Tremendous Tea Tree Oil

You will have likely heard of Tea Tree essential oil and will have come across it in products such as spot creams, antibacterial facial products as well as creams potions and lotions for your feet.

Tea Tree oil comes from the Melaleuca Alternifolia plant which is native to Australia. To get the oil the leaves or foliage are steam distilled. This is a process used to get many essential oils from the leaves, bark or flowers.

One of the many biggest qualities and what makes tea tree an unusual oil is that it works against fungus, bacteria and viruses. This makes it anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral, and hence the reason why you’ll find it in so many facial and feet products, the two areas prone to bacteria and fungus!

Tea Tree is an immunostimulant as it reacts when the body is attacked by fungus, bacteria and viruses.

As with lavender oil you can use tea tree oil undiluted on the skin, however I would ALWAYS recommend you dilute it in a carrier oil such as grapeseed or sweet almond oil. This will help just incase you are sensitive to it and if you usually have sensitive skin, then please do use small amounts. Never ingest oils and never use inside the body. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding be sure to seek advice, the same goes if you are unsure of any of the below. This oil has so many wonderful uses I thought I’d let you know about a few of them. Here are some things you can use it for:

• Spots – Whether you get them all the time or every so often tea tree oil can be great for dabbing onto spots, to help clean and clear them up! You could always add a couple of drops of this oil to your regular moisturiser. This will help to keep breakouts at bay. As Tea Tree oil has a medicinal smell, it will likely suit those that tend to dislike the floral or fruity smells often found with essential oils.
• Warts and verrucas – If you find yourself suffering from these then dab tea tree oil onto the area, and over time they will disappear. But please do not mix with any other treatments you are using.
• Athletes foot – Itch, Itch, Itch….doesn’t it drive you mad. To help soothe your feet you can dilute a few drops in a foot bath, or dab some on the affected area. You will enjoy the relief that this brings from that annoying itch!
• Fungus Nail infection – Never pleasant if you are unfortunate enough to ever have a nail infection. If you have tried everything then give this a go to see if it helps. Mix a few drops in a carrier oil and put onto the nail and surrounding area.
• Bites or stings – It is very annoying when you are relaxing on holiday and all of a sudden you get bitten by a bug or mosquito or even a pesky midge if you are in Scotland. Then the itch begins! Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil and dab onto the affected area a couple of times a day, it will reduce the need to itch and will also give it a good clean.
• Hair – Do you suffer from dandruff? Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo or find a shampoo that has tea tree oil in it. Another way to help is to add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to some jojoba oil and massage it into your scalp. Leave for around 10 – 15 minutes and then use your shampoo to wash out. You may wish to do this regularly, depending on how dry your scalp is.
• Cold sores – Rather than putting it on neatly mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a small bit of vodka and dab it on. It may sting a bit, but it will soothe it and help in the long run. Perhaps look to buy a special topical solution that already has tea tree in it. Please do not ingest the oil.
• Clean your kitchen – I’m not telling you to clean it 😆 You can use tea tree oil on surfaces provided you dilute it, why not give your sink a good clean too. Mix several drops in a bowl of water and vinegar and then pop your cloth in and wipe down your surfaces or scrub your sink. Perhaps get a spray bottle to fill it.

As you can see from the above there are many uses for Tea Tree essential oil. Always make sure you buy 100% pure essential oil from a reputable company.

I hope this gives you a little bit of help if you are suffering from any of the above. Have a lovely week and look after you.

Love Emma xxx