Inexpensive and practical, this essential oil is the best you can find in your home first aid kit. There are multiple tea tree oil uses, but I will stick to some of the common ones.
What Is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil (TTO), also called melaleuca oil, is made from the leaves of the tea tree plant (Melaleuca alternifolia), a member of the myrtle tree family, which is native to Australia. The name was coined by British explorer Lieutenant James Cook in the 1770s, when he saw native Australians brewing tea using the leaves from the tree. Later on, he brewed his own batch of tea, and gave it to his crew to prevent scurvy.
The tea tree plant is highly prized by primitive Australian communities for its unique healing ability. According to the University of Sydney, numerous aboriginal communities along the east coast of Australia have a long historical use of tea tree as an antiseptic for skin conditions. They simply crushed the tea tree leaves and applied it to cuts, burns, and infections.
It was only in the 1920s, after Arthur Penfold, an Australian state government chemist, published a series of papers on tea tree oil’s antiseptic properties that this oil’s benefits became widely known. Through modern distillation methods, manufacturers are now able to produce tea tree oil with a clear to very pale golden or yellow color, and a fresh, camphor-like scent.
Tea Tree Oil for Acne
This is one of the most common uses for the essential oil. Tea tree oil has become the standard in skin care products.
While there are many other?home remedies for acne, tea tree oil is still one of my favorite ones.
You can simply dip a cotton ball in tea tree oil and apply it to the affected area.
Or you maximize the remedy by adding a tablespoon of raw honey for even more anti-inflammatory properties.
First Aid for Your Hair
Another great tea tree oil uses are hair department, or more specifically, getting rid of?dandruff treatment.
You can mix tea tree oil either with apple cider vinegar or with coconut oil and apply it on your hair and scalp.
The mixture will soothe your dry flaking skin and help you get rid of dandruff.
It can help you get rid of lice sometimes.
Remove Makeup
While we are at the beauty and skin department, I will try and help you solve that irritating evening ritual of removing make-up.
There is not a woman alive that doesn?t hate to remove makeup before she goes to bed.
It is something that we women must do, but we hate it, as it is time-consuming.
Well, the solution is tea tree oil.
You need 10 drops of the essential oil mixed with a quarter cup of canola oil and a sterilized glass jar.
Store the mixture in cool, dark place, and after 24 hours you can use it.
Simply saturate a cotton ball and sweep it over your face.
Rinse with warm water and there will be no more makeup on your face.
Psoriasis and Eczema
Two of the worst skin conditions are psoriasis and eczema.
They can be extremely painful, irritating and bothersome.
One of the common tea tree oil uses is to relieve skin inflammation, which helps people with these conditions.
What you need is one teaspoon of coconut oil, five drops of lavender oil and five drops of tea tree oil.
Mix them all together into a lotion or body soap to treat your skin conditions.
Ringworm and Toenail Fungus
Tea tree oil can easily kill fungal infections and parasites, which is why it is being used for toenail fungus, ringworm, and even athlete?s foot.
Use undiluted tea tree oil for this treatment, and apply it to the affected area.
Foot Odor
The essential oil can also be used to fight foot odor and leave your feet clean and fresh.
The mixture requires much more than tea tree oil, but the essential oil is one of the main ingredients along with rosemary and ginger.
For the remedy, you need one tablespoon of dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon of dried sage, 10 drops of tea tree oil, 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root, water, little baking soda, and Epson salt.
Place sage, ginger and rosemary in a saucepan with water and boil them.
Cover the saucepan for 10 minutes, and then add all the other ingredients.
You can use the mixture as a foot spa treatment. Soak your feet for just 15 minutes, and then leave them to dry.
Deodorant
As mentioned previously, tea tree oil can be used to eliminate body odor by fighting off odor-producing bacteria.
As it carries antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil can be used for homemade deodorant.
Mix it up with baking soda and coconut oil, and apply under your armpits.
You can also add the mixture with lemon essential oil to shoes and sports gear.
Perfume
You can even make a perfume out of tea tree oil. Use an oil diffuser to diffuse the essential through your home.
This will provide your interior with a unique smell. Or, you can apply on your skin (on the neck and on the chest area) to use it as perfume.
Treat Infections and Cuts
Treating wounds have never been easier thanks to tea tree oil uses.
All you need to do is mix it with lavender oil and apply it on cuts and blood infections.
What you must remember, however, is to always clean the cut/wound first before applying tea tree oil. You can use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning the wound.
Dry Cuticles
If your cuticles are dry and itchy, you can always soften them with tea tree oil.
I mentioned few times it kills fungus, making the essential oil great asset in this fight.
For the mixture, you also need 1 tablespoon of avocado oil, 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil and 10 drops of each lavender and tea tree oil.
Put all ingredients into a dark-colored glass bottle, shake them, and use it to massage your nails and cuticles once per day.
Oral Health
Bacteria in your mouth can cause bad breath, which is one of the symptoms for many diseases.
Since tea tree oil can fight off fungus, the essential oil is perfect for homemade mouthwash or toothpaste.
You want equal parts of coconut oil, tea tree oil and baking soda for this paste.
House Cleaning
I am sure you didn?t know, but tea tree oil is one of the best cleansers in your house.
We go back again to the antimicrobial properties of the essential oil.
You can use it for your shower, kitchen appliances, toilet, sinks, countertops and much more.
For the cleanser, you want to mix tea tree oil with water, lemon essential oil, and apple cider vinegar.
Tea Tree Oil Kills Mold
Another common household problem is mold infestation.
Buy a diffuser and use it to diffuse tea tree oil in your home.
This will kill mold and other bad bacteria in the air.
