This entry was posted 14 years, 5 months ago.
December 22, 2008
Many of us know about miraculous effects of Tea tree oil. This is a popular essential oil obtained from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree from Australia. Centuries ago, Australian aborigines were using these leaves as tea, that gave its worldwide known name to this plant. The natives also discovered excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of Melaleuca alternifolia. In the eighteenth century, the members of Captain Cook’s expedition brought the first tea tree leave samples to Europe. Since those times, a great deal of researches and studies of therapeutic effects of this plant were carried out, and production of various creams, lotions, ointments and other medicines containing tea tree oil was put on a commercial footing.
This essential oil has numerous powerful healing effects, including antibacterial, anti-fungal, disinfecting, analgesic, soothing and diaphoretic qualities. Tea Tree oil can be helpful when treating a great number of various diseases and ailments, starting from wounds and ending with psoriasis. This oil contains lots of terpenoids, organic chemicals which play an important role in antibacterial and anti-fungal function. In addition, tea tree oil contains triclosan, responsible for the increase of antimicrobial drug resistance. Tea tree oil is used in aromatherapy for its pleasant therapeutic fragrance. Finally, some people use tea tree oil for household cleaning.
Pure tea tree oil can be rubbed into the nail to treat all sorts of nail infections, Athlete’s Foot and fungi. 2-3 drops of tea tree oil can be applied several times a day directly on skin to treat irritations, acne, viral warts, insect bites and small wounds. However, for gentle acne control you can use a 15% tea tree oil solution. Large wounds should be treated with a 5% solution of tea tree oil. Such solution can be also used for gargling when treating cold, flu or sore throat, as well as a mouthwash when treating various dental infections. Tea tree oil solutions are also very effective for such problems as anorectal or vaginal yeast infections, dandruff, as well as lice and mite, both in humans and animals. Finally, the vapors of tea tree oil can be inhaled in order to relief the ailments related to respiratory tract and chest infections.
Despite of its being all-natural and relatively safe for external use, be aware about possible risks and side effects of using tea tree oil. First of all, never use it internally and never apply it around the eyes. It is always better to consult your doctor or a health care specialist before using this product in order to avoid possible allergic reactions, redness and other unwanted side effects. If you use pure tea tree oil, do not use more than 2-3 drops 3 times a day. You can also consider using various cosmetic products containing tea tree oil, such as shampoos, balsams and creams. They are safe and can assist you in receiving fast and long-term results.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
How do I make my own 15% solution for treating my acne on my face, chest and back. Also, can I add a fragrance such as Jasmine to make the oil smell batter? I’m in desperate need of help and I’ve just about tried everything for my skin.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Check out the store The Body Shop found at local shopping malls or online. They make a huge line of Tea Tree oil products. This has been the only thing which has cleared up my acne.
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 am
I don’t suffer from severe acne so when I’ve used previous acne treatments my skin gets very irritated and my skin peels. I’ve tried Proactiv, Acne Free and other things but they just wont get rid of the stubborn blackheads on my nose.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
What are the best acne products?