What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca plant which hails from Australia and cannot be found naturally occurring anywhere else. The essential oil has been used for centuries by the indigenous people in Australia to encourage targeted healing. Aboriginal Australians would use the leaves of the Melaleuca directly on the skin for a cooling effect. Later, the knowledge about this plant spread all over the world resulting in its popular use today. These days tea tree oil can be found in topical medicines, cosmetics, over-the-counter soaps, lotions, and household products.
The chemicals in tea tree oil are believed to kill fungus, bacteria, and curtail allergic skin reactions. It has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions, and should truly be part of everybody’s medicine cabinet. Also, as compared to other essential oils, tea tree oil is quite inexpensive.
Uses and Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
1. Tea Tree Oil for Skin
Tea tree oil has purifying and toning properties and helps keep your skin clean, toned, and gives a healthy appearance. Due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, tea tree oil can be helpful in treating acne and pimples.
To treat acne you can mix tea tree oil and any carrier oil such as argan oil or rosehip in the ratio of 1:12 and use a cotton ball to dab it on your face. Do not put this tea tree solution around the eyes as it can cause redness and irritation. Let this solution stay on your face for a few hours before rinsing your face with lukewarm water. This should be followed repeatedly daily for a few days to help stop breakouts.
Tea tree oil is believed to be a natural antiseptic that can speed up healing and improve circulation to the injured skin. It can also reduce redness and swelling. Add a drop of tea tree oil to a carrier oil in the ratio of 1:12 and apply it to the affected area a few times a day.
You can also use tea tree oil in your moisturizers, bath, face scrubs.
2. Tea Tree Oil for Hair
Tea tree oil can keep your scalp healthy by reducing itchiness and flakiness. It possesses strong antimicrobial properties making it effective against fungal infections of the scalp. Tea tree oil can also improve blood flow and allow the nutrients to reach the hair follicles.
If you have dandruff then use a tea tree oil shampoo for a month and see the results yourself. You can also use 10 drops of tea tree oil for every eight ounces of the product you use for your hair. To treat dandruff you can also massage a few drops of the diluted tea tree oil solution into your scalp and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing.
Tea tree oil can also be used to kill lice eggs and also reduce the number of live lice. Use a solution of 1 to 2 percent tea tree oil and apply it to the scalp and allow it to sit overnight. The next day wash your hair thoroughly. Apply this solution two or three times a week until the lice are gone.
3. Tea Tree Oil for Nails
Tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties and can keep your fingernails and toenails healthy. To treat Athlete’s foot, make a mixture of about 10 percent tea tree oil and apply it to the affected part of your feet daily. If you don’t see any desirable results, you can make this solution a little potent ramping up to 50 percent tea tree oil. You will also have to file or cut down as much of the infected nail as possible. Clean the nail with soap and water before drying it completely and then applying the tea tree solution. Repeat the application of tea tree solution twice a day and keep filing down the nail as it grows out.
Some scientific studies show that tea tree oil can be extremely effective in reducing the growth of fungus in nail infections. You can also soak your foot a few times every week. Dilute the tea tree oil with any carrier oil, mix them in a bucket of warm water and soak your foot for 15 to 20 minutes. Always keep your infected nails clean and dry and remember to wash your hands after treating your affected nails to avoid spreading the infection.
4. Tea Tree Oil for Oral Health
Tea tree oil can help keep your mouths healthy, prevent tooth decay, and also plaque buildup. It is a natural mouthwash and is effective in killing bacteria and soothing pain. To relieve toothache add 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil into a tablespoon of any edible carrier oil and apply this mixture directly onto gums using your fingers.
You can also add 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil to a glass of water. Swish this mixture in your mouth for a few minutes before rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water. Do not swallow the tea tree solution as it can be toxic if taken internally.
Adding tea tree oil to an essential carrier mixture containing lemon and peppermint oil can decrease bad breath.
5. Tea Tree Oil as an Air Purifier
Tea tree oil can freshen up and purify your homes. Just add a few drops of tea tree oil to an oil diffuser with a few drops of another essential oil such as lavender. This will purify your home naturally and also make it smell amazing.
Tea tree oil also blends well with other refreshing oils such as lemon, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
Safety and Precautions
Tea tree oil can be used topically with no problems. It is generally safe and can be used to treat acne and other superficial skin infections. However, the topical use of tea tree oil in some people can cause:
- Itching
- Stinging
- Scaling
- Redness
- Dryness
- Skin irritation
Oral use of tea tree oil can be toxic. People who have eczema should not use tea tree oil.
To prevent skin irritation avoid applying tea tree oil directly on the skin. Instead, dilute it or mix it with your moisturizer or any neutral carrier oil such as argan oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.
Always do a skin patch test before use on your forearm. Dilute the tea tree oil with your carrier oil (1:12). If you don’t experience any irritation within 24 hours, it should also be safe to use elsewhere.
Keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Always consult your physician if you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care.
The Takeaway
For centuries tea tree oil has been touted for its medicinal, anti-fungal benefits, and many more and it smells very good also. Tea tree oil can treat anything from dandruff to toe fungus. With such a variety of usefulness tea tree oil may be the product your medicine cabinet has been missing.