Tea Tree
Updated Mar. 09th, 2022
It may not be the first thing you think of, but it’s an essential addition to any first aid bag or suitcase. Tea tree oil is one of the strongest and most effective natural antiseptics; killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi upon contact.
Australian Aboriginals have been using Malaleuca alternifolia, aka Tea tree, for centuries. They used to brew the leaves and apply the pulp on a variety of ailments and to repel insects. When samples of Tea Tree were brought to England for study, its anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed. It is now well-known and commonly used to treat acne, cuts, wounds, sore throat, ringworm, athlete’s foot, vaginal infections, hemorrhoids, insect bites and dandruff.
It is important to note that Tea Tree oil is toxic when ingested. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, severe rash, confusion and even coma. Be cautious or refrain from using Tea Tree topically on pets, as they may ingest the tea tree while grooming. A small number of patients also experience contact dermatitis when using Tea Tree oil topically. Using a diluted concentration may help to decrease the incidence of any skin reaction.
Tea Tree can be applied directly to an acne lesion, or directly to lesions of Athletes foot or Ringworm. Be aware some drying will occur. Add 2 or 3 drops to shampoo before washing hair for dandruff treatment. For athlete’s foot bath, soak feet 3 times a day, for 15 minutes each in a small tub of water mixed with 20-25 drops of Tea Tree oil. For a vaginal douche to treat a yeast infection or vaginitis, mix 1 tsp for every 2 cups of water. Douche daily for 4-6 weeks. This same mixture can also be applied to and used to treat external hemorrhoids.
This is another product that you never want to be without. It is an excellent healer. It is also an essential to add to boiling water, cover your head with a towel and breath in the vapours to relieve sinus and head cold problems. I add it to echanasia, golden seal, and oregano to treat bad cold congestion.
Hello Sharon,
Indeed, tea tree oil is great to have on hand, when diluted and applied topically it has many benefits. Thank you for sharing how you use it, that's an excellent idea when feeling congested. Read more about other popular essential oils here:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/lavender/
Have a healthy day!
Tea tree is amazing! I love the scent and tea tree is especially wonderful for me as a women given the evidence that tea tree could have some estogenic effect (on this note, it would be excellent if in the important information section you included the a warning re abnormal breast growth in young boys and the potential endocrine disrupting effects of tea tree). Anyway, I did not know that tea tree is commonly used to treat acne, cuts, wounds, sore throat, ringworm, athlete’s foot, vaginal infections, hemorrhoids, insect bites and dandruff. I have a new remedy in my tool kit to try now!
Hello Rachel,
Tea tree is a multifaceted essential oil with many medicinal properties and benefits. However it's important to note that it's toxic to pets and should be kept out of their reach. Its antibacterial properties makes it great for fighting acne and its anti inflammatory properties make it great for soothing scalp irritation that can cause dandruff. If you'd like to learn more about this oil's benefits and what other essential oils it pairs well with, check out this video of ours, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A73P81MZyPo&list=PLFydSZTC8qlbfjY2KHRR9lCDLZNLDd5k5&index=19&pp=iAQB
Have a healthy day