Tea Tree Oil – melaleuca alternifolia oil – is an essential oil with multiple uses. Generally you can see tea tree oil used for cleansing purposes due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil is available both as neat oil, and added to other products such as soaps and other skincare or cleaning products.
Derived from the Australian plant melaleuca alternifolia, the oil is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. The oil is produced by steam distillation of the branches of the tree.
Aborigines traditionally used to crush or boil tea tree leaves and use these to treat sore throats, coughs, colds, and to cure skin ailments and heal wounds. The oil itself started being used in the 1920s and 1930s after reports came out about its antimicrobial activity.
The oil got its name “tea tree oil” as its leaves were used as a substitute for tea.
Modern studies show the oil having antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal functions. The compound terpinen-4-ol is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil’s antimicrobial activity and it is the most abundant.
How tea tree oil is commonly used today is based around these antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil uses include:
- as a treatment for acne
- treatment for nail fungus
- to heal athlete’s foot
- tea tree oil shampoo can be used to help with dandruff
- household cleaning products
Tea tree oil can be found in natural skin care products, as aside from killing bacteria and fungus, the chemicals in tea tree oil may also reduce allergic skin reactions.
It is an essential oil, and must be diluted to be used on the skin. Tea tree oil should not be taken internally. Some people get allergic reactions from it, which is why it should be used with caution.
Essential oils can be absorbed through skin and should be used with caution as even small amounts of full strength oil can lead to toxicity.
You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your foot soak to help kill bacteria. Look out for tea tree oil shampoo if you are struggling with dandruff.
Tea tree oil can also be used to make natural home cleaning products and mould remover. More on this to come!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/benefits-of-tea-tree-oil-89521
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