Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil distilled from the leaves of the native Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has many benefits for the skin. It’s an alternative to conventional treatments.
Tea tree oil can be used to treat conditions and symptoms that affect skin, nails, and hair. It can also be used as a deodorant, insect repellent, or mouthwash. When used topically, tea tree oil can treat certain skin conditions or improve the overall appearance of your skin.
WARNING BEFORE THE BENEFITS
Tea tree oil is effective in promoting healthy skin by soothing and healing a wide range of skin issues. Use tea tree oil with a few precautions:
You should not apply tea tree oil directly to the skin. It’s important to dilute the oil with a carrier oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil.For every 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil, add 12 drops of a carrier oil.Also, be careful when using tea tree oil around the eye area. Exposure can cause redness and irritation.Before you use tea tree oil, do a patch test to make sure your skin doesn’t react to the tea tree oil.
Risks associated with ingestion
Never swallow tea tree oil as it can cause:
severe rashes
blood cell abnormalities
stomach ache
diarrhea
vomiting
nausea
hallucinations
confusion
drowsiness
coma
Benefits
There are so many usages for Tea tree oil including Hand Sanitizer, Insect Repellent, Natural Deodorant, and the list goes on but below are some of the more common usages for tea tree oil.
1. Antibacterial
Tea tree oil is probably best known for its antibacterial activity. Some research suggests that the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity associated with the oil comes from its ability to damage the cell walls of bacteria.
2. Anti-inflammatory
Tea tree oil may help quell inflammation, possibly due to its high concentration of terpinen-4-ol, a compound with anti-inflammatory properties. Topically applied tea tree oil reduced swelling in histamine-induced skin inflammation more effectively than paraffin oil.
3. Antifungal
A review of the effectiveness of tea tree oil highlights its ability to kill a range of yeasts and fungi. The majority of the studies reviewed focus on Candida albicans, a type of yeast which commonly affects the skin, genitals, throat, and mouth.
4. Antiviral
Some studies show that tea tree oil can help treat certain viruses, but research is limited in this area.
5. Acne
The oil may be useful for a number of skin complaints. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, and sometimes you have to fight oil with oil. Tea tree oil helps to keep naturally occurring skin oils in check, which, together with tea tree oil’s antiseptic qualities, can help to reduce acne breakouts.
6. Relieve Psoriasis
Tea tree oil contains anti-inflammatory compounds, which, according to emerging evidence, may be helpful for easing psoriasis symptoms
7. Nail fungus
Fungal nail infections are quite common. Although they aren’t dangerous, they can be unsightly. There are medications that can treat nail fungus, though some people may prefer a more natural approach. Tea tree oil has been shown to help get rid of nail fungus when used alone or in combination with other natural remedies
8. Healthy Scalp
In addition to promoting hair health, tea tree oil can also keep your scalp healthy. Tea tree oil helps to reduce itchiness and flakiness and fights the buildup of residue on the surface of the scalp.