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There are many health benefits that come with eucalyptus. Plus, it looks pretty in the shower.
For a while now, taking a luxurious bath has been the epitome of the self-care experience. But if you’re not a bath person, there’s one easy way to elevate your experience: eucalyptus bath bouquets. It’s the latest trend invading people’s showers-and not just because it looks pretty. (But seriously, the aesthetics are reason enough to hang one up.)
While the concept of putting plants in your shower isn’t exactly new, a post on Reddit has resurfaced the trend. A viral thread recommended hanging eucalyptus in the shower for its pleasant aroma, but there’s actually a lot more to the hack than you’d think. With flu season right around the corner, a steamy shower can do wonders to loosen mucus and relieve congestion if you fall ill. Eucalyptus, in particular, is known to relieve upper respiratory issues. That’s why it’s a common ingredient in over-the-counter chest rubs as well as humidifiers.
So what does hanging it in your shower do? The steam actually releases the essential oils within the plant that can help clear congestion and inflammation. To reap the most benefits, we recommend slowly breathing in the steam for about five minutes, which should be enough time to break up the mucus in your body. And even if you’re not sick, the scent of eucalyptus is seriously de-stressing.
If you’re looking to get your hands on fresh eucalyptus, your local florist is a good place to start. So is the flower section at the grocery store. Whether you’re looking to soothe your cold or just want your shower to smell (and look) good, you won’t need a whole lot to get the job done. Add a few sprigs to your shower head and you’re good to go until it dries out (approximately two months, according to users).
If you are more of a bath person you can recreate the same effect with some bath salts with eucalyptus essential oil or by adding some to a room diffuser.
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