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Tea Tree Oil Helath Benefits, Uses And Its Side Effects

Last Updated: Sep 08, 2020

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Tea tree oil can help relieve any type of skin inflammation, including eczema and psoriasis. Mixing it with coconut oil and lavender oil can form a lotion of sorts which can be applied all over the affected area.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree, also known as melaleuca, is well-known for its powerful antiseptic properties and ability to treat wounds. Tea tree oil (TTO), the volatile essential oil derived mainly from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia has been widely used throughout Australia for at least the past 100 years.

Tea tree’s oil also acts as natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that should be part of everyone’s natural medicine cabinet.

Health Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

Mentioned below are the best health benefits of using Tea Tree Oil. This essential oil is used in various skincare and hair care products such as soap, shampoo, and creams. It is used to reduce dandruff, acne, scars, and fungal infection. Tea tree oil as an antifungal and antibacterial helps a lot. Also read out tea tree oil side effects in different health condition and also its cultivation details

Healing Ointment

Tea tree oil mixed with lavender essential oil is the perfect ingredient in a homemade wound ointment. A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology even found tea tree oil helps kills MRSA and staph infections.

Tea Tree Oil used aganist athlete’s foot and ringworm

Because of its ability to kill parasites and fungal infections, tea tree oil is a great choice to use on toenail fungus, athlete’s foot and ringworm. Tea tree oil is equally effective as antifungal cream in killing toenail fungus. Applying a drop to the discoloured nail once a day can cure it.

Tea tree oil has been found to be as effective as medication in healing the burning, itching, inflammation and scaling caused by athlete's foot. It can be applied to the skin in combination with witch hazel to provide relief. It can cause skin inflammation in some people, so it should be avoided. Tea tree oil has also been proven beneficial for treating and removing warts.

Soothe inflamed skin

Because of tea tree oil’s ability to kill off bad bacteria and at the same time soothe inflamed skin, it’s a perfect ingredient in homemade toothpaste and mouthwash. It’s been shown to reduce the bleeding of gums and tooth decay.

Improves the health of hair and scalp

Tea tree oil has proven very beneficial for the health of your hair and scalp. Like coconut oil for hair, tea tree oil has the ability to soothe dry flaking skin, remove dandruff and even can be used for the treatment of lice. To make homemade tea tree oil shampoo, mix several drops of tea tree essential oil with aloe Vera gel, coconut milk and other essential oils like lavender oil.

Effective against acne

One of the most common uses for tea tree oil today is in skin care products, as it’s considered one of the most effective home remedies for acne. One study found tea tree oil to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but without the associated negative side effects that many people experience including red, dried and peeling skin.

Kills bacteria

Tea tree oil has powerful antimicrobial properties and can kill off bad bacteria in your home. Simply mix it with water, vinegar and lemon essential oil then use it on your counter tops, kitchen appliances, shower, toilet and sinks.

Used against mold infestation

A common problem many people experience in their homes is mold infestation, often without even being aware of it. Consider buying a diffuser and diffusing tea tree oil in the air around your home to kill mold and other bad bacteria. Also, you can spray tea tree oil cleaner onto shower curtains, your laundry machine, dishwasher or toilet to kill off mold.

Used Tea Tree Oil for its antimicrobial properties

Tea tree essential oil has antimicrobial properties that destroy the bacteria on your skin that causes body odor. You can make homemade tea tree oil deodorant by mixing it with coconut oil and baking soda. Also, you can add tea tree oil and lemon essential oil to your shoes and sports gear to keep them smelling fresh.

Tea essential tree oil helps in relieving sores

Tea tree oil can also be used to relieve sores. It has to be applied directly onto the sore. However, if it is near the mouth, be careful not to ingest it as raw tea tree oil is toxic. It is even effective for cold sores.

Apply tea tree oil to remove yeast infections

Studies have found that tea tree oil disrupts the membranes of yeast cells, and lavender kills Candida in a test tube. Mix them together to eliminate yeast infections.

Tea tree oil acts as effective against chickenpox

One study found that tea tree oil was as effective as any medication for chickenpox. Simply apply it to the skin for immediate relief. However, if rashes or inflammation develops, stop using immediately.

Tea tree oil used in topical ointments

This essential oil is used as a popular remedy for skincare. Tea tree oil good for skin rash, acne, fungal infections. If you have oily skin then start using this oil to reduce oiliness. Even it is good for dry skin problems and decrease inflammation.

Uses of Tea Tree Oil

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Tea tree oil is applied to the skin (used topically) for infections such as acne, fungal infections of the nail (onychomycosis), lice, scabies, athlete's foot (tinea pedis), and ringworm. It is also used topically as a local antiseptic for cuts and abrasions, for burns, insect bites and stings, boils, vaginal infections, recurrent herpes labialis, toothache, infections of the mouth and nose, sore throat, and for ear infections such as otitis media and otitis externa. Some people add it to bath water to treat cough, bronchial congestion, and pulmonary inflammation.

Side-Effects & Allergies of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is safe to use for most people. However, the oil itself is toxic and should never be ingested. The oil may cause inflammation and rashes in people using it for the first time. If this happens, stop using the oil immediately and report to a doctor. In people with acne, it can sometimes cause skin dryness, itching, stinging, burning, and redness.

Applying products to the skin that contain tea tree oil along with lavender oil might not be safe for young boys who have not yet reached puberty. These products might have hormone effects that could disrupt the normal hormones in a boy's body. In some cases, this has resulted in boys developing abnormal breast growth called gynecomastia. The safety of these products when used by young girls is not known.

Tea tree oil should never be ingested. Taking tree tea essential oil by mouth has caused confusion, inability to walk, unsteadiness, rash, and coma. It is best to use the oil in combination with oils like coconut and lavender oil or with baking soda.

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Cultivation of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree. The tea tree was named by eighteenth century sailors, who made tea that smelled like nutmeg from the leaves of the tree growing on the swampy southeast Australian coast. It is a high value plantation crop, known for its oil-yielding leaves of high medicinal value.

Tea tree essential oil can easily be extracted with steam, oils and fats, or with solvents like alcohol. In their natural range, tea trees grow in water-saturated, riparian or swampy soils. Therefore, in cultivation, they require more or less constant access to water in order to thrive. Plantation trees are usually harvested every 12-18 months.

Studies found that the best growth occurred in the tea trees receiving the most effluent plus nitrogen. Melaleuca alternifolia was able to accumulate excess phosphorus to its needs in the older leaves. They also found increased nitrogen had no effect on the tea tree oil concentration in the plant but did increase the dry matter production. With modern farming methods, and the fact that the Tea Tree grows fast, there's plenty of its oil to go around.

References

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    Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
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    Reviewed ByDt. Ms. Shilpa MarwahB.Sc (Home Science), Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health NutritionDietitian/Nutritionist
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