You must have seen various shampoos, face washes, skin creams and lotions which contain tea tree extracts as their main ingredient. Have you ever thought why and what benefits does tea tree oil provide?
The practice of using the tea tree oil started in Australia, by the native aborigines to cure cuts, burns, boils and as an antiseptic for thousands of years. The oil is derived from the distillation of the leaves of the “Tea tree” and is popularly known as “Medicine in a Bottle”.
Active compounds:
- Terpenoids such as terpinen-4-ol, eucalyptol, cineole, nerolidol and viridiflorol. They are responsible for its antimicrobial properties
- Eucalyptol, or 1, 8-cineol, also has antiseptic properties.
Read further to know about the most well known benefits of Tea Tree oil.
Tea Tree Oil For Skin:
1. For Healthy Skin:
If you are suffering from blemishes, dark spots, pimple outburst etc, tea tree oil is your saviour. Dab a few drops of this essential oil on a cotton swab and apply it over the affected areas on the skin. You can also use face washes and gels, which contain pure tea tree oil in them. This is a lot better and a natural alternative, rather than using harsh chemicals and alcohol.
2. Relief From Razor Burns:
Razor burns and ingrown hair can become quite uncomfortable and painful if not treated properly. To cure it, after shaving dab a few drops of tea tree essential oil on a piece of cotton and apply on the infected areas. This will provide a soothing sensation to your skin. For ingrown hair, dilute the oil in water, and then apply it on the affected areas.
3. Skin Treatment:
Tea tree oil can be used as an effective anti-viral and anti-fungal home remedy and can be used to cure athlete’s foot and fungal nail infection. It also has antiseptic properties and is used to treat cuts, wounds, burns, boils and other skin disorders. You can either boil the tea tree leaves in water or dilute the essential oil in water and apply over the affected areas to get instant results. It soothes the skin and reduces the redness and itching.
4. Reduces Acne:
You must have seen various anti-acne skin creams and face washes which contain tea tree extracts. Studies have shown that tea tree oil is just as effective as benzoly peroxide, to reduce acne. It is a natural alternative for curing acne, without negative side effects like reddening and peeling of skin. It also reduces sebum production by the skin and fights off the acne producing bacteria on the skin. Tea tree oil is an excellent skin treatment especially for oily and acne prone skin.
Take 2-3 drops of tea tree oil and 1 tbsp each of honey and yogurt. Apply this on your acne using fingers tips. Do not apply a thick layer. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and rinse off your face. This mask can relieve you from acne in just few weeks time.
5. Tea Tree Oil for Corns, Warts, Wounds and Ringworm:
Tea tree oil can be a good cure for corns. It can help cure chapped lips. You can also apply undiluted tea tree oil onto warts. Apply it twice daily. But make sure you don’t have a sensitive skin, else dilute it before using. Warts will disappear themselves. It can be also be used for healing wounds. Take special care in never using tea tree oil by itself. Always use a carrier oil to avoid any skin reactions. Tea tree oil benefits your skin in more ways than one. So look up to tea tree oil next time you face any skin problem.
6. Cures Dry Skin:
Tea tree oil is a good cure for dry skin. Simply add 5 spoons of tea tree oil to one spoon of almond oil and massage it gently onto your skin. Leave it on for some time and bath normally. Regular use will help you keep your skin hydrated for longer time. It also leaves your skin feeling soft, supple and glowing.
7. Tea Tree Oil for Cuts, Burns, Insect Bites, Skin Tags and Rashes:
Tea tree oil also has few medicinal uses. They help you deal with your cuts and burns better. It soothes the burns and heals cuts naturally. It also helps relieve you from the itchiness of rashes. You may also use it for removal of skin tags. Insect bites can also be soothed using tea tree oil. It works as an antiseptic when applied on cuts, burns and rashes etc. Add few drops of tea tree oil to the water you bath. This would help you get rid of all skin-related allergies by killing bacteria and fungus.
Tea Tree Oil for Hair:
8. Hair growth:
It has been found that tea tree oil induces hair growth. It actually helps in unclogging hair follicles and nourishes your roots. Take few drops of tea tree oil, mix it with any carrier oil and simply massage it onto your scalp. You will feel a great refreshing and tingling effect on your scalp. However, you must remember to add carrier oil because tea tree oil for hair growth or otherwise by itself is extremely strong.
9. Fights Dandruff and Lice:
Take a few drops of tea tree oil and mix it with your daily shampoo that you use to wash your hair. Use this shampoo normally and you will see how it helps you get rid of dandruff. This has been used as a great dandruff cure for ages.
10. Dry scalp:
Tea tree oil is very good for dry scalp. It moisturizes by nourishing your scalp and your hair really well. It clears all blockages in the pores. Mix it with any carrier oil like jojoba oil and massage gently onto your scalp for 10-15 minutes. Leave it on for some time and wash thoroughly.
11. Fights bacterial and Viral Infections:
The properties and natural ingredients found in tea tree oil can help keep all the viral and bacterial infections at bay. These infections are often the reason behind scalp irritations.
13. Prevents Hair Fall:
We all dread the very thought of thinning hair. Tea tree oil can help a great deal in preventing this nightmare called hair fall. All commercial products do more harm to the hair than good and the result is hair fall. Tea tree oil helps restore all the replenished nutrients from the hair.
Tea Tree Oil For Health:
14. Strengthens And Cure Ailments Of Some Major Organs:
Tea tree oil helps in strengthening the body’s immune system, which may be weakened by stress, illness, consumption of antibiotics and other drugs. It also treats the respiratory problems like common cold, cough, asthma and bronchitis. Tea tree oil has anti viral properties which help to cure chicken pox, cold sores, measles etc.
15. Relief From Pink Eye:
Most of us suffer from Pink eye or “conjunctivitis” at some point in our life. The reddening of the eyes due the virus results in “eye flu” or conjunctivitis. To reduce the pain and the itching in the eyes, tea tree oil can be used. Boil green tea bags in water and add a few drops of tea tree essential oil. Boil for 5 minutes and cool it. Place it on your eyes and keep for 20 minutes. This will provide instant relief to your eyes.
16. Oral Problems:
When used as a mouth wash, tea tree oil can help to cure bad breath, plague, inflamed gums and gingivitis. It kills the bacteria in the mouth and reduces the pain and irritation due to its anti-bacterial properties.
For use, dilute 3 drops of the essential oil in a bowl of warm water. Use this to rinse the mouth twice a day to get rid of the various oral problems.
Other Benefits:
17. Keeps Bugs Away:
Tea tree oil acts as a natural insect deterrent, thus keeping mosquitoes, flies, lice and bugs away. Simply mix a few drops of this oil with a carrier oil like mineral oil or sunflower oil and apply it on the skin.
18. For Cleaning:
Tea tree oil can be used as an all purpose cleanser, thus can be used to clean the floors, tiles, dish washing, mats, laundry etc. For this mix two drops of the oil in a cup of water and use it in a spray bottle. You can spray this over your laundry to make it smell fresh and clean.
Tea tree oil has gained a lot of popularity across the globe for its varied and beneficial uses for hair. Many big brands offer tea tree oil-based shampoo also. You may also try out one of these shampoos available in the market.
Few words of caution before you use tea tree oil:
- Tea tree oil is only meant for topical use. NEVER consume it.
- Tea tree oil by itself is strong. Make sure you never use it directly. Always mix carrier oil with it before application.
- Too much of tea tree oil can prove to be harmful. Always use moderate quantity. Best is to consult your physician to know the exact amount of oil that is best suited for your hair.
- When you first start using tea tree oil for your hair, it may leave your hair a little dry. Don’t freak out. Give it sometime.
Hope you guys enjoyed reading this article. Do leave us your comments and views. We would love to know if tea tree oil worked for you.
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