Australia’s Famous Tea Tree Essential Oil has many benefits and uses not just for around the home but to help improve your health, life, and peace of mind.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) flourishes in a small area of the Eastern Coast of New South Wales, unique to Australia, and is one of the many powerful Oils around.
Long used as a bush remedy by the aboriginal people (the original owners of the land) and later by the early white settlers who learned about the unique properties and benefits to their health and wellbeing.
TEA TREE OIL PROPERTIES AND COMPOSITION
Properties found in Tea Tree Essential Oil are many:
- Anti-infectious
- Antibacterial
- Anti-Fungal
- Anti-viral
- Anti-Parasitic
- Antiseptic
- Anti-Inflammatory
These are just some of the significant properties found.
Due to the properties and composition of Tea Tree Oil, studies over the years have shown that Tea Tree Oil has many other benefits, particularly for your skin, hair, nails (both finger and feet), amongst other areas of your body.
Now you can find Tea Tree Oil used in complementary medicines and alternative treatments.
Open wounds can become susceptible to attack from bacteria and fungi, creating severe issues such as sepsis or tetanus.
Another reason why during WW2, the Royal Australian Navy and Army supplied Tea Tree Oil to help combat many such issues.
However, after its use, it diminished until the 70’s when it gained popularity again.
The British Medical Journal reported the potent effects of Tea Tree oil in 1933 and 1930 in the Australian Medical Journal.
In 1955, the US Dispensary reported Tea Tree Oil to be 11-13 times more antiseptic than Carbolic Acid (known as Phenol).
Phenol is a chemical used in the preparation of throat lozenges and mouthwash.
Phenoleen is also used to kill bacteria and fungi in slime.
There are many compounds found in Tea tree oil. One main composition within is terpinen-4-ol that has been shown to kill certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Terpinene-4-ol also increases white blood cell activity to fight against other foreign invaders such as germs on human skin.
This alone becomes a valuable natural remedy when treating infections relating to the skin, uses bacterial problems, and helps prevent further infections, thus promoting healing.
You will also find many uses ranging from household products, beauty, and skincare, along with topical medicines and much more.
So let us cover some of the uses and benefits to you, your family, and your household as well.
Tea Tree Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
Hair Care
Tea Tree Oil should be your go-to oil to use due to its anti-fungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Combining a few drops of Tea Tree Oil with your shampoo can help clean and maintain a healthy balance for your hair.
Even better is to use an organic Shampoo and Conditioner that already have Tea Tree Oil blended with other essential oils added that extra balance and vitality to your hair.
Tea Tree Oil can nourish your roots, thus enabling them to grow stronger and healthier, especially if you want to grow your hair out.
Dandruff
Fortunately, dandruff is not contagious; however, for many, it can become an embarrassing issue, particularly when continuously seen scratching your scalp due to the itchiness along with having those pesky white flakes all over your clothes.
These white flakes are the result of dry, dead skin cells, which can be caused by various factors such as:
- Malassezia (a fungus naturally living on the scalp).
- Poor Hygiene
- Dermatitis
- Dry skin and hair
- Over oily or irritated skin
- Stress
- Sickness
- Low immune system
Malassezia is present on the scalp of most healthy adults, which may not affect the scalp.
However, other factors mentioned above, particularly an imbalanced immune system, can create a reaction to this fungus, increasing the issue of dandruff.
Reducing dandruff and itchiness
Fortunately, Tea Tree oil is an excellent treatment to help combat against drying skin cells that can cause that flakiness on your scalp.
Some of the ways to help dandruff are adding about six drops to your shampoo/conditioner or having a shampoo/conditioner with at least 5 per cent of tea tree oil added to the mix.
Regular use will help moisturize the hair and scalp and take care of any dandruff and itchiness issues you are having.
Another option mentioned below is to have an organic and natural Healthy Scalp shampoo with Tea Tree oil and other Powerful Essential Oils added to give more boost and benefit to your hair scalp.
Dry Scalp
For those who don’t have any hair, either by choice or otherwise, you can help maintain your scalp by keeping the dryness and any itchiness away while keeping your scalp moisturized and becoming less prone to flakiness.
One such shampoo that helps all those mentioned above is 100% Pure Healthy Scalp Shampoo; it will help cleanse the hair and scalp and is great for all skin types, both sensitive and dry skin.
Fight off Head Lice
This one is great for the kids who typically face head lice issues, most often received from someone at school and parents who may become infected in the process.
Tea Tree Oil helps to kill and ward off current, and future issues, not just the lice but also the eggs hatched or about to be.
You can find many products at your local chemist where tea tree oil is included within the product, helping combat this annoying issue in life.
Besides, once done, you will find peace of mind knowing your kids are good to go back to school with a healthier set of hair than ever before.
Skin Care
The skin produces its natural body oils designed to protect and nourish the skin.
There are many times it becomes compromised by various lifestyles, habits, and regular use of many so-called skin and body creams containing toxins such as chemicals and synthetic ingredients.
Such creams and products may work on a specific issue, for example, Acne; however, in the process, these same chemicals and synthetic compounds also tend to dry the skin and destroying the body’s natural process of protection.
As a result, many find infections and other issues that come to the forefront, such as Acne, Eczema, and Psoriasis:
Acne
The antibacterial, along with the anti-inflammatory properties found within Tea Tree Essential Oil is a no-brainer when a natural remedy s needed for skin-related issues such as Acne.
You can easily add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply them to the affected areas.
Hand Sanitizer
Studies have shown that when adding tea tree oil to cleansers will help boost the fight against various bacteria and other germs that may invade the body.
E.Coli is a classic example; although this bacterium tends to help keep your digestive tract healthy, various other strains of E.coli can create terrible issues such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and more.
Many tend to associate E.coli with Food poisoning from eating contaminated foods and drinking water containing such bacteria.
Another factor that can cause E.coli is improper handling equipment such as Knives, which incorrectly mix different types of raw foods.
It is essential to maintain a healthy regime by washing hands regularly and even more so with handling food and other products as mentioned above.
STEC
However, there are other strains and one called STEC, which is short for Shiga toxin-producing E.coli.
STEC is one of the most common bacteria with severe issues with the body’s internal areas, such as damaging the intestine’s inner lining.
Some other symptoms can be abdominal pains such as cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea containing blood.
Such bacteria are known to cause various issues as acute kidney failure, particularly in children and possibly with the elderly or those with a low immune system.
Hence, the critical reason to keep your hands washed and clean before any use is handling foods, touching your face and body as such bacteria can quickly transfer around the body and others.
Better still, using a product with tea tree oil in combination with cleansers and regular washing of hands will help avoid such issues and lessons any impact to your body.
MRSA
Due to Antibiotics’ overuse, many bacteria strains have become immune to such medications, thus reducing their ability to heal.
Tea Tree to the rescue
Studies in Australia Hospitals have shown that Tea Tree Oil has proven more effective in attacking Bacteria to their core, killing the bacteria from taking hold.
One particular study showed a severe issue, particularly within Hospitals and Healthcare workers who may become infected with what is sometimes known as a superbug.
MRSA is also known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, so let’s call it MRSA.
Treat Toe Nail Fungus and Athlete’s Foot, Foot Odor.
With its unique anti-fungal properties, Tea Tree Oil works great against issues dealing with fungal infections such as Toenail fungus and Athlete’s Foot and, yes, even those smelly foot odors.
You can treat nail fungus by adding one or two drops of the oil mixed with a carrier oil along with the surrounding area a few times a day until it is gone.
You can use the same procedure with Athlete’s foot issues; make sure the feet in both cases are wash clean first.
Oh, Pew!! Foot Odor
Yep, that dreaded foot odor can turn ahead so quickly, and for some, it can be not very pleasant with friends or groups.
There are various ways to treat foot odor apart from changing socks, stocking, regularly, cleaning, and adequately drying your feet.
Added ways can be to use a spray bottle of water with around 5-10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil added and sprayed inside your shoes.
You can add 2-3 drops to a carrier oil such as coconut oil and massage your feet.
Another method: that can help all three of the foot issues mentioned above is to get the Foot and Nail soak that you can get from Amazon.
Affiliate Disclosure: (Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate of Amazon, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
The Foot and Nail soak contains tea tree oil along with Epsom Salts, which is also another fantastic product to help your foot issues.
Insect Repellent
Did you realize that using Tea Tree Oil helps repel insects?
A simple way to do this is to grab a clean spray bottle, fill it up with water, and add about 10 to 15 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil.
Spray it around your garden, indoor plants if you have any, and even around the corners and edges of the floor to keep ants and other crawlies away.
You will find this works well against mosquitoes as well.
Tea Tree Essential Oil precautions to consider.
Although Tea Tree Oil is safe when properly used, there are some possible reactions one should be aware of before the application.
Some people can have susceptible skin, and applying tea tree essential oil directly on the skin may create an allergic reaction for some.
If using the oil directly is not recommended, always do a patch test and wait at least 24 hrs to give time for any reaction to occur.
Tea Tree oil is not safe for digestion, so do not take this internally without a prescribed doctor’s approval.
Tea tree oil studies have shown to cause gynecomastia in young boys.
Gynecomastia is a form of enlargement of the breast. Again, consult your Medical Practitioner before use.
Blending the essential oil with a carrier oil or a product with tea tree oil incorporated within the product is a far safer and better alternative.
Note: Regarding Tea Tree Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
So as you can see, the properties and benefits of using Tea Tree oil are many, and there are more, but more research is needed.
Question:
I would love to hear more about your experience with Tea Tree Essential Oil and how it has helped you with any of the issues mentioned above.
If you have had any negative results, I still want to know, and your input can be of great value to other readers.
So place your comments and view them below, and I will respond to you shortly.
For further reading relating to Essential Oils, the articles below might be of interest to you.
Lavender Essential Oil Benefits
What Is A Carrier Oil
What are Essential Oils For
What is Frankincense Oil
As Always
