Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Lemon eucalyptus

Renowned for its exceptional soothing and anti-inflammatory qualities, Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil is traditionally used in massage oils for joint and muscle health. Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil is also popular for its mosquito repellent effect when diffused on summer evenings.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Appropriate

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Possible but not recommended

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Eucalyptus citriodora

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil is traditionally used for : Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, sprains, strains, backache, insect and other animal bites, insect repellent, sciatica, stiff neck.

Health

Wellness

Beauty

Find out more

Rich in citronellal, which has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil isone of the essential oils in aromatherapy for relieving joint discomfort: it is traditionally used in cases of rheumatism, osteoarthritis, arthritis, tendonitis, sciatica, muscular painetc. Its active ingredients are also known to repel insects, making it ideal for air diffusion.

Properties

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is renowned for its health properties:

  • Rich in powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic active ingredients

  • Analgesic

  • Contains compounds known to repel mosquitoes

  • Mild anti-spasmodic

  • Rich in citronellal and citronellol, with antifungal properties

Uses

Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil is traditionally used to improve the following situations:

  • Joint and inflammatory pain: arthritis, osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, rheumatism, etc.

  • Tendonitis, tennis elbow, strains

  • Sciatica, stiff neck, muscle ache

  • Shingles

  • Urinary tract and gynaecological discomfort : urinary infections, cystitis

  • Athlete's foot, skin fungal infections

  • Itching, insect bites

In practice

Joint or muscle health: Mix with your oil blend. Apply your mixture locally, massaging lightly into the affected area.

Peaceful summer nights : Air diffusion

Precautions

  • Do not use during the first three months of pregnancy.

  • May be irritating to the skin; always dilute properly for skin application.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Some natural compounds in this essential oil may present an allergy risk to sensitive individuals when incorporated into a cosmetic formulation (according to the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on Cosmetic Products (2003/15/EC)): citronellol, linalool, and, to a lesser extent, limonene.

  • As a general rule, always perform a patch test of your mixture in the crook of your elbow at least 48 hours before use.

Find out more

Eucalyptus, a member of the Myrtaceae family, originated in Australia and has been acclimatised in a large number of countries around the Mediterranean (Spain, France, Italy), North America (United States, Mexico) and South America (Brazil, Chile). Commercial production of Eucalyptus began in Victoria in 1860. Since then, some 600 species have been discovered, 30 of which have proved useful in medicine.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Arthritis / sciatica in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Helichrysum essential oil: 2 drops

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 1 drop

  • Peppermint essential oil: 1 drop

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 3 drops

  • Vetiver essential oil: 1 drop

Use: 3 to 4 drops of the mixture applied locally to the painful area 3 to 4 times a day for 10 days.

Neuralgia (after consulting a doctor) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Wintergreen essential oil: 1 drop

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 2 drops

  • Common juniper essential oil: 1 drop

Use : 4 to 6 times a day locally.

Stiff neck, torticollis in adults (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Roman chamomile Essential Oil: 5 drops

  • Ravintsara Essential Oil: 15 drops

  • Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil: 10 drops

  • St John's wort Oil : 20 ml

Use: A few drops of the mixture, massaging gently then vigorously into the back and neck muscles Note Aroma-Zone: St John's wort macerated oil may cause photosensitivity. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this mixture.

Mosquitoes - repellent and treatment (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingVarious

  • Rose geranium essential oil: 3 ml

  • Java citronella essential oil: 1 ml

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 2 ml

Uses: - Repellent: Apply 10 to 12 drops of the blend to exposed limbs 4 to 5 times per day - Curative: Apply 1 to 2 drops to the bite.

Mosquito and spider repellent (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingVarious

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 4 ml

  • Java citronella essential oil: 6 ml

Use: Apply 2 to 3 drops to exposed parts of the body. Reapply every 4 hours.

Skin allergy: rash (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Chamomile (Roman) essential oil: 3 drops

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 3 drops

  • Helichrysum italicum essential oil: 4 drops

  • Calendula macerated oil: 90 drops

Directions for use: 4 to 10 drops, depending on the extent of the skin reaction, 3 to 5 times a day, until healed (2 to 3 days).

Varicose eczema (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Mentha piperita (Peppermint) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Pistacia lentiscus (Mastic tree) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 4 ml

  • Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Laurus nobilis (Bay laurel) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Thymus vulgaris, thujanol chemotype essential oil (can be replaced by thujanol Marjoram essential oil): 2 ml

  • Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil: 4 ml

  • Calophyllum Inophylum (Calophylla) carrier oil: 10 ml

  • Triticum vulgare (Wheat germ) carrier oil: Top up to 100 ml

Use: If accompanied by itching, add 0.5 ml Tanacetum annuum (Annual tansy). Apply 2 to 3 times a day locally to the eczema in addition to taking tamanu oil orally.

Muscle strain and tears in children (over 6 years old and on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

Liquid form (non-greasy)

  • Helichrysum essential oil: 2 ml

  • Blue tansy essential oil 0. 5 ml

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 2 ml

  • Lavandin super essential oil: 2 ml

  • Patagonian pine essential oil: 1 ml

  • Arnica carrier oil: 2 ml

  • Jojoba carrier oil: additional to 15 ml

Use: Apply 4 to 6 drops of the blend locally 4 times a day.

Sting lotion - insect repellent (C. Lacroix)

Health & wellbeingVarious

  • 150 drops citronella essential oil

  • 100 drops rose geranium essential oil

  • 100 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil

  • 100 drops patchouli essential oil

  • 50 ml sweet almond carrier oil

Directions: Mix the essential oils, then add sweet almond carrier oil.

Use: Apply a few drops only to parts of the body exposed to insect bites. Also put some on a cotton hat and reapply after 90 minutes.

Allergie cutanée / démangeaisons (prurit) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Matricaria recutita essential oil (German chamomile): 0.5 ml

  • Lavandula latifolia spica essential oil (spike lavender): 1 ml

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus): 1 ml

  • Mentha x piperita essential oil (Peppermint): 1 ml

  • Talc or green clay: 100g in a powder bottle

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together in a container.

Directions for use: 2 or 3 local applications a day until a full improvement is seen.

Acute otitis in children (over 6 years of age, after consulting a doctor and on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

  • Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil: 3 ml

  • Eucalyptus Citriodora essential oil (Lemon Eucalyptus): 3 ml

  • Melaleuca Alternifolia essential oil (Tea Tree): 2 ml

  • Jojoba oil: additional 15 ml

Directions for use: Apply 3 to 4 drops around the ear 5 to 6 times a day for 5 days.

Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Thymus satureoides (Thyme saturoides) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Ocimum basilicum var basilicum (Tropical basil) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang) essential oil: 0. 5 ml

  • Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) carrier oil: 10 ml

  • Corylus avellana (Hazelnut) carrier oil: add up to 30 ml extra as required for product optimisation

Use: 6 to 8 drops 3 times a day, applied locally to the painful area Aroma-Zone note: St John's wort macerated oil may cause photosensitivity. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this mixture.

Shingles in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Ravintsara Essential Oil 1 drop

  • Peppermint Essential Oil 1 drop

  • Exotic Basil Essential Oil 1 drop

  • Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil 1 drop

Use: 2 to 4 drops of the mixture on the pustules or painful area 8 times a day until symptoms disappear.

Varicose eczema (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Thyme CT thujanol essential oil (can be replaced by thujanol marjoram essentoal oil): 1.5 ml

  • Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil: 1.5 ml

  • Calophylla oil: 10 ml

  • Rosehip OIL: additional 30 ml

Use: 3 to 4 applications a day in situ, adjust as the skin changes.

Tennis elbow, tendonitis in adults (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 9 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) essential oil: 1 ml

Use : Apply to the painful area several times a day.

Insect bites (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingVarious

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon Eucalyptus) essential oil: 2.5 ml

  • Citrus limomum (Lemon) essential oil: 2.5 ml

  • Citrus reticulata (Mandarin) essential oil: 2.5 ml

  • Citrus aurantium var. aurantium (Petitgrain) essential oil: 2.5 ml

Use: Apply to the sting several times Note Aroma-Zone: Mandarin and Lemon essential oils are photosensitising, so do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this blend.

Mosquito repellent (D. Pénoël and P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingVarious

  • Cymbopogon Nardus essential oil (lemongrass): 2 ml

  • Pelargonium Graveolens essential oil (rose geranium): 2 ml

  • Eucalyptus Citriodora (lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Hazelnut oil: 30ml

Use : Apply to the body every hour.

Joint inflammation in children (over 6 years of age and on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

  • Rosmarinus officinalis CT camphora (rosemary camphor) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Cananga odorata totum (ylang-ylang complete) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Jojoba carried oil: 15 ml or more

Directions for use: Apply 4 to 6 drops of the mixture locally to the inflamed area 4 times a day for 2 to 3 weeks.

Oozing eczema in pregnant women (over 3 months pregnant and on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingProduct for pregnant or breastfeeding women

- Solid form

  • Tansy Essential Oil: 0.2 ml

  • Helichrysum essential oil: 0.3 ml

  • Niaouli essential oil: 0.3 ml

  • Egyptian geranium essential oil: 0.3 ml

  • Myrrh essential oil: 0.2 ml

  • Talc: top up to 100 grams

Use: 1 local application twice a day until noticeable improvement.

- Liquid form

  • Tansy Essential Oil: 0.1 ml

  • Helichrysum essential oil: 0.2 ml

  • Spike lavender essential oil: 0.2 ml

  • Lemon eucalyptus Essential Oil: 0.2 ml

  • Myrrh essential oil: 0.1 ml

  • Calendula oil: 10 ml

  • St John's wort oil: top up to 30ml

Aroma-Zone Note: St John's wort macerated oil may cause photosensitivity. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this mixture Use: 1 local application 3 times a day until noticeable improvement.

Shingles (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon Eucalyptus) Essential Oil: 3 ml

  • Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Essential Oil: 3 ml

  • Thujanol Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Essential Oil: 3 ml

  • Cinnamomum camphora Ct cineole (Ravintsara) Essential Oil: 3 ml

  • Lavandula latifolia spica (Spike lavender) Essential Oil: 3 ml

  • Calendula oil: top up to 30 ml

Use: 6 local applications a day until healed.

Bibliography

1

'Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir'

Dominique Baudoux

2

'The Practice Of Aromatherapy'

Dr Jean Valnet - Éditions Maloine

3

'L'Aromathérapie exactement'

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

4

'La bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

5

'L'ABC des huiles essentielles'

Dr Telphon

6

'Aromatherapy'

Nelly Grosjean

7

'Les huiles essentielles pour votre santé'

G. Roulier

8

'Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Pédiatrie'

Dominique Baudoux

9

Aroma-News newsletters

NARD Association

10

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

Dominique Baudoux