Tea Tree
Latin Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
The Greek genus name, Melaleuca, means black and white, named after the trunk color of one of the species.
Plant Family: Myrtaceae
Parts used: Essential oil
Method of Extraction: Steam distilled
Actions: analgesic, antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antiviral, expectorant, vulnerary
Character: pungent, warm
Aromatic: cleansing, strong
Native to Australia, tea tree will not grow in most of the United States. It is used traditionally as an Aboriginal remedy. They use it to treat skin infections by creating a poultice from the leaves.
Tea tree essential oil is powerful. It is soothing. It is uplifting.
Fragrant and effective, tea tree essential oil is an all purpose remedy.
Tea tree essential oil contains constituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antifungal and antiseptic activity.
It even kills airborne bacteria.
The sharp cleansing aroma clears congestion in the head, lungs, and sinuses. Inhaling tea tree oil’s scent can help with respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, flu, and cough. Tea tree oil has proven quite useful in skin conditions such as acne, blisters, boils, burns, eczema, rashes, and warts.
Tea tree is also found in shampoos, soaps, lotions, toothpastes, mouthwashes and deodorants.
It is essential in your first aid kit. Make sure when you go camping, you have a bottle of tea tree essential oil with you. From athlete's foot to a sore throat to a bug bite, tea tree can save the day.
I always have a bottle of tea tree oil nearby. The uses are limitless.
Tea Tree is fantastic for: acne-athlete's foot-boils-burns-candida-cold sores-corns-dandruff-eczema-gingivitis-herpes-insect bites-insect repellent-insect stings-lice-nail fungus-pain-psoriasis-radiation burns-respiratory infections-ringworm-sore throat-strep throat-thrush-trichomonas-warts-yeast infections
Tea tree blends well with chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, geranium, lavender, lemon, majoram, myrrh, pine, and rosemary.
Contraindications:
- Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Do not use essential oil internally unless under guidance of a competent health professional.
- Undiluted tea tree oil may cause skin irritation.
- The tea tree oil in toothpastes and mouthwashes is usually considered acceptable because it is not swallowed.
Acne Treatment Oil Recipe:
4 drops tea tree
3 drops bergamot
3 drops lavender
added to 2 teaspoons of jojoba oil
The Spirit Dancer's Tea Tree Essential Oil Tricks:
- I use it as deodorant. My secret to not being stinky is tea tree essential oil. I actually take a couple of drops to my armpits before I apply my deodorant. It seems to work quite nicely. I caution this may not work for everyone, because undiluted tea tree oil may cause skin irritations. Try a small patch of skin first to see if it works for you.
- I treat spider bites with it. I successfully treated a spider bite with a few drops of tea tree and lavender essential oil, added to comfrey infused organic olive oil. It was remarkably better and the swelling went down significantly within 24 hours. No prescription antibiotic needed!
For me, tea tree is a miracle herb.
Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Spirit Dancer
