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Tea tree oil is a clear pale yellow essential oil with camphor-like fragrance. Tea tree is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree has been used for its medicinal properties by Australian natives for many years. Tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion, which is used to treat sore throats or any skin complaints. Tea tree oil as it is used today has been made popular by the researcher Arthur Penfold, who wrote about the antimicrobial properties of tea tree in the 1920s. Since then, tea tree oil has been extensively made use in various home remedies. Tea tree oil is obtained from the steam distillation of its leaves.

Uses

• Tea tree oil has many uses in home remedies as it is excellent in treating bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. It has been found effective in treating many infections such as athlete’s foot, insect bites, acne, sunburns, rashes, abscesses, oily skin, herpes, warts, wounds, and skin irritation. In fact, most of the skin infections can be treated using tea tree oil.
• Tea tree oil helps in treating viral infections like chicken pox, measles, flu, cold sores, and shingles, among others. It enhances the immune system and also counters the effect of drugs and antibiotics.
• Tea tree oil is beneficial for fungal infections such as candidiasis of the mouth or throat. It also helps in clearing toe nail fungal infections. One or two drops can be applied on the infection daily for the infection to be healed.
• Few drops of tea tree oil can be added water and be used as a mouthwash to cleanse the mouth and also heal any problems of the gums, teeth, or mouth. It aids in treating gingivitis, plaque, oral candidiasis, and inflamed gums.
• Vaginal yeast infections, genital warts, plantar wart, and insect bites can also be treated with tea tree oil.
• It also heals bruises, wounds, sores and cuts.
• Diluted tea tree oil can be applied to the scalp to removes dandruff and lice.
• Just a single drop of tea tree oil when applied to the first sign of a pimple will help heal acne.
• Tea tree can be used in steam inhalation for sore throats, colds and coughs. It is effective in clearing the mucous, and it naturally heals the nasal passage.
• Diaper rashes in babies are treated with a few drops of tea tree oil added to olive.

Side Effects

Tea tree oil cannot be consumed orally in its undiluted form as it is toxic. Tea tree oil has to be tested for individual use as it may cause diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, hallucinations, confusion, coma, weakness, unsteadiness, and itchiness. If it has to be used for prolonged periods, it is important to consult a physician. It is not favorable for children and pregnant women. It is important to do patch test before using it on the skin for any allergic reactions.

It has been found that use of lotions and creams that contain tea tree oil or lavender oil trigger gynecomastia, a condition in which there is enlargement gland tissue of the male breast. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, tea tree oil may contain endocrine disrupting activity that causes imbalance in hormones. It was found that in boys who used such products, the condition returned to normal, when usage was stopped.

Reference

1. Derek V. Henley, Ph.D., Natasha Lipson, M.D., Kenneth S. Korach, Ph.D., and Clifford A. Bloch, M.D., Prepubertal Gynecomastia Linked to Lavender and Tea Tree Oils, N Engl J Med, 2007.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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