How to use tea tree oil : uses and tips to take advantage of the properties of tea tree essential oil to treat pimples, hair, seborrheic dermatitis and other alternative uses.
Plant from which tea tree oil is obtained
The tea tree essential oil is extracted from the Malaleuca alternifolia botanical species, a plant native to Australia.
However, the Malaleuca alternifolia plant is not the only species used for the production of tea tree oil: in South East Asia, tea tree oil is often produced starting from the Malaleuca cajupti species with similar properties.
For hundreds of years, in its homeland, tea tree oil has been used for its antiseptic properties, to treat sore throats and to benefit the skin. Today, this oil is commercially widespread all over the world, including Europe and Italy: the purchase price is not prohibitive even if it varies a lot from producer to producer. Before dedicating ourselves to advice on how to choose a good tea tree oil and what its price is, let’s see what are the benefits of this product.
Properties of tea tree oil
Among the most important properties of tea tree essential oil we immediately point out the antiseptic ones, thanks to its constituent principles.
The tea tree oil can be used to treat skin, hair, nails or for internal use, to soothe various ailments. Before using tea tree oil for internal use, however, make sure you buy a suitable essential oil as most essential oils on the market (even if organic) are not suitable for internal use. Consult an expert herbalist before taking and if you are following drug therapy, ask for a medical opinion to know any interactions with the drugs taken.
Active ingredients of tea tree oil
The benefits of tea tree oil derive from the presence in the oil of the following active ingredients :
- Terpinenes
- Terpinolenes
- 1.8 cineole
- alpha-pinene
Each tea tree can have a different active ingredient content, which is difficult to quantify. Among these, the active ingredient useful for relieving airway diseases (sore throat, cough, tonsillitis, inflammation …) is cineole. To understand its benefits, just think that this compound is used for the production of cough syrups, it is popular for its balsamic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Thanks to its active ingredients, tea tree oil is used in the formulation of many mouthwashes (including the very famous Listerine).
Some terpenes contained in tea tre oil are considered useful in the treatment of joint inflammation of various kinds: they would be able to curb the production of inflammatory compounds.
A study conducted on humans suggests that the active ingredients contained in tea tree oil appear to be useful even in case of swelling.
For the properties just described, it is possible to use tea tree oil for anti-inflammatory compresses or in case of bruises and blows that have caused swelling.
Uses of tea tree oil
Let’s now come to the main uses of tea tree oil :
Against sore throat
The essential tea tree oil can help cure inflammations of the opposing mucosal infections. It was once counted among the grandmother’s remedies for sore throats, excellent above all for preventive purposes: as soon as you notice the first signs of a sore throat, you can resort to the essential oil of the tea tree. A drop of tea tree oil in a glass of warm water can be used for long gargling at least once a day. To support the effect of the tea tree oil, add a teaspoon of salt to the warm water.
As a homemade hand sanitizer
Just combine a few drops of tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil, clove essential oil to an aloe gel base. These ingredients, in addition to moisturizing and protecting the skin of the hands, are able to sanitize them (without soap) in a natural way.
As a natural antifungal
A good natural antifungal can be obtained by mixing 4-5 drops of tea tree oil in a teaspoon of coconut oil . Before using you need to mix thoroughly. This compound should be used right away or stored in an airtight glass jar out of direct sunlight. It should be applied to the affected area twice a day.
Against acne, pimples and blackheads
Our skin is home to thousands of microbes, some of which are necessary, others cause inflammation, acne and pimples. The terpenes that make up tea tree oil penetrate the pores and perform a purifying action. More than eliminating pimples, tea tree oil prevents them from appearing. It is perfect for eliminating blackheads. Also in this case it is recommended to use it with a moisturizing base such as the aforementioned coconut oil or shea butter.
Those with severe oily skin problems might consider using a good sulfur soap or adding a few drops of tea tree essential oil to sulfur soap : while sulfur eliminates excess sebaceous substances deposited in the pores, the tea tree oil removes impurities.
For hair care: natural anti-lice and anti-dandruff
The ssential tea tree oil can be used to prevent and combat lice. For prevention, add a few drops to a neutral shampoo base (useful when there is a lice alarm at school). For the treatment, however, it is possible to make a tea tree essential oil pack by adding 8 drops of tea tree essential oil to a tablespoon of coconut oil (or other natural oil) to spread into the hair and leave on for 15 minutes under a towel or plastic bag.
With a higher dilution (4 drops of tea tree oil for each tablespoon of neutral shampoo) it is possible to use tea tree oil as a natural anti-dandruff, to soothe the itchy scalp and to treat oily hair.
To soothe the effects of candida
The tea tree oil is a natural remedy diffuse to soothe the effects of candida, fungal infection of the genital tract (or the oral cavity) that can affect both men and women.
Tea tree oil to clean the house
The tea tree oil can also be used to disinfect home in a natural way, and in particular is excellent for the cleaning of the refrigerator or other surfaces that come into contact with food: you can use a solution composed of water, sodium bicarbonate and a few drops of tea tree oil.
You can also add a few drops of oil to the washing machine to better disinfect the laundry or to the dishwasher and dryer in case of bad smells.
Where to buy tea tree oil and at what price
You can buy the essential oil of the tea plant from your herbalist or buy it online.
Since in herbal medicine tea tree oil could cost you about double what it would cost you to buy it online, you could “take advantage” of your herbalist’s advice for the first purchase and then buy the same product directly online.
Alternatively, if you want to save immediately and trust the comments of users who have already purchased the product and who have left a positive review, you can proceed immediately with the online order.
What is an essential oil
The essential oil is a chemically complex substance, consisting of a mixture of terpenes, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters and ethers.
The essential oils are produced from the metabolism of an aromatic plant extracts and with different methods, mainly for steam distillation as in the case of tea tree oil.
An essential oil has different properties that depend on the species from which it is obtained. When an essential oil is used for health purposes it is referred to as aromatherapy. Essential oils used for internal use must be labeled with the words “food grade”, “for food”, “for internal use” or similar. An essential oil not accompanied by similar terms, is considered for external use only.
