Lemon Eucalyptus by Artizen

LIKELY EFFECTIVE

• Mosquito repellent. Topical lemon eucalyptus oil provides similar mosquito repellent effects to DEET. Details: Lemon eucalyptus oil 40% to 75% seems to be comparable to DEET 20% to 40% for preventing mosquito bites (13065,13074,13117). The 75% lemon eucalyptus oil preparation does not appear to be more effective than the lower 40% concentration (13065). Lemon eucalyptus oil 30% seems to be comparable to DEET 15% (13076). A towelette wipe providing lemon eucalyptus oil 0.574 grams seems to be comparable to DEET 15% lotion (13081). Lemon eucalyptus oil might provide a shorter duration of protection than DEET. Lemon eucalyptus oil 30%, 40%, or 50% seems to provide complete protection for a duration of 1-5 hours (13074,13076,13117,13118). DEET 20% to 25% seems to provide complete protection for up to 5-6 hours (13074,13117); however, in another study, DEET 15% provided only 85% protection for 4 hours (13076). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now considers topical application of lemon eucalyptus oil as an effective alternative to low concentrations of DEET; however, there is less experience using lemon eucalyptus oil compared to DEET (13063).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Joint pain. Although there has been interest in using oral lemon eucalyptus for joint pain, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lemon eucalyptus for this purpose.
• Onychomycosis. Although there has been interest in using oral lemon eucalyptus for onychomycosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lemon eucalyptus for this purpose.
• Osteoarthritis. Although there has been interest in using oral lemon eucalyptus for osteoarthritis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lemon eucalyptus for this purpose.
• Postoperative pain. It is unclear if aromatherapy with lemon eucalyptus is beneficial in patients with postoperative pain. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that aromatherapy massage of the neck, back, shoulders, and waist with 2 drops of lemon eucalyptus oil in 10 mL of grapeseed oil for 10 minutes on the first two days after vitrectomy surgery, in combination with usual face-down posturing (FDP) care, reduces pain compared to FDP care alone. However, massage without essential oil also reduces pain to a similar degree, suggesting that the benefit may be due to massage and not aromatherapy (28416).
• Tick repellent. It is unclear if topical lemon eucalyptus is beneficial as a tick repellent. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that applying a specific lemon eucalyptus oil extract (Citriodiol) 30% up to three times daily decreases the number of tick attachments by 65% when compared with no intervention in people living in tick-infested areas (13115). More evidence is needed to rate lemon eucalyptus for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used topically, short-term. Lemon eucalyptus oil has been safely used when applied in concentrations of 30% to 75%, short-term (13065,13074,13076,13081,13115,13117,13118,28416). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved lemon eucalyptus oil as a safe insecticide for human use (13075). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers topical application of lemon eucalyptus oil as a safe alternative to low concentrations of DEET for use as a mosquito repellent; however, there is less experience using lemon eucalyptus oil compared to DEET (13063). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of lemon eucalyptus when used orally.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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General ...Topically, lemon eucalyptus is generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Topically: Skin reactions.

Dermatologic ...Topically, lemon eucalyptus oil has been reported to cause mild skin reactions (13077).

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