Eucalyptus oil is dominated by eucalyptol, and its distinguishing quality is penetration. Where peppermint cools the skin surface, eucalyptus travels further into the tissue beneath, which is why it is the traditional base of rubs meant for muscles and joints rather than skin.
That depth explains its very wide range in this book — Achilles tendonitis, arthritis, capsulitis, hammer and mallet toes, toe cramps, burning feet. All of them involve pain in structures below the skin, and eucalyptus reaches them.
It is also strongly antiseptic and antibacterial, so it does useful work on blisters and on foot odour as a side effect of doing the main job.
