Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I want to use a combination formula of eucalyptus and myrtle oils for my allergies, but I’ve heard that eucalyptus oils can adversely affect the kidneys. Is this true? Thanks!” — Greg K., Nashville, TN A. Dear Greg, if you make tea with eucalyptus leaves, or use eucalyptus extract, there are water soluble substances in the leaf that can be hard on the kidneys if consumed in large amounts. This is also true of topical eucalyptus applications. However, eucalyptus essential oil is not the same as a water or ethanol plant extract. To ensure that you get a quality product, I highly recommend picking a formula which features concentrated plant oils that have been laboratory tested to accurately identify elements of their natural chemical composition. Unlike essential oils used for massage and aromatherapy, these plant oils are tested and “fingerprinted” based on specific molecular makeup, species, marker compounds, purity and safety for internal medicinal use. The extraordinary potency of these tested plant oils allows for relatively low doses, but very powerful health benefits. We are not aware of any adverse kidney effects when the oils are used according to label recommendations. Healthy Regards! Terry . . . Naturally