As a child I remember tea tree oil as always being on the drug store shelf before essential oils were readily available. I’ve always know about it, not that I was an avid user – back then it was all about the latest greatest man-made drug to cure what ails you. Well, it turns out it does help your skin and so much more.
The name tea tree actually refers to many plants in and around Australia. It’s kind of like people who call soda “coke.” They don’t really mean Coca-Cola, they mean a carbonated drink. The tea tree oil that is bottled and sold is the essential oil from the Melaleuca tree/shrub. The Bundjalung people of Australia knew about the properties of the plant and they used it in their medications. Their use of tea tree oil was observed by Captain Cooke’s crew when they first visited Australia. They are the ones that dubbed this plant tea tree. They used it to make tea, no doubt running out of their own supplies of tea.
In recent years I have used Melaleuca oil to help with my son’s dandruff and I’m about to use it to help him fight off teen-age acne (he’s at that age).
Blends Well With:
Clary Sage, Clove, Geranium, Lavender, Myrrh, Rosemary, and Thyme
Plant Parts Used:
Leaves and twigs
Extraction:
Melaleuca Oil is extracted through steam distillation.
How To Use Melaleuca Oil
Health
Fungal Infections–Melaleuca is anti-fungal and works great on toenail fungus. Soak your feet in a bucket of water with a cup of vinegar mixed in. Then dry your feet and apply a drop of tea tree oil. Repeat twice a week until infection is gone.
Athletes Foot– Soak your feet in a bucket of water with a cup of vinegar mixed in. Then dry your feet and apply a melaleuca mixed with a carrier oil to affected area.
Viral And Bacterial Infections–If you find yourself coming down with a cold fill your diffuser with water and one drop of melaleuca. This will help strengthen your immune system.
Cold Sores–Apply one drop of melaleuca to affected area at onset of cold sore. Be sure to not ingest. Melaleuca is toxic if swallowed.
Warts and Verrucas–Apply a few drops directly onto the wart if located on the feet. If located on other parts of the body apply tea tree old mixed with a carrier oil. Strengthen the mixture as needed. Note: Melaleuca at full strength can cause skin irritation and it is not recommended you apply it directly to the skin indefinitely.
Gum Inflammation–Use a toothbrush to apply one drop of melaleuca to gums.
Acne–Melaleuca has been found to be as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide in controlling acne. Use a cotton swab to apply full strength tree tee oil to pimples or use it as a mask by mixing a few drops with honey and applying to affected areas.
Burns/Sunburns–Melaleuca has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat minor burns and sunburns. Make a compress using water and a few drops of melaleuca and apply to skin.
Candida/Yeast Infections–Add 2 or 3 drops to bath water. Repeat until symptoms subside.
Minor Scrapes and cuts–Add a few drops of melaleuca to a spray bottle filled with water and apply to minor scrapes and cuts to disinfect.
Dandruff–Add 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil to 2 cups of vinegar and use as a hair rinse. Consider cleaning hair with baking soda instead of shampoo.
Other Skin Irritations–Tea tree oil can also be applied to insect bites, lice, blisters, bruises, rashes and dry skin. Apply undiluted or mixed with a carrier to affected areas depending on the sensitivity of your skin.
Cleaning/Other
All Purpose Cleaner–Add a few drops of tea tree oil to any homemade all purpose cleaner. It will kill germs and leave a fresh scent.
Fungus Remover–Melaleuca is anti-fungal and works great as a bathroom cleaner. Add a few drops to salt to make a scrub to scour bathtubs, showers and tile.
Control Mold and Mildew– Remove mold and mildew by applying a few drops of tea tree oil and scrubbing with a brush.
Laundry–Keep towels and other laundry mildew free by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to the washing machine.
Pets– Keep pet areas clean by using a few drops of tea tree oil mixed with water or vinegar to clean crates, carriers and kennels.
Blends
All Purpose Cleaner
5 drops melaleuca oil
2c water
Place all ingredients in a spray bottle
Acne Mask
2 drops melaleuca oil
1T honey
Apply to affected area and leave on for a few hours or overnight.
Air Freshener Blend
Diffuse:
2 drops lemon oil
1 drop melaleuca oil
1 drop white fir oil
1 drop cilantro oil
Cautions
Melaleuca is toxic if ingested. Use caution when using essential oils on children, use only the lowest diluted dosage.
Don’t forget that I highly recommend Spark Naturals for all your essential oil needs and when you use coupon code AWCOW you’ll get 10% off your purchase. Click here to order their melaleuca oil.
