Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil comes form the leaves of the Melaleuca tree that is native to Australia. This tree grows in the swampy wet areas of the northern part of New South Wales and Southern Queensland. It has been said that the Tea Tree Oil from the trees in New South Wales yield the highest quality Tea Tree Oil and that all other oils are vastly inferior. This essential oil is harvested from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree by a special distillation process. The wonderful thing about this particular process is that it allows the oil to be extracted without the use of harvesting the trees. Some Oil producing trees have been around for well over 60 years already, and will be around as long as possible.

Tea Tree Oil has been used by the Australian aboriginals for years for skin irritations and cuts, but it has only been with the rising popularity of herbs and alternate medicine sources that the rest of the world has grown to realize just how useful this product can be. It is a powerful antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal. Its immediate use is in treating minor skin problems such as scratches, cold sores, and fungal problems, but it has so many more uses then just those. A short list would include acne, athletes’ foot, boils, burns, cuts, dermatitis, and dry scalp.

To treat these ailments requires no special preparation of ointments and slaves, but those forms may be used if readily available. For example, to treat acne simply apply a warm wet cloth to the skin to open the pours. Then apply the Tea Tree Oil directly onto the skin approximately every 2 hours.

Treating athletes’ foot is also a simple matter. You must clean the foot thoroughly first, especially between the toes, and then apply liquid Tea Tree Oil to affected area every day for 2 weeks. If the condition does not improve, consult a doctor.

To treat Boils, first clean the affected area with soap, and then hold a warm washcloth to the area as well. Apply Tea Tree Oil directly to the affected area every 2 hours for 1 week. It is strongly advised that you seek medical attention if there is no noticeable improvement in 3 days of this treatment.

It can be used for the treatment of minor burns only. Serious burns should be treated by a physician. Simply flush the area with ice water, pat dry and apply the Tea Tree Oil directly onto the skin. Repeat this process every 4 hours until tissue is healed.

Treating minor cuts is one of the most common uses of Tea Tree Oil. First you must clean all foreign material out of the wound and the apply the Tea Tree Oil to the area. It acts like an invisible bandage while it kills the bacteria that can lead to infection.

Dry Scalp can be cured by simply adding a drop of oil to your shampoo before washing your hair every other day for 10 days.

For the treatment of dermatitis, and itching apply the Tea Tree oil directly onto the skin.

All of these uses are with the Tea Tree Oil, but if you prefer, for applications such as for cuts or itch treatment a salve or ointment is also usable. The following is a simple recipe for a Tea Tree Salve.

Tea Tree Salve

1 cup olive oil

1 ounce beeswax

240 drops Tea Tree Oil

Place oil and beeswax in a pint mason jar and place in a pan filled with several cups of water. (A double boiler would work the same way) Heat until the wax is melted, and stir the mixture well. Once the beeswax is completely melted, stir in the Tea Tree Oil. Pour the salve into small containers, and store any excess in the refrigerator until needed.

It is also available in shampoos, creams, skin cleansers and of course salves and essential oil.

Although allergic reactions are rare, it is a good idea to test yourself before using Tea Tree Oil if you have sensitive skin. There are two simple tests for this. The first one is to apply a small amount of Tea Tree Oil to the inner arm and wait. If allergic, a reaction will manifest in a few minutes. The second test requires you to dilute some Tea Tree Oil and mix it with alcohol, and then to try another patch test. The reason for the dilution is that while more people may show a reaction to the pure oil, it is much more rare to see a reaction by the diluted mixture.

Tea Tree Oil is for external use only, and is not to be taken internally under any circumstances. It can be fatal if ingested. It can still be used as mouthwash or in toothpaste, but “Without swallowing” and only as directed. If ingested, do not induce vomiting. Immediately contact your doctor or physician. Do not inhale. If inhalation should occur, proceed directly to fresh air and contact your physician. You should never use undiluted Tea Tree Oil on babies and children, and pregnant woman should also take extra precautions before use.

Store Tea Tree Oil in amber colored bottles and away form the direct sunlight, never in plastic bottles. The cap should always be closed tightly to avoid evaporation.