Tea Tree Oil: Uses

Tea tree oil is one among nature’ many gifts to mankind. Uses of tea tree oil can be dated back to ancient times when aborigines of Australia used it to heal skin ailments and even cough and sore throat. Its miraculous cure was brought to light by Arthur Penfold after he published reports on its antimicrobial activity in 1920’s. However, usage of tea tree oil boomed and crossed borders during World War II.

Melaleuca alternifolia otherwise known as Melaleuca oil or Australian tea tree oil was originated in a region called Topi Topi, northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil is extracted from leaves and tea tree oil produced in Topi Topi is considered as the best quality available in the market.

People misunderstand tea oil for tea tree oil mainly due to their significant similarities and medicinal properties. Tea oil and tea tree oil have similar golden-yellow tone but fine camphoraceous aroma that tea tree oil produces makes it stand out. The presence of terpenoids makes tea tree oil both antiseptic and antifungal.

Tea tree oil can be used effectively against gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria and fungi. Studies prove that Tea tree oil is 11 times stronger than Phenol and brings quicker effect. Diluted solution of tea tree oil can prevent fleas and hair-loss among your pet dogs and their fur coat regains its natural gloss. You can also get shampoos that contain tea tree oil in the market, which is the easiest way to apply on pets. Few drops of diluted tea tree oil also keep away bacteria and fungi from pet fishes. Adding few drops in water to clean the floor helps to get rid of insects, ants etc.

Tea tree oil soothes sunburn, tooth ache, gum infection as well as pacifies severe cold and related congestion, sore throat etc. Some tooth pastes and mouthwashes make use of tea tree oil to solve oral problems. Breathing in the steam of diluted tea tree oil can clear respiratory tract during cold and flu. Though it is used to cure eye diseases like blepharitis, using it in ears is not recommended. Apart from medicinal benefits it can be used in cosmetics to. Antiseptic property in tea tree oil can cure facial skin problems like black heads and pimples and hence used in cosmetic products. Tea tree oil is the best treatment available for dandruff as it fights Malassezia furfur that brings dandruff. It is also a good natural deodorizer, which reduces body-odor. Similar to other essential oils, tea tree oil is advised to take externally.

Tea tree oil, once traditional medicine of natives of northeastern Australia is widely accepted and appreciated in different forms all over the world. Tea tree oil is a very handy all-in-one first-aid kit. If you are going for a travel, trekking or any adventurous trip, taking a small bottle of tea tree oil can be very helpful.