The tea tree, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA, native to Australia, is a tree or shrub with needle-like leaves similar in appearance to cypress with pale sessile flower heads. The popular tea tree oil is derived from this tree. Tea tree oil is known to have been used by Aboriginal people in Australia to treat a variety of ailments, from colds and sores to acne and even whooping cough.
Widely used in aromatherapy, the leaves, when crushed, release essential oils in varying amounts and components. The oil is so potent that it can be diluted to many times its volume and still manage to retain its effectiveness anyway. Although the benefits of tea tree oil are numerous, for beauty treatments, it has been found to be effective in skin and hair care. The following sections describe the uses of tea tree oil for skin and hair care.
Tea tree oil for skin care
Tea tree oil has been used effectively to treat acne, abscesses, athlete’s foot, blisters, burns, cold sores, insect bites, oily skin, rashes, blemishes, warts and wounds. You can use tea tree oil to heal sunburn, diaper rash, toenail infections, and smelly foot problems.
tea tree oil for hair care
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo to treat hair problems like stubborn dandruff, itchy scalp, and even prevent head lice. Massage, leave for 5 to 7 minutes and rinse. Adding a few drops to pet shampoo/bath helps keep tics and rashes at bay.
Other benefits of tea tree oil
Fed up with allopathic medicines? Packets of antibiotics that have gone down your throat seem to be of no use? The only thing you find that they have lightened is your pockets? Well don’t panic, help is at hand, Tea Tree oil can be used to treat a variety of medical problems. A great remedy to calm your sinuses; Applying a drop of tea tree oil around the nose can help clear clogged sinuses.
Add a few drops to a steam bath or vaporizer and inhale, great relief for persistent colds and coughs. Regular use of tea tree oil has been found to be effective in treating asthma, bronchitis, cold, cough, sinusitis, and even tuberculosis.
Tea tree oil is an excellent general disinfectant and can be used effectively to treat genitourinary tract infections such as thrush, vaginitis, cystitis, and itching.
Tea tree oil has properties that act as an immune booster. It helps equip the body to fight off a host of infections. The use of tea tree oil is particularly effective if the body is already in a weakened condition due to illness, stress, or prolonged treatments involving antibiotics that lead to a reduction in the body’s natural resistance.
It has been found beneficial to use tea tree oil prior to surgery or for those suffering from a long-term debilitating illness. The antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties have made tea tree oil widely used in soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, disinfectants, gargles, germicides, aftershaves, and colognes. Tea tree oil is safe to use as it is non-toxic and non-irritating.
Although tea tree oil has no known side effects, some people may be sensitive to it. This requires considering the strength of tea tree oil and it should never be used undiluted on the body and particularly on sensitive areas.
