{"id":222833,"date":"2025-10-24T14:30:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T14:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/222833\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T14:30:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T14:30:03","slug":"the-calming-herb-that-can-hydrate-dry-skin-and-alleviate-joint-pain-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/222833\/","title":{"rendered":"The calming herb that can hydrate dry skin and alleviate joint pain"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Living<\/p>\n

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer lifeLive your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletterLive your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter<\/p>\n

\"Living<\/p>\n

Eucalyptus isn\u2019t just good for koalas. The Australian herb can help people hydrate dry skin and ease joint pain<\/a>, according to experts. <\/p>\n

While the eucalyptus tree\u2019s leaves are toxic for humans to consume, the leaves produce a powerful essential oil that can be safely applied on the body when mixed with lotion or vegetable oil. <\/p>\n

Commonly used in aromatherapy, the oil may help strengthen the outer layer of the skin and lock in moisture, according to the skincare brand Kiehl\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese essential oils are concentrated plant extracts,\u201d Cleveland Clinic\u2019s Dr. Melissa Young explained<\/a>. \u201cThey can be used in different ways from just inhalation to use with a massage and putting them in the bath.\u201d<\/p>\n

Used medicinally and in ceremony by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years<\/a>, eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory properties that Egyptian<\/a> and South Korean researchers say have helped people with arthritis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Using<\/p>\n

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Using eucalyptus can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain (Getty Images\/iStock)<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir antimicrobial activity helps prevent infection, while their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties contribute to reducing inflammation and pain associated with wounds,\u201d pharmacologists in Egypt and Iraq said in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eucalyptus oil is especially useful during cold and flu season<\/a>. It can fight infection and ease frustrating congestion, the clinic noted. Its strong, woody scent opens up the nasal passages<\/a>, making it easier to breathe and helping the body to break down mucus.<\/p>\n

The oil can also help stave off ugly cold sores \u2013 and all you need is a couple of drops and a teaspoon of vegetable oil to dilute. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to apply most [essential oils] directly to the skin unless you have a carrier oil because you could get a rash, burns, or allergic reactions,\u201d said Young, noting that essential oils are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. <\/p>\n

Women who are pregnant, people who have asthma, and those who get headaches or migraines should avoid them, she added. <\/p>\n

\"Eucalyptus<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Eucalyptus essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety levels (Getty Images\/iStock)<\/p>\n

But, for the majority of users, eucalyptus oil can help soothe stress and promote winding down when used correctly, the Cleveland Clinic says.<\/p>\n

Eucalyptus oil has been shown to decrease anxiety levels, South Korean researchers found in 2014<\/a>. Adding a handful of drops to a bowl of hot water or a diffuser can do the trick. <\/p>\n

\u201cMany people use it in diffusers to create a soothing environment during cold and flu seasons,\u201d Miranda LaBant, a naturopathic medical doctor at the Brio-Medical Integrative Cancer Treatment Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, told Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer lifeLive…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":222834,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[102,6591,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-222833","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-medication","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}