Tea tree oil is considered a panacea, helps against pimples and bad breath. What else it can do and how to use it properly Tea tree oil – you’ve probably heard of it or read about it on cosmetic products or medicines. Any idea what that is supposed to be? Tea tree oil is like nature’s panacea that can fight pimples, dandruff, and fungal infections.
What Is Tea Tree Oil, And Where Does It Come From?
Tea tree oil has nothing to do with tea. It is an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree using steam distillation. For example, the plant grows in Australia, where its leaves have been used as a traditional remedy by indigenous people, the Aborigines, for ages.
A little excursion into history: In colonialism, the occupiers discovered that the Aborigines used wraps from the leaves to treat wounds, insect bites and skin infections. They made teas and infusions to relieve sore throats and coughs. Because this worked, the medicinal plant was gradually passed on to Western medical practices – before the oil obtained from it was finally offered for home use around 1920. Today tea tree oil can be found in numerous cosmetic products – from shampoo to anti-pimple cream. And you can still buy it in its pure form because that’s how it is trendy.
How Does Tea Tree Oil Work?
Science shows what the Aborigines have known for a long time: Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic. Its healing properties are primarily the “terpinene” it contains, which make up about 40 per cent of the pure oil. Terpinene work …
- … anti-inflammatory,
- … antibacterial,
- … fungicidal
- and support wound healing.
Because of its healing properties, tea tree oil belongs in every well-stocked medicine cabinet. But it doesn’t just help against inflammation. For example, it can be used along with these anti-pimple tips to treat blemishes, oily scalps, dandruff, and bad breath. But: tea tree oil should be consumed with caution. Because it is so strong, it can irritate the skin, so you need to use it correctly and choose the right product.
How Do You Recognize Good Tea Tree Oil?
Even today, high quality, pure tea tree oil comes mainly from Australia and New Zealand. Cheap products from other countries, primarily Indonesia, should be treated with caution. Often they are adulterated with inferior oils because pure tea tree oil is costly.
To explain: A ton of tea tree leaves only make about 10 litres of pure oil – hence the high price. However, if it is no longer a refined product, the healing effect is correspondingly reduced. Pure tea tree oil from the Australian tea tree, there are, for example, here: “Baader tea tree oil, 30 ml Much cheaper and just as good values you get here:
What Can Tea Tree Oil Be Used For?
There are numerous uses for tea tree oil. But: if you have never used it, you should always test it on an inconspicuous area of skin, for example, on the inside of your forearm. No redness, no burning and no dry skin? Then you can use it! And in this way:
- Against Oily, Blemished Skin: Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire – and sometimes oil with oil. For oily skin, tea tree oil helps keep sebum production in check. Which, along with the essential oil’s antiseptic properties, can help reduce breakouts. But: Never apply the oil straight to the whole face. Better: Dilute with another oil, for example, jojoba or argan oil. In a dark glass bottle, mix two teaspoons of carrier oil with 15 drops of tea tree oil to achieve a concentration of about five per cent. This is the perfect dose for taking care of blemished skin.
- As An SOS Pimple Remedy: Soak a cotton swab in water and then drip a drop of tea tree oil onto the tip and tap it directly on the pimple. Due to the antibacterial properties of the essential oil, the inflammation subsides more quickly.
- Against Lousy Breath: Because tea tree oil kills bacteria, you can also use it as an ingredient for a homemade mouthwash against foul odours. Mix a small amount (a drop or two is enough) with a sip of warm water and gargle for about 30 seconds once or twice a day.
- For New Hair: There are good reasons why tea tree oil is in numerous shampoos. It is a natural cleaning agent that helps against itching and flaking and removes the scalp’s residues of care and styling products. Mix 2 drops with the shampoo in the palm of your hand and wash your hair with it as usual. Pleasantly tingles and stimulates blood circulation.
- Natural Hand Disinfection: Most disinfectants are based on alcohol and chemicals, which can irritate the skin. You can also rub a few drops of tea tree oil in the palms of your hands to kill bacteria.
- To Speed Wound Healing: Tea tree oil is an excellent choice for treating minor scratches and wounds because of its ability to fight fungus and bacteria. Apply directly to cleansed skin two to three times a day to speed up the healing process.
- Against Foot And Nail Fungus: Tea tree oil has a fungicidal effect, i.e. it fights fungal diseases. It is, therefore, a popular home remedy for foot and nail fungus. You can try this to support prescribed ointments and tinctures, but you should see a doctor anyway.
What Do You Have To Consider When Using Tea Tree Oil?
Unfortunately, even if it sounds like a miracle cure, tea tree oil is not suitable for everyone. Especially people with sensitive skin should be careful. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s more effective or gentler than a chemical product. Tea tree oil can be very irritating to the skin, in some cases even more so than synthetic anti-pimple products. Dry skin, peeling, burning, and itching can result.
Beware of addiction: Anyone who has tried tea tree oil once and tolerates it well will probably want to use it forever and for everything. The smell alone is addicting.
ALSO READ: GREEN TEA – EFFECTS ON SKIN AND HAIR