Native to Australia, the tea tree plant has been used by the indigenous Bundajalung people for centuries to treat anything from common cold to injuries. Today, the world over, research is being done on an ongoing basis to study the effects of this plant in treating various medical problems. The tea tree plant is Melaleuca alternifolia and is not to be confused with the tea bush. This tree is a shrub with linear leaves found in the north eastern parts of New South Wales in Australia. Natives used to make use of the tea tree leaves by inhaling the oil from it to treat colds. Sometimes, the leaves themselves were applied on an injury to heal it.
While, there was no medical proof centuries ago, today medical research suggests that the magic of tea tree oil is not simply a legend passed down from one generation to another, rather a terrific remedy that nature has provided for many ailments. In this article, we will discuss the magic of tea tree oil, in specific for skin and hair care.
While tea tree oil has been used for hundreds of years due to its effectiveness, it is only now that the modern world is looking at this incredible plant as a medicinal option for many of the problems we face today. While there are not enough studies to substantiate the effectiveness of this oil, we will discuss in brief some of the problems for which tea tree has been studied to be effective.
For Head Lice
While head lice is not a serious problem or a sign of uncleanliness, it is nonetheless a very annoying problem. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the prevalence of head lice is estimated to be around 37 percent every year. Research done recently with tea tree oil suggests that it is indeed effective in treating head lice. In fact, it is found to be even more effective than permethrin, a popular chemical used to treat head lice. The best way to treat head lice with tea tree oil is to add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo or hair oil as it will help keep head lice at bay.
For Acne
Applying tea tree oil on acne is also researched to be effective in treating acne. A dilution of 5% tea tree oil in water, applied on the infected area has been proved an effective treatment for acne. It is recommended that tea tree oil be diluted as some may experience contact dermatitis on application that contains strong concentrations of tea tree oil.
For Fungal Infections
Tea tree oil has been found to be extremely effective against certain fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, fungal infections of the nails, candida infections, as well as oral thrush.
Other Medical Uses
Although tea tree oil has been used to treat cold sores, throat infections, vaginal infections, ear infections, scabies, ringworm, sores, and burns, and used for smoothening elbows, and to get rid of wrinkles, there is not enough proof to substantiate that tea tree oil does indeed work for these ailments.
Risks Associated
Tea tree oil is usually safe to use topically; it should, however, never be ingested as it could cause drowsiness and coma. Some people could be allergic to tea tree oil, which is why using very small quantities is advised the first few times.
The reason for the effectiveness of tea tree oil is its antimicrobial activity. Its antibacterial, antifungal, anti-mite, antiseptic properties make it one of the safest home remedies for treating a wide range of skin and hair related problems.
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