Essential Oils are a must in my life and out of them all;Tea Tree Oil is on the top of my list. There are so many useful options for the essential oil. From beauty, health and even household use, this oil is quite amazing. Tea Tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia, which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia.
Records show that the oil has been used by some indigenous people for thousands of years in traditional medicine and for healing cuts and wounds. Today, Tea Tree Oil is mostly used topically in a diluted form for a number of uses. Research indicates that the oil may be helpful for acne and fungus.
According to The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the oil should not be swallowed.
Some uses for Tea Tree Oil include:
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Acne
Tea Tree Oil is great at drying out, disinfecting and healing pimples and acne. It is quite potent, so be very careful if you are not mixing it with a carrier liquid or oil. It can be dabbed onto pimples directly as a spot treatment or added to facial masks/creams, oils, or your face wash. - Hair
Tea Tree Oil is great for scalp conditions such as dandruff and itchy or irritated scalp. Applying the oil to the scalp can help heal and disinfect the scalp. The increased blow flow that it will cause will contribute to the healing and strengthening of the hair follicle.
- Fungal Infections
One of the main uses of Tea Tree Oil is as an antifungal and antiseptic. It is useful for multiple fungal infections including nail and foot fungus.
- Bacterial Infections
There have been studies that found Tea Tree Oil to assist with the treatment of wounds and infections. The oil appears to speed up healing time as well as disinfect.
- Earache
Because Tea Tree Oil is an antibacterial it works well for earaches. Just mix a few drops of the oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil and rub it all around your ear.
- Body Odor
Tea Tree Oil is great at killing bacteria, even the bacteria that causes body odor. The oil is an ingredient in quite a few natural deodorants. It is also great to add in your DIY armpit detox. See our Arm Pit detox blog for more info!
- Insect Bits and Itchy Skin
So you went camping and came back home with a bunch of mosquito bites on you. Just dab some tea tree oil on them. This will soothe and heal the bites. If the oil is too strong by itself, just mix it with a carrier oil or even some aloe vera gel. This will also help with the itchiness too. This method is also beneficial for rashes and other skin infections.
- Removes Mold
Mold and mildew thrive in moist areas. Tea Tree Oil is a great household cleaner, especially for mold and mildew. Just add a few drops of the oil with some water into a spray bottle and spray onto the area needing attention. Leave on for a few hours and then scrub clean. Can be also added to a diffuser to disinfect the air.