Pure Tea Tree Oil: Naturally Care For Your Skin, Hair, And More

by Andrew Cooke

Posted on Monday 12th of September 2011

Tea tree oil is a yellowish, greenish essential oil with many healing properties. It is derived from a tree native to Australia called the Melaleuca Alternifolia, or tea tree. Some might call it oil from the land down under. Thousands of years ago, Aborigines in Australia recognized that tea tree oil had anti-inflammatory qualities, and that it could stimulate the immune system. Typically, the oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the tea tree.

Tea tree essential oil is powerful enough in so many areas that it can be used for cold symptoms, cold sores, warts, pimples, dandruff, and athlete's foot. It is especially useful for skin problems. Infections or rashes caused by bacteria, fungus, or even viruses often will clear sooner if treated with tea tree oil. The oil also soothes insect bites and helps wounds heal faster. Because the oil fights off bacteria, another application for it is oral care. Tea tree oil can be added to mouthwash or toothpaste. Even some dental pics now are flavored with the oil. Despite the use of tea tree oil in the mouth, it should never be swallowed completely.

The oil is very fragrant, and its versatility makes it one of the best essential oils to keep stocked in your medicine cabinet. In some cases, pure tea tree oil is best to use. However, at 100% strength, it can be too potent to use directly on your face. Therefore, diluting the tea tree oil is a good idea sometimes. For acne, a 5% solution is enough to get results. At other times, you might want to mix tea tree with other essential oils. Jojoba, lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender oils are used together with tea tree quite often. Products with essential oil blends are becoming very popular.

Probably the reason tea tree oil is most frequently used is acne. The oil helps at every stage: it helps prevent pimples and blackheads in the first place by maintaining skin health, and tea tree oil also contributes to acne dissipating more quickly once it appears. The oil even can make acne scars and other skin blemishes appear less visible. While it is extremely effective, it usually does not cause redness or irritation that benzoyl peroxide and other cleansers sometimes do.

Tea tree oil is used in several other ways besides for skin care. You can put it in a bath for a soothing, relaxing experience. Oil from the tea tree is one of the most popular in aromatherapy. The oil also helps with dandruff and lice, so there are many hair care products on the market with tea tree oil, including shampoos and conditioners.

With so many different uses for tea tree oil, it is no wonder that a huge number of people now buy products containing the oil. For some, choosing organic tea tree oil results in even more health benefits. If the oil is organic, it means that it has been extracted for tea trees grown without pesticides or other chemicals. Tea tree essential oil is a natural substance that has been proven to work time and time again.