What you need to know about Tea tree oil
Essential oils have been used for healing and medicinal purposes for centuries and most certainly long before we had pills, one such oil is tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil also known as melaleuca oil is an oil known for its fresh camphoraceous odor and a pale yellow color to colorless. Tea tree oil is toxic when taken by mouth, but it is widely used in low concentrations in cosmetics and skin washes. It is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia belonging to the Myrtaceae family.
Tea-tree oil should not be consumed because it is toxic and according to the Poison Center, it is known to cause rash, blood cell abnormalities, stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, hallucinations, confusion, drowsiness and even coma.
Health benefits of tea tree oil
Useful for cuts and scrapes – Apply a couple of drops of tea tree oil immediately after cleaning any cut or scrape. In the event that a bandage is necessary, drip some drops of the oil onto a cotton-ball, lay the cotton ball on top of the cut/scrape, and then place a bandage over it to hold it in place.
Facial skin health – Tea tree oil’s recovery properties have caused it to be a vital part in many facial skin care products. The oil is frequently used to fight eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. Additionally, it is good for distressed complexions and congested skin because of its low-toxicity and the way it can help the skin without causing further issues.
Fights against acne – Making use of something which has oil to take care of a difficulty that’s often brought on by excessive oil might seem to be a contradiction, but, tea tree oil causes fewer unwanted effects and treats acne just as efficiently as numerous pharmaceuticals. Pure tea-tree oil is an excellent option to putting harsh chemicals in your skin and is completely natural. Some people’s skin might be irritated by tea tree oil; therefore do a skin test before implementing it on a sensitive area like the face.
Helps nasal congestion – Steam can aid with nasal blockage by itself. Add some tea tree oil to the steam that you’re inhaling and you significantly boost its effects on nasal congestion. To do this simply boil one cup of water with two to three drops of tea tree oil and inhale the steam as you would normally. You can also add a few drops to your vaporizer should you use one.
Fights athlete’s foot and other fungus – Tea tree oil has been shown to help fight off athlete’s foot. First, clean the feet completely, particularly in-between one’s toes. Place the oil immediately onto the toes and do this every 14 days. Alternatively you can add eight to 12 drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of your preferred carrier oil and rub it on your feet/in between your toes every day.