Tea tree oil has been widely used in alternative medicine, especially in recent decades. Other names include Altai tree oil, Balqa oil, or Melaleuca oil. The tea tree should not be confused with the tea plant used to make black and green tea.

What is tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil, which is extracted from the steaming of the leaves of the tea tree, which grows on the southeastern coast of Australia. What distinguishes this oil is that it contains chemicals that help kill bacteria and fungi, and reduce allergic reactions.

This oil contains more than 100 active and effective antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral chemical components. This is what made it commonly used topically and aromatically in order to kill germs and reduce inflammation.

Uses of tea tree oil

When used topically, tea tree oil helps to treat many medical conditions, so it is available in many health and beauty care products that do not require a prescription, such as:

• makeup
• soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Topical medications
• Natural cleaning products

Among its therapeutic uses are the treatment of acne, foot fungus, dandruff treatment, bad breath, and insect bites. The essential oil can be used by inhaling it, or by topical application to the skin.

But you must make sure to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil at a ratio of 1:1 before using it on the skin. Examples of carrier oils are coconut oil or olive oil.

As for the way to use tea tree oil as a natural household cleaner in order to kill microbes, you can prepare the cleaner at home by mixing 5 to 10 drops of that oil with water and vinegar, and 5 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Then the mixture is used to clean surfaces, sinks, and kitchen utensils.

Benefits of tea tree oil

Some studies have indicated many health and therapeutic benefits. Among its most famous benefits:

1. Acne treatment

It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help treat acne and other inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

This was indicated by an experimental study, which was conducted in Australia in 2017, where the study found the effectiveness of using tea tree oil gel in treating mild and moderate acne compared to using a face wash.

Where the participants put oil on their faces twice a day, and for a period of 12 weeks. Which made them suffer from the effects of acne much less than those who relied on face wash.

2. Dandruff treatment

One of the benefits of tea tree oil is that it helps improve the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, which causes scaly patches on the scalp (dandruff). It may also help improve the symptoms of contact dermatitis.

One study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2002, found the effectiveness of using a melaleuca oil shampoo in treating mild to moderate dandruff in 41% of participants, with a significant improvement in itching and sebum levels.

3. Treat dry skin

Although there is limited research on the effectiveness of melaleuca oil in treating skin irritation, some experimental studies have found its effectiveness in reducing inflammation and aiding wound healing. This is when used on the affected areas after first mixing it with a small amount of carrier oil or moisturizer.

It can be used to soothe dry skin, treat insect bites, sunburn, and sores. But it must first be tested on a small patch of skin before use, to ensure that there is no allergic reaction to its use.

4. Its benefits for oily skin

One of the benefits of tea tree oil for the skin is that it helps to fight oily skin. This is what was found in a small study conducted in 2016. Participants felt a significant improvement after using a sunscreen containing this oil, with continued use for 30 days.

As for how to use, you should mix a few drops of oil with moisturizer, toner, or sunscreen. You can also add two drops of tea tree oil to bentonite clay to make a face mask.

5. Fighting germs

Among its benefits also, it helps to combat bacteria and prevent their spread, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae, which may cause some serious infections such as:

The use of tea tree oil also helps to fight fungal infections such as:

As for virus resistance, laboratory studies have found the effectiveness of melaleuca oil in combating influenza, the recurrent herpes virus that causes cold sores.

6. Cough and congestion treatment

Grinding and inhaling tea tree leaves may help treat colds, sore throats, and coughs. The antimicrobial activity of the oil gives it the ability to fight bacteria that cause respiratory infections. Therefore, it is considered one of the best essential oils for treating coughs and respiratory problems.

7. Getting rid of lice

Head lice are small parasitic insects that feed on blood from the scalp. Researchers in Italy found that a high concentration of tea tree oil was effective in eliminating lice by 100% after 30 minutes of exposure, and getting rid of lice eggs 5 days after treatment.

8. Get rid of bad breath

Bad breath results from bacteria in the mouth, especially in the back of the tongue and tonsils. Because this oil has antibacterial properties, it can be used as a natural remedy to get rid of bad breath.

But keep in mind that when using melaleuca oil as a natural mouthwash in order to kill germs, you must make sure to spit it out after use, and rinse your mouth with water, as it should not be used internally.

Notice: It is recommended to consult a doctor before using tea tree oil or any of the natural oils as a prescription, and you should avoid using essential oils directly on the skin, with the need to dilute them with a carrier oil before use, such as olive oil or almond oil.

How to use tea tree oil

1. Athlete’s foot treatment

According to a study conducted in Australia, a tea tree oil solution was used to treat athlete’s foot fungus, by topical application of the solution to the affected areas twice a day, for a period of 4 weeks.

2. Wart treatment

A study conducted in 2008 found the effectiveness of its use in the treatment of warts, by applying the oil on the wart of the finger locally once a day, for a period of 12 days of treatment.

3. Acne treatment

It is one of the most effective home remedies for acne and spots. As for the method of use, you can make a gentle face wash by adding three to five drops of pure tea tree oil to two teaspoons of raw honey. Then the mixture is rubbed on the face, left for about a minute, then rinsed with warm water.

4. Hair health care

Proven effective in maintaining healthy hair and scalp. This oil is characterized by its ability to soothe dry scalp, get rid of dandruff, moisturize hair and promote its growth.

To use it in hair care, several drops of tea tree essential oil are added to aloe vera gel and carrier oil, and it is applied to the hair and left for about 20 minutes.

5. Psoriasis treatment

Among its benefits is also that it helps relieve some types of skin infections, including the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. For use, mix five drops of tea tree oil and five drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil to make a body lotion that helps improve the skin.

6. Treat wounds

A number of studies have found its benefits in helping speed wound healing. This is when some people have used this oil along with traditional treatment, resulting in a reduced recovery time.

As for the method of use, one drop of tea tree oil is added to the wound ointment, then it is placed on the affected area of ​​the skin.

Side effects of tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is toxic if swallowed. They are oils intended for topical use only, and should not be used internally. If the oil is used as a mouthwash, make sure to spit it out well to prevent any potential side effects such as digestive problems.

Potential health risks when the oil is swallowed include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Skin rash
• Collywobbles
• confusion
• Blood cell abnormalities
• trance

As for the side effects associated with its use topically:

• allergic reaction: Some people may be allergic to it, so if this happens, you should stop using the oil immediately.
• bacteria resistance: One of the most current concerns in the medical community is the resistance of bacteria to many antibiotics, so continuous use of antibiotics, along with the use of low doses of tea tree oil, may increase the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
• Gynecomastia in men: Some limited evidence suggests that breast enlargement in prepubertal boys is associated with topical use of products containing tea tree oil or lavender oil. But it needs more scientific evidence for that.

In the end, due to the varying quality of tea tree oil, it is better to buy 100% pure oil. When purchasing the product, look for an oil with a concentration of 10% to 40% terpenes. Which is the main ingredient with antiseptic properties of this oil.