining to potential benefits. Oils that contain 1,8 cineole such as eucalyptus and rosemary has been used traditionally for hundreds of years. There are alternatives which may work for some, but not as efficacious as oils that contain 1,8 cineole. We've personally seen a ton of benefits with families that use blends that contain eucalyptus (lesser concentration than eucalyptus straight), rosemary, or cardamom with no reported cases of adverse effects. Many of these families have tried other alternatives that were either not as effective or had negative effects. Whether it is a company creating an ointment, or a certified aromatherapist making a blend, it is popular to use oils that contain 1,8 cineole even for children. How can I use 1,8 cineole oils with children? So here's how you can use oils like eucalyptus, rosemary, cardamom, or blends containing them around children: 1. Diffuse the oil. There are some diffusers that diffuse oil straight (without dilution). Use a diffuser that utilizes water. Use for shorter period of time with smaller children. 2. Dilute for topical use. Use on chest, back or feet diluted. A good ratio to start off with is 1 drop per 1 tspn carrier oil. 3. Use an alternative with lower concentration of 1,8 cineole like cardamom. Even with the alternative, dilute the oil 1 drop to 1 tspn carrier oil. 4. As an adult, it's okay if you use 1,8 cineole type oils topically. The Studies  There are thousands of studies on 1,8 cineole and health but only a handful of studies that cover cases of reported adverse effects either with oils that contain 1,8 cineole or mixtures/solutions that contain 1,8 cineole. These studies are not a representative of the usage of 1,8 cineole by millions of families worldwide. In every single case that had adverse effects, the substance was used improperly either by method of usage, age, or quantity. To put you at ease, I listed the documented cases I could find with an explanation so you can learn from them and be empowered make a decision: Breathing complications caused by misuse of products containing 1,8 cineole:Study: Nasal Instillation of 'Olbas Oil' on Infant. (Wyllie et all, 1994)  [caption id="attachment_535" align="alignleft" width="134"] Olbas Oil is a popular herbal/aromatherapy Europe and has been used for over 100 years. It was formulated in Switzerland.[/caption] Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1029805/
Notes: Improper age. Improper Usage. A relative gave the mother Olbas Oil (Popular remedy from Switzerland that contains Eucalyptus) without the box or instructions.
She did not notice the warning against use in infants and put several drops in his right nostril.
He immediately coughed,became tachypnoeic, and his color deteriorated. Age: 4 months old | Method: Nasally Instilled| Amount: Not Specified Case: Vicks Vaporub Misuse May Hurt Infants, 2009 Link: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/story?id=6631985 Notes: Vicks VapoRub was applied below the nose in an eighteen months old child with supposed respiratory infection. The child immediately stopped breathing. She was admitted to emergency room. It was used on the child younger than 2 years (contraindicated according to the product label) and it was not applied on the chest wall (contrary to instructions) and was applied under nose (misuse) Official statement by makers of Vicks Vaporub:

Age 18 months old | Method: Topically below nose | Amount Not Specified (Possibly 0.5-1gram bsaed on typical usage) Other cases: There were 8 other cases of solutions with 1,8 cineole causing respiratory issues when misused through nasal installation with children ranging from 1 month to 3 years old. No amount was specified. Solutions were not identified. CNS problem in child caused by topical use eucalyptus oil: Study: Seizure caused by dermal application of over-the-counter eucalyptus oil head lice preparation. (Waldman 2011)
Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21867365
Notes: Atypical. Study identifies potential risk but cause was not identified. 1,8 cineole is suspected, but the correlation may not be the cause as there are other factors identified and unidentified. This case is atypical. Other topical uses on the chest does not Age: 4 years old | Method: Topically on Head | More than 4.4 ml of Eucalyptus Oil (in 40 ml of treatment) Study: Eucalyptus oil: 14 cases of exposure. (Spoerke etc., 1989) Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2929128 Notes: Misuse of ingesting high amounts. Inappropriate age, infants. Age: 8 Month | Method: Ingestion | Amount: 30 ml Study: Eucalyptus essential oil ingestion. (Hilde, 1994) Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8177581 Notes: Misuse of ingesting high amounts. Inappropriate age, infants. Age: 11 Month | Method: Ingestion | Amount:10-15 ml (spilled into mouth) Study: Plant-Induced seizures: reappearance of an old problem (Buckard et all, 19993 Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10460442 Notes: Although tonic included eucalyptus. It attributed seizures to their content of highly reactive monoterpene ketones, such as camphor, pinocamphone, thujone, cineole, pulegone, sabinylacetate, and fenchone. Age: 12 month old | Method: Prolonged bath in tonic | Amount: Not specified  There are studies with over a hundred children in similar situations (high topical usage or ingestion) where there is no seizures but with other effects. Only four cases seizures (show seizures) Three involved infants Age 12 months or less. One involved a 4-year old. Two cases involved ingesting 10 or 30 ml of oil (in infants) Two involved topical usage. One confirms high concentration of topical use while other has undetermined amount. Conclusion There is little to no risk, when essential oils are used properly. 1,8 cineole is not necessarily a bad thing. Even Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia) essential oils (which many experts say is safe for use on children diluted) contains 1,8 cineole. There is a correlation between high amounts of solution containing 1,8 cineole, infants, misuse with issues. There are precautionary measures people can take such as dilution and proper usage. The reason why oils containing 1,8 cineole are used and are still promoted for remedies is because people find it effective and they have been used for over 100 years for breathing remedies. Plants that are used traditionally for breathing generally have that compound together with the other compounds found in plants may produce a wonderful effect. So don't panic, if you've been using oils or blends containing eucalyptus, if you use them properly. If you or your children have not experienced adverse effects so far, there is virtually little chance for you to experience adverse effects if you use the oils properly in the future.