Have you been seeing lots of advertisements or Pinterest photos with eucalyptus bundles hanging from shower heads? Maybe you have been to a friend’s house and noticed one in his or her bathroom. Or perhaps you have been aware of the trend for years but have never been clear on why people choose to invest in eucalyptus bundles. You may be asking, “What does eucalyptus actually do in the shower?” If you’re looking for a reason behind all the hype, this is the article for you. Keep reading to learn about what eucalyptus does, how it does it, and what the myriad of benefits include. 

What does eucalyptus do in the shower?

This is a great question to ask! Essentially, eucalyptus accomplishes a variety of end goals when placed in a shower space. Let's walk through a few of them before diving deeper into the specifics further on. 

1. Eucalyptus makes for a great aesthetic. 

There's a reason you've seen it all over your Pinterest account. Eucalyptus adds a natural feel and a sense of 'green energy' to your bathroom space that can't be accomplished without some sort of living plant. Plus, your shower will just look more sophisticated with an attractive eucalyptus bundle artfully displayed. If you're looking to elevate the general aesthetic of your home, specifically your oft-neglected bathroom space, a eucalyptus bundle will do the trick!

2. Eucalyptus smells great both during and after your shower.

As a small and confined space, bathrooms are easily permeated by odors - both pleasant and unpleasant. Make sure your bathroom smells pleasant by adding a eucalyptus bundle that will react with the steam and humidity in your bathroom's shower to release a refreshing and natural fragrance. 

3. Eucalyptus has many physical health benefits.

Eucalyptus has been shown to help improve breathing, reduce congestion, tamp down on inflammation, get rid of coughs, and strengthen your overall immune system; what more could you want?

4. Eucalyptus also has mental health benefits.

Eucalyptus also has properties that help improve your mental health by reducing stress which can have a myriad of positive effects on your mental health. Other mental-related benefits include reports of improved sleep to better moods to higher energy levels.

What makes eucalyptus smell good in the shower?

While the characteristic scent of eucalyptus exists outside of the shower, the steam actually magnifies it by interacting with the eucalyptus oil compounds and causing them to release an intensified version of the eucalyptus fragrance into the air. The combination of the moisture in the steam and the compounds in the eucalyptus bundle merge to create the clean, minty scent that characterizes eucalyptus. 

What are the health benefits to adding eucalyptus to my shower?

The benefits of adding eucalyptus to your shower are wide and varied. There’s the obvious aesthetic appeal but did you know that there are also a wide variety of health benefits to be gained from adding eucalyptus to your shower? 

Physical Benefits:

Eucalyptus can help your breathing. 

There are several different reasons and contributors to having breathing difficulties and eucalyptus can help with nearly all of them. 

First, the eucalyptol compound in eucalyptus plant oil functions as an expectorant, meaning that it loosens mucus in the lungs. This is beneficial as it allows you to cough up the now-loosened mucus, clearing your lungs and helping your breathing to return to full capacity faster.

Second, eucalyptus also has decongestant properties that come in part from its anti-inflammatory effects. Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose that have swollen as an immune response to whatever illness or allergy has sparked the buildup of thick mucus. Once the blood vessels are reduced in size, air can more easily pass through which makes breathing less of a chore. At the same time, the decongesting properties in eucalyptus work with its expectorant qualities to expel mucus and provide relief. 

On a broader level, eucalyptus is an anti-irritant. This means that it reduces irritation throughout the body including swelling and redness. If you have a sore throat that is making it difficult to breathe comfortably, eucalyptus can provide some aid in mitigating this symptom. 

Eucalyptus can help a cough go away.

As eucalyptus is a decongestant, it can reduce coughing caused by a cold or congestion. It can also help calm your lungs through its anti-irritant properties which can help 

Eucalyptus strengthens your immune system. 

Eucalyptus has antioxidant properties due to its high concentration of phenolic compounds which are plant-based antioxidants. Antioxidants basically strengthen the immune system by fighting against free radicals in your body which can cause harm when their levels become too high. Therefore, antioxidants provide a preventive measure against respiratory illnesses and keep you breathing before any symptoms begin by helping your body fight off attacks from the start.

Mental Benefits: 

Eucalyptus relieves stress.

Eucalyptus activates the parasympathetic nervous system which works to relax your body. This is demonstrated in several tangible physical ways. First of all, inhaling eucalyptus can cause you to breathe deeply, thus slowing your breaths and helping you to calm down your nervous system’s stress response. On a broader level, your heart rate will gradually slow as you inhale the eucalyptus and your olfactory nerves carry the calming signals from its compounds into your brain. Mentally, using eucalyptus is the epitome of aromatherapy which uses natural products to enhance physiological and psychological well being. In both of these ways, eucalyptus can help lessen the effects of chronic stress by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, relieving both the physical and mental toll of stress.

I don't need to list out all the multitude of benefits associated with less stress and the calming effects of eucalyptus. These vary from person to person but as a whole you may experience better, more relaxed and deeper sleep, feel more energetic after breathing in the eucalyptus, and experience improved moods as well! Who knew eucalyptus could be so versatile?

At Self-Care Shower, we are proud to offer a wide variety of options of eucalyptus products for your home ranging from the original eucalyptus bundle to other items such as our eucalyptus and lavender bundle! No matter what you choose, you can refresh your bathroom and enhance your breathing with a Self-Care Shower bundle, sustainably hand-picked and grown in the United States. 

Image Sources:

Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash

Self-Care Shower Stock Photo

Self-Care Shower Stock Photo

Self-Care Shower Stock Photo