Tea tree oil is an essential plant extract that comes from the leaves of an Australian shrub. The local Aboriginal culture has used this oil in traditional medicine for hundreds or thousands of years. Is it effective?
Amazing Natural Antibacterial Cleanser
Tea tree oil contains powerful plant compounds that are shockingly effective at killing viruses, bacteria and fungi. Many health professionals point out the benefits of tea tree oil for healthy skin, hair, fingernails and toenails:
Athlete’s foot
Toenail fungus
Psoriasis
Dandruff
Cuts
Contact dermatitis
Acne
Tea tree oil is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, which means it works against a wide range of germs, not just a few specific types. It’s also much safer for your body than commercial disinfectant chemicals.
Hand Sanitizer That Moisturizes Your Skin
If you’re like many people, you probably use antiseptic alcohol or antimicrobial gel to sanitize your hands in public. These products are rough on your skin. You may end up with cracked, flaking or dry hands.
What makes tea tree oil special is that it can disinfect your hands without drying them out. In fact, it moisturizes them! You can even combine tea tree oil with another hydrating oil, such as argan, olive, coconut or jojoba oils.
Calming Natural Remedy for Skin Irritation
Have you ever noticed a rash when using certain chemicals around the house or wearing certain jewelry? These problems can be a sign of contact dermatitis, which is basically a minor allergic reaction to some irritating ingredient.
Tea tree oil can be as effective or better than over-the-counter medications for alleviating this type of rash. The next time you feel the urge to scratch an itch, use tea tree oil instead.
Safe and Effective Insect Repellent
The same plant compounds in tea tree oil that calm skin irritation can also help you get relief from the itching and swelling caused by bug bites. Surprisingly, using this potent oil on your skin may keep insects away from you in the first place.
According to one study, tea tree oil is better than DEET for repelling mosquitos. DEET is the strong-smelling, clothing-melting chemical that commercial bug sprays use. Tea tree oil can also help with fire ants, spiders, ticks and fleas, though you shouldn’t use it on your pets.
Relaxing Wound Healing
Cuts, bruises and scrapes are a normal part of life, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Why put up with pain and swelling for days when you can speed up healing naturally?
Tea tree oil can disinfect the area, killing bacteria and preventing cuts from getting infected. At the same time, this oil calms inflammation and boosts the effects of your immune system to help wounds heal faster.
Versatile Antimicrobial Product
Tea tree oil’s antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial benefits make it one of the best options for homemade skin care remedies with natural ingredients:
Acne treatments
Moisturizing skin creams
Deodorants
Hand sanitizers
Scalp treatments
Be aware that you should never swallow essential oils; tea tree oil is toxic if you ingest it. Also, if you have sensitive skin, dilute tea tree oil with carrier oil or water before using it. Sweet almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil are excellent carrier oils.