HealthNotes

Side effects from the internal use of eucalyptus can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Eucalyptus oil should not be used by infants and children under the age of two, especially near the face and nose, due to the risk of airway spasm and possible cessation of breathing.¹⁵ The oil may aggravate bronchial spasms in people with asthma and should not be taken internally by those with severe liver diseases and inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and kidney.^{16, 17} Whole-body application of eucalyptus oil (double-distilled, containing 80 to 85% cineole oil) resulted in severe nervous system toxicity in a six-year-old girl.¹⁸ In a case report, a 4-year-old girl suffered a seizure after application of a eucalyptus oil preparation to the hair and scalp for the treatment of head lice.¹⁹ Eucalyptus should not be used in large amounts by people with low blood pressure as it may cause a further drop in blood pressure.²⁰ The safety of eucalyptus oil has not been established in pregnant or nursing women.