What is Tea Tree?
Tea Tree - Melaleuca Alternifolia is a native plant belonging to northeast coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. Tea Tree has very strong therapeutic and medicinal values. When crushed and distilled, the leaves of this plant yield a 100% natural oil which is an antiseptic, a fungicide and has numerous uses as listed below. Tea Tree oil contains more than 48 compounds, main constituent being terpinen-4-ol which is responsible for tea tree oil's antibacterial and anti fungal properties.
It helps with mouth ulcers, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, fatigue, respiratory infections, strengthening the immune system and the female reproductive system. Tea Tree also helps to clear acne, lice, cold sores and gingivitis.
History of Tea Tree Oil
- Bundjalung aborigines of northern new South Wales - viewed lagoon where tea tree leaves fell and decayed for hundreds of years as having tremendous healing properties.
- First report of medicinal use: Medical Journal of Australia (1930) - Sydney surgeon used: solution of tea tree oil to clean wound -
". . . it dissolved pus and left the surface of infected wounds clean so that its germicidal action became more effective without any apparent damage to the tissues ... most efficient germicides destroy tissues as well as bacteria.."
- World War II - tea tree oil issued to soldiers to use as a disinfectant.
Tea Tree Oil - Uses and Benefits
* antiseptic - considered by many to be the ideal skin disinfectant.
* anti fungal.
* good penetration, lack of irritation.
* Effective against:
Candida albicans
Propionibactenum acnes
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus pyrogenes
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Clinical Usage and Dosage of Tea Tree Oil:
Skin infections:
- broad-spectrum antiseptic.
- mixes with sebaceous secretions and penetrates epidermis.
- apply oil two to three times per day.
Acne:
- alternative to benzoyl peroxide.
- less side effects (dryness, redness, pruritus, stinging, burning).
- 5% tea tree oil gel applied daily.
Common Foot Problems:
- tinea pedis (athlete's foot) foot irritation.
- bromhidrosis (severely foul-smelling feet).
- 8% tea tree oil emollient massaged into feet daily.
Fungal Nail Infection:
- 100% tea tree oil twice daily.
- improvement in nail appearance and symptoms (with long-term use).
Vaginal Infections:
- germicidal activity versus Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis.
- 40% tea tree oil solution emulsified with isopropyl alcohol and water.
- used tampon saturated with this tea tree oil solution (once wkly for 4 to 6 wks).
- for treatment of cervicitis and chronic endocervicitis.
- daily vaginal douches (1 quart water with 0.4% tea tree oil) prescribed.
- for treatment of trichomonas and candidacies.
- no irritation, burning, or other side effects noted.
Cold Sores:
- mix essential oil with 10 times its volume of carrier oil.
- dab on affected area as soon as developing cold sore starts to tingle.
Nits:
- eggs of head lice on the hair.
- put a few drops of oil on a fine comb and comb hair well.
- OR...add 5-10 drops of oil to shampoo or hair rinse and repeat daily.
Remarks
- extremely safe for topical use.- oral ingestion not recommended.
- being 100% natural it has no side effects.
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