Origin: Tea Tree Oil is extracted from the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree, which is native to Australia.Botanical Name: Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden et Betche) Cheel.
Medicinal Benefits: Aborigines have been using it for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Tea Tree Oil is a natural antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and detoxifying agent. Tea tree oil is purported to have antiseptic properties and has been used traditionally to prevent and treat infections.
Milestone: In 1923, A.R. Penfold conducted a study of tea tree and found that it was a powerful antiseptic.
Fun Fact: The Australian military issued tea tree oil in the first-aid kits of soldiers during World War II.
Aroma: Warm, spicy, medicinal and volatile. It is occasionally used to scent spicy colognes and aftershaves.
Aromatherapy Benefits: Cleansing, purifying, uplifting. Tea tree oil is used in a variety of body care products including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm, topical cream, and essential oil.
HOUSEHOLD USES
Milestone: In 1923, A.R. Penfold conducted a study of tea tree and found that it was a powerful antiseptic.
Fun Fact: The Australian military issued tea tree oil in the first-aid kits of soldiers during World War II.
Aroma: Warm, spicy, medicinal and volatile. It is occasionally used to scent spicy colognes and aftershaves.
Aromatherapy Benefits: Cleansing, purifying, uplifting. Tea tree oil is used in a variety of body care products including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm, topical cream, and essential oil.
HOUSEHOLD USES
- Mold Killer: In a spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water. Shake to mix. Spray on
mold. No need to rinse off. - All Purpose Cleaner: Add 1 teaspoon of 100% pure oil to 1 gallon of water when washing windows, floors, toilets, bathrooms, and kitchen surfaces.
- Laundry Refresher: Add 2 teaspoons of 100% pure tea tree oil to the washing machine to freshen up your laundry and remove odors.
- Natural Pest Repellent: Household ants and other pests dislike tea tree oil. Put a few drops where you see activity or traffic to deter them.
- Natural Moth Repellent: Wipe cupboards out with an oil and water solution to deter moths.
- Scuff Mark Remover: For vinyl/linoleum floors: Add a few drops of pure tea tree oil to a damp cloth to easily rub off marks.
- Shower Cleaner: Clean shower doors and prevent soap build up with a tea tree oil/water solution. After washing down walls and removing grime and mildew, wipe over again with a tea tree oil/water solution to prevent mildew re-growth.
- Diaper Pail Cleaner: Spray diaper container with tea tree oil and water mixture.
SKINCARE USES
- Acne: Tea Tree Oil is the perfect product for people with oily or troubled skin. Its natural antibacterial properties help soothe acne break outs without drying skin. Apply 1 drop to a cotton ball moistened with water and apply to break out. Tea tree oil may reduce the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.
- Insect Bites: Tea Tree Oil can help soothe insect bites. Apply a few drops to a wet cotton ball and apply to bites. Tea Tree Oil is also excellent to soothe minor burns, scrapes, and insect bites.
- Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis): Apply a few drops to a wet cotton ball and apply to affected nail. You can also place a drop in a water bath to soak affected feet.
- Dandruff: Effective in improving the conditions associated with dandruff and can reduce flaking and itching.
- Allergic Skin Reactions: Early small studies show that tea tree oil applied to the skin may reduce histamine-induced inflammation.
- Oral Care: Tea Tree Oil is used in mouthwash for dental and oral health.
Mouth Freshening Gargle
Ingredients
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 1 drop myrrh essential oil
- 1 drop tea tree oil
Purification - Combat body aches, chills and congestion with a soak in this preventative eucalyptus and tea tree blend. These powerful anti-microbial oils will cleanse and open breathing.
Ingredients
- 14 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 8 drops tea tree essential oil
- 14 drops grapefruit essential oil
- dead sea salt
- optional: sprinkle 1 or 2 tablespoons of finely ground rolled oats into the bath to soften the skin and relieve irritation and itchiness.
Disinfecting Floor Cleaner
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 ounce liquid castile soap
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 4 drops tea tree essential oil
Disinfecting Toilet Bowl Cleanser - Utilize the cleaning and disinfecting benefits of essential oils and enjoy a pure aromatherapy experience.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 18 ounces water
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
- 20 drops white thyme essential oil or lavender, tea tree or lemon oil
Aura Cacia Essential Oil Organic Tea Tree
Desert Essence Organic Tea Tree & Lavender Oil
Desert Essence Organic Tea Tree Oil
Dr. Bronner's Organic Tea Tree Shaving Gel
Dr. Bronner's Organic Shikakai Tea Tree Body Soap
Dr. Bronner's Organic Liquid Tea Tree Soap
Dr. Bronner's Organic Tea Tree Bar Soap
Frontier Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
Organic Fiji Bar Soap Tea Tree Spearmint
Tisserand Aromatherapy Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
Find Tea Tree Items at organicgurus.net
How do you use Tea Tree Oil? Let us know by posting a comment.
Sources; Mayo Clinic, Desert Essence. Recipes courtesy of Aura Cacia.
2 comments:
Wow! I have only used tea tree oil as a hair product. Great to know that there are so many other ways to use tea tree. Thanks for the recipes!
Tea tree is amazing. I suffered from an itchy, flaky, scaly scalp problem from the time I was about 15 through to around age 35. It was a real problem for me and I always treated it as bad dandruff. There was one single shampoo I could use that gave me relief (temporary though - I had to wash at least every second day to keep the problem at bay) and it used to cost $15 per bottle which, back then, was a lot of money! After almost 20 years of being stuck with that shampoo and the recurring problem, I decided to re-think the whole thing when I got involved in aromatherapy. I decided that perhaps this was not dandruff after all, but ringworm/tinea/athlete's foot. I treated my scalp with Tea Tree essential oil for a period of about 2 weeks, where I would put organic tea tree on a cotton tip and rub it all over my scalp, concentrating on any areas that were the biggest problem. I would leave the essential oil on my scalp overnight (yes, my pillow stank and it may not have been the most sensible idea!) and I would wash it out the next morning. I did that about 4 times in a 2 week period and it completely cured my scalp! So after 20 years of what I thought was dandruff I was able to cure myself with tea tree essential oil. Obviously the scalp problem was fungal and I had no idea - nor did my Doctor who simply said, of the shampoo I was stuck with: "Well, if it works, keep using it". Although I wouldn't recommend neat essential oil on the skin, this was the one time when it very definitely was called for, and truly worked.
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