Benefits of Tea Tree Oil that You should know!

We’ve all heard of different kinds of essential oils and their numerous benefits. Each essential oil is made from plants. The word essential means taking the essence of the plant. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has many benefits especially for the skin and it’s essence has been extracted from the tea tree which is also known as melaleuca oil. It’s an alternative to conventional treatments. Tea tree oil can be used and is widely used to treat conditions and symptoms that affect skin, nails, and hair.

Besides that, It can also be used as a deodorant, insect repellent, or mouthwash. In addition, when used topically, tea tree oil can treat certain skin conditions or improve the overall appearance of your skin. There is a growing number of usage in Malaysia as we in Malaysia are becoming even more aware of tea tree oil benefits. Below I will be sharing some uses and benefits of tea tree oil in our everyday lives that you should know by now!



Using Tea tree oil is effective in promoting healthy skin by soothing and healing a wide range of skin issues. However, use tea tree oil with a few precautions:

1. Firstly, you should not apply tea tree oil directly to skin. It’s important that tea tree oil is diluted with a carrier oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil.

2. For every 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil that you use, add 12 drops of a carrier oil. 3. You must be careful when using tea tree oil around the eye area. Direct exposure can cause redness and irritation.

4. It is essential to do a patch test to make sure your skin doesn’t react to the tea tree oil.

Uses & Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

1. Can be used as a hand sanitizer
Tea tree oil makes an ideal natural hand sanitizer as studies have shown that it kills several common bacteria and viruses responsible for causing illness, for instance, E. coli, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. In addition, a study testing several types of hand wash shows that adding tea tree oil to the cleansers boosted their effectiveness against E. coli

2. Insect Repellent
Tea tree oil can keep pesky insects away. According to a study found that 24 hours after being treated with tea tree oil, cows had 61% fewer flies than cows not treated with tea tree oil. Besides that, a test-tube study revealed that tea tree oil had a greater ability to repel mosquitoes than DEET. DEET is the most common active ingredient in commercial insect repellents.



3. Natural Deodorant
Tea tree oil antibacterial effects may help control underarm odor that is caused due to perspiration. Sweat itself does not smell but when secretions from your sweat glands combine with bacteria on your skin, a moderate to strong odor is produced.

Your underarm area contains a large concentration of these glands and is mainly responsible for what is commonly referred to as "body odor." This makes Tea tree oil a more ideal alternative due to its bacteria-fighting properties compared to commercial deodorants or antiperspirants.

4. Antiseptic for Minor Cuts and Scrapes
When you get injured and are left with a broken skin it makes it easier for germs to enter your bloodstream which results to infections. Just so you know, tea tree oil can be used to treat and disinfect minor cuts and abrasions by killing bacteria S. aureus and other types of bacteria that can cause infection in open wounds.

To disinfect a cut or scrape you must follow these steps:

1. Firstly, clean the cut thoroughly with plain soap and water
2. Second, mix one drop of tea tree oil with one teaspoon of coconut oil
3. Third, apply a small amount of the mixture to the injury and cover with a bandage
4. Last, repeat this process once or twice daily until a scab has formed
5. Boost Wound Healing
Besides preventing infection in cuts and abrasions, tea tree oil may also encourage wound healing. Recent research has shown that tea tree oil helps reduce inflammation and triggers the activity of white blood cells that are instrumental in the healing process. Also, in a small study of 10 people with wounds, adding tea tree oil to conventional wound treatment led to decreased healing time in all but one participant. Just a few drops of tea tree oil can be added to wound dressing each time a new dressing is applied.

6. Fight Acne
Tea tree oil can be a powerful weapon against acne and is majorly known for that. Many studies have shown that it helps reduce the amount and overall severity of acne. In a recent study, applying a 5% tea tree gel to acne lesions was shown to be more than three times as effective at reducing the number of lesions than a placebo. It was almost six times as effective in reducing severity. In another study, tea tree oil was found to be as effective against acne as benzoyl peroxide which is the most common anti-acne medication. Due to its popularity, tea tree oil-based acne gels can be purchased at natural grocery stores or from online retailers. However, you can make your own acne treatment by mixing one part tea tree oil with nine parts water and applying the mixture to affected areas with a cotton swab once or twice a day, as needed.

7. Get Rid of Nail Fungus
Fungal nail infections are quite common. Although they aren't dangerous, they can be unsightly. There are many when it comes to medications that can treat nail fungus, though some people may prefer a more natural approach. Moreover, tea tree oil has been shown to help get rid of nail fungus when used alone or in combination with other natural remedies. In a controlled study, some people with nail fungus used straight tea tree oil or an antifungal medication for six months.

By the end of the study, about 60% of people in each group experienced partial or full resolution of the fungus. For those who don’t know you can use a few drops of tea tree oil alone or mix it with an equal amount of coconut oil and apply it to the affected area. Remember to wash your hands immediately after applying in order to avoid spreading the fungus to other areas.



8. Chemical-Free Mouthwash
Research has suggested that tea tree oil may fight germs that cause tooth decay and bad breath. In one of the studies found that tea tree oil was more effective against plaque-causing bacteria than chlorhexidine, a common disinfectant and oral rinse. What's more, the taste was found to be less objectionable.

Although, an older study reported that tea tree oil didn't seem to have much of an effect on plaque formation. If you want to make your own chemical-free mouthwash just add a drop of tea tree oil to a cup of warm water, mix thoroughly and swish in your mouth for 30 seconds or so. Caution, like other mouthwashes, tea tree oil should not be swallowed sine It can be toxic if ingested.

9. All-Purpose Cleaner
Tea tree oil makes a great all-purpose cleaner that at the same time sanitizes surfaces. In addition, it does so without leaving traces of chemicals you wouldn't want your family members or pets coming in contact with.

Here's how you make a all-natural & all-purpose cleaner:

1. Firstly, combine 20 drops of tea tree oil, 3/4 cup of water and a 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.

2. Second, shake well until thoroughly mixed.

3. Third, spray directly onto surfaces and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

4. Lastly, make sure to shake the bottle before each use in order to mix the tea tree oil with the other ingredients.

10. Soothe Skin Inflammation
Tea tree oil may help relieve inflamed skin. A common form of skin irritation that many of us face is contact dermatitis, which occurs when skin comes in contact with an allergen. Exposure to the allergen causes the skin to get red, itchy and sometimes painful skin. Some research on animal and human suggest that applying tea tree oil may help reduce the severity of these symptoms.

Also in another study comparing the effects of different treatments for contact dermatitis, tea tree oil was found to reduce symptoms by 40%, which was significantly more than standard medications applied to the skin. Besides that, tea tree oil may provide relief from bug bite reactions by reducing the itching, redness and swelling that occurs when your body releases histamine to defend against the insect's saliva.

You can use this recipe to relieve inflamed skin:

1. Firstly, combine 10 drops of tea tree oil with one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of melted coconut oil.

2. Second, mix well, and store in a sealed container.

3. Last. apply to the affected area up to twice a day until symptoms resolve.

11. Control Dandruff
Dandruff or the white flakes of dead skin that fall from the scalp isn't dangerous but it can be annoying and embarrassing. Even though there is little published research on tea tree oil effectiveness in treating dandruff, one controlled study suggests that it may be helpful.

In a four-week study, the group who used a shampoo containing tea tree oil had a 40% improvement in dandruff. Also, the tea tree group reported significant improvements in dandruff severity, itchiness and greasiness. In order to reduce dandruff try this adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a dollop of shampoo when washing your hair.

12. Treat Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot can be frustratingly hard to control. It is known medically as tinea pedis, athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection on the feet that can also spread to the toenails and hands. The symptoms usually are peeling, cracking, blisters and redness. Antifungal medications are usually used in the treatment for athlete's foot. Some studies suggest that tea tree oil may be an effective alternative for relieving symptoms. Here comes another study and this time it is In a controlled study of 158 people, 72% of the tea tree oil group had significant clinical improvement in athlete's foot, compared to 39% in the placebo group.

However, another study, yet again, found that although tea tree oil helped relieve scaling, inflammation, itching and burning as well as antifungal medication, it wasn't as effective at actually getting rid of the fungus.

Here is a natural treatment to relieve the symptoms of athlete's foot that you can try:

1. Firstly, combine 1/4 cup arrowroot powder, 1/4 cup baking soda and 20–25 drops of tea tree oil

2. Second, stir to combine, and place in a covered container

3. Last, apply to clean, dry feet twice a day



14. Relieve Psoriasis
For many that don't know, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition characterized by outbreaks of red, itchy, scaly skin. Even though there are medications that can improve symptoms, the condition itself is chronic and there is no known cure. Tea tree oil contains anti-inflammatory compounds which might be helpful for easing psoriasis symptoms.

If you have this condition, to provide a relief for psoriasis flares combine 10–15 drops of tea tree oil with two tablespoons of melted coconut oil. Apply this to the affected area 2–3 times per day or as many times as needed.