Tea Tree Oil – Tips for Using and Health Benefits
Some oils are extracted from nature, either from trees or small plants. In actuality, they are extracted from the flower, herb, and tree parts, like bark, roots, peels, and petals. The cells that give a plant its fragrant smell are its “essence.” When an essence is extracted from a plant, it becomes an essential oil. Essential oils are the aromatic portion of a plant. Tea tree oil is also a real all-rounder essential oil with ample benefits. It is really a gem of all essential oils.
Tea tree oil – a real all-rounder:
Tea tree essential oil (extracted from plants of the species Melaleuca alternifolia, usually by steam distillation) is a versatile oil that should be a staple of anyone’s essential oil collection. (Although the smell may take some people a little time to get used to, as it is very powerful and “medicinal” in scent.) It is a powerful antiviral and antibacterial, and when combined with other oils that have similar properties (such as oregano and thyme), it has been shown in some studies to actually kill the MRSA superbug. It is also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, promotes healing via the formation of scar tissue, helps induce sweating, even helps the lungs expel mucus, is fungicidal, and helps in the healing of wounds.
Where does tea tree oil come from?
The tea tree oil is originally native to Australia. The tree whose leaves and branches provide the all-around talent tea tree oil also grows here. The liquid consistency of tea tree oil is due to the way it is extracted. For this, the leaves and branches of the tree are processed by water distillation. The most widespread tea tree species is Melaleuca alternifolia, but tea tree oil has long been distilled from other tea tree species, all of which belong to the myrtle family.
Tea tree oil has become indispensable in natural and herbal medicine, but also in the cosmetics industry. The reason for this is the essential oils it contains.
Characteristics of tea tree oil:
The main ingredients include 1, 8-cineol (a eucalyptol), and terpinene-4-of which is mainly used to kill certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These germ-fighting properties make tea tree oil a valued natural remedy for treating bacterial and fungal skin conditions, preventing infection, and promoting healing. A special feature of tea tree oil, in addition to its yellowish color, is the intense smell with the extremely intense, spicy-fresh scent notes. (Trusted Source)
Benefits of tea tree oil:
Today, tea tree oil is widely available as a 100% undiluted or “neat” oil. Even diluted forms are also available, ranging from 5–50% strength in products designed for the skin. So, the range of uses of tea tree oil is now huge, such as:
- Acne Treatment: Tea Tree oil is a popular choice for treating acne because of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It’s thought to calm redness, swelling, and inflammation. It may even help to prevent and reduce acne scars, leaving you with smooth, clear skin. Tea tree oil has been utilized as a conventional medication by for quite a long time. The tea tree oil is pulverized and passed on to separate the oil, which is then breathed in to treat hacks and colds or applied straightforwardly to the skin for recuperating.
- Hand Sanitizer: Tea tree oil makes an optimal regular hand sanitizer. It dispenses with a few normal microbes and infections liable for causing sickness, including E. coli, S. pneumonia, and H. influenza.
- Bug Repellent: Tea tree oil may assist with warding bothersome bugs off. Besides, a test-tube study uncovered that tea tree oil had a more noteworthy capacity to repulse mosquitoes.
- Normal Deodorant: Tea tree oil’s antibacterial impacts may assist with controlling the underarm smell identified with sweat. Sweat itself doesn’t smell. In any case, when emissions from your perspiration organs consolidate with microbes on your skin, a moderate to solid scent is created. Your underarm region contains an enormous convergence of these organs and is predominantly answerable for what is usually alluded to as “stench.” Tea tree oil’s microorganisms battling properties make it an optimal regular option in contrast to business antiperspirants and antiperspirants
- Sterile for Minor Cuts and Scrapes: Wounds that outcome in broken skin makes it simple for germs to enter your circulation system, which can prompt contamination. Tea tree oil can be utilized to treat and clean minor cuts and scraped areas by killing S. aureus and different microscopic organisms that can cause contamination in open injuries. To sanitize a cut or scratch;
- One must Follow these means: Clean the cut altogether with plain cleanser and water, Blend one drop of tea tree oil with one teaspoon of coconut oil, Apply a modest quantity of the combination to the injury and cover with a swathe, Rehash this cycle on more than one occasion every day until a scab has shaped.
- Battle Skin acne: Tea tree oil can be an amazing weapon against skin inflammation. A few investigations have shown that it lessens the sum and generally seriousness of break out. Tea tree oil-based skin inflammation gels can be bought at regular supermarkets or from online retailers. Then again, you can make your own skin break-out treatment by blending one section with nine sections of water and applying the combination to influenced regions with a q-tip a few times per day, depending on the situation. Now day’s youngsters are facing the acne problem so much so it’s really a very effective way to get rid of acne.
- Helps in hair growth: Tea tree oil is a great natural choice for cleansing hair because it won’t cause damage or dryness. It can be used for a number of hair and beauty problems and can help to reduce the effects of hair loss and promote hair growth. Tree oil helps to unclog hair follicles and nourish your roots. It is amazing for your dry scalp as it moisturizes and nourishes your scalp and hair. It helps to clear the blockages in the pores and helps to prevent dryness and itching.
Tips for using tea tree oil:
Everything has a procedure and should proceed in a certain process. So, one must use the necessary steps while using oil to make sure to do it properly and get better results. Caution: One must do a patch test before using it completely.
1. Application on the skin:
2.For use on blemishes and pimples
As a massage oil: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with vegetable oil, avocado or almond oil are suitable for this
- As an addition in the bath water
- As an addition to creams and lotions for cosmetic use
- As facial cleansing
- To apply on your feet when they are cracked or feeling tired
- Internal application:
- As a mouthwash: just dilute a few drops of tea tree oil in water
- As an addition to the toothpaste
- In the household:
- As an addition to the laundry
Add to the cleaning water for an even fresher scent
Tea tree oil is not suitable for drinking. Diluted, however, it can be used as a mouthwash. Just like coconut oil, tea tree oil has become a popular product for natural body care and impresses with its numerous possible uses. Tea tree oil should be stored away from light and oxygen; an amber glass bottle is ideal for this.
The disadvantage of tea tree oil:
If something on this earth has dozens of advantages, it’s obvious that it’ll have few negative effects as well. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), it’s considered safe for most adults to apply diluted tea tree oil to their skin. But it does pose some risk of side effects. So, there are some disadvantages of tea tree oil as:
- The Cancer Society has reported toxicity of Tea tree oil when swallowed causing drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children.
- Dermatitis on contact with Tea tree oil due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and/or air.
- Dose when administered to dog, cats show signs of toxicity such as depression, weakness, incoordination and muscle tremors, have been reported.
- Repeated use of Tea tree oil may cause endocrine disrupting activity leading to gynecomastia.
Care should be taken while selecting the concentration of tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree. When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus, and insect bites. Tea tree oil is considered to be safe as a topical treatment, and you can apply it directly to the skin on a daily basis. When applied to the skin in its pure (100% oil) form, tea tree oil seldom causes irritation. But some people develop an allergic rash (contact dermatitis). Tea tree oil is a real all-rounder, which is suitable for internal and external use due to its essential oils. In the meantime, noble oil is almost part of the basic equipment of a health and nutrition-conscious household.