Tea tree oil is one of the more common essential oils. Also known as Melaleuca, it is used extensively for it’s cleansing properties, and is an oil that you definitely want to have in your wellness toolkit. You can find good quality tea tree oil with relative ease and you won’t pay a fortune for it either. So that makes it even more beneficial.
Tea tree oil has been used for thousands of years, dating back to the Aborigines of Australia. They would use the crushed leaves of the tea tree applied to the skin for injuries and infections. Today, we can gain these same health benefits through tea tree oil.
When looking at tea tree oil chemically, it belongs to the alcohol group. This group is toning, antiviral, and antibacterial among other things. They also are usually very gentle and suitable for children and those with sensitive skin. For this reason, tea tree oil can be used neat or without being diluted in a carrier oil before being applied to the skin. (For those with very sensitive skin, begin by diluting it to be safe.)
Can tea tree oil be used internally?
This oil truly has a myriad of uses, but we don’t use it internally. Tea tree oil’s power antimicrobial properties, make it an excellent choice for using in DIY homemade disinfectants, sprays, cleaners, and laundry soap. And as I’ve already stated it can safely be used topically, so it’s also great for homemade salves and balms. It is also a great choice for diffusing to cleanse and purify the air, but internal use of tea tree oil can cause possible side effects, so we don’t recommend using it internally. There are many other safer oils for internal use.
Here is a video all about tea tree oil:
Some specific ways we use tea tree oil around our house:
- homemade laundry soap
- DIY deodorant
- Acne face wash
- On cuts or skin infections
- In my Omni Salve
- DIY bathroom spray cleaner
Other beneficial ways to use tea tree oil:
- Natural nail fungus remedy
- DIY dandruff remedy
- Natural mouthwash
- Oral thrush preventative
- Spot treatment for acne
If you’re like me, you may not necessarily love the smell of tea tree oil, but you will learn to enjoy that smell because of all the health benefits associated with it. Who knows, you may just find yourself diffusing tea tree oil around your house to purify the air and promote healthy respiratory functions. I’ll admit, I’ve diffused it recently. That damp bathroom that we’ve had to remodel needed some TLC and some ODF (oils diffused fast).
Basically, I’ve come to really love this little gem of an oil. Who wouldn’t love something with all these great benefits and qualities? And, well, the smell is starting to grow on me too. It’s much better than smelling mold, right! So grab yourself a bottle of tea tree oil and try it out for yourself. You just might find yourself saying you have a new favorite oil.
Want more essential oil know-how?
Check out my course here.
Some of my other favorite essential oils:
Want to make your own air freshener with essential oils?
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