Essential oils should be a must in our daily lives due to their multiple uses and properties, which are incredibly beneficial for our health. In this sense, tea tree essential oil has been used ancestrally in skincare, and, little by little, experts in the sector have been discovering more and more utilities.
What is tea tree essential oil?
First of all, to know what tea tree essential oil is, we should know where it comes from. The tea tree, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is an Australian shrub that can reach up to five meters in height. From its leaves and bark is distilled the essential oil that was already used in its time by the Australian aborigines in different areas. Secondly, we must know what exactly is an essential oil. We will tell you. Essential oils are substances found in different plant tissues.
They have been used for hundreds of years for different treatments and, in fact, the ancient alchemists called them the “soul of plants” due to their numerous natural chemical compounds, coming from the plant from which they are extracted, which allow these oils to be used as natural home remedies in many situations. In this regard, essential oils are known for aromatherapy, an ancient technique that uses them for therapeutic purposes, both physical and emotional.
Fortunately, essential oils are very versatile and are used to create different products, both for the home and for cosmetics, so there are many ways in which we can benefit from them. As for tea tree essential oil, in particular, the following characteristics are attributed to it:
– Bactericidal
– Antiseptic
– Mild local anesthetic
– Healing
– More than 60 years of use for its effectiveness and safety.
– Ecological’ product
– From renewable sources
– Environmentally safe
– Pleasant aroma
– Non-corrosive
– Non-staining
– Natural preservative
– Industrial, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and veterinary applications
What can tea tree essential oil be used for?
We have already seen its general functions, but what are the more specific functions of this beneficial natural element?
Prevention of dandruff
Yes, as you read! If you add a few drops of your tea tree essential oil to your regular shampoo, you will get a natural anti-dandruff treatment that is much cheaper than anything you can find on the market! It is recommended to pour about ten drops per 250 cc of shampoo.
Then, wash your hair as usual, but let the shampoo and oil mixture sit for six minutes before rinsing your hair. Repeat this process throughout your weekly showers, and your scalp will integrate the natural ingredients in a healthy and gradual manner.
Fungal Treatment
Have you ever had toenail infections, athlete’s foot, or other similar fungi? If you are suffering from any of these conditions and apply pure oil directly to the affected area, massaging gently with your fingertips, the result can be as effective as the commercial creams that we normally use to alleviate these problems.
Oral hygiene products
Whether it’s a mild cold, hoarseness after a busy day, or more serious chronic conditions, if you gargle with a cup of water containing four drops of this essential oil, the pain and discomfort may be alleviated. You will have to do this twice a day, even three times a day if the uncomfortable sensation remains. Just don’t swallow it! The ingestion of the oil can have undesirable effects.
On the other hand, oral hygiene products’ purpose is to clean, protect, and maintain the oral cavity in good condition.
Tea tree essential oil can be incorporated in its formulation, either as a natural preservative in this type of preparations and for its antibacterial effects on microorganisms capable of creating problems in this area.
Studies have been carried out that demonstrate the effectiveness of tea tree essential oil against microorganisms that cause dental problems, inhibiting their growth.
Nasal decongestant
Try gently inhaling the vapor of this oil, poured in five drops in a pot of boiling water, and, little by little, you will notice how the congestion in your nasal passages is relieved, allowing you to breathe normally again.
Lice treatment
If you have children, you may already know the use of tea tree essential oil. Indeed, although many children find it to have a very strong smell, it must also be recognized that this product has helped them to say goodbye to those undesirable companions that stay in the sun on our little heads.
Relief from bites
Especially in summer, we can resort to this essential oil to eliminate those annoying itches caused by insects in general. By applying a drop of the product on the bite, we can significantly relieve the itching, and even the bump will disappear more quickly.
Treatment for skin infections
In addition to foot fungus, we can also suffer from other infections in the epidermis, on which we can apply the essential oil product directly, undiluted. However, it is advisable to try a small amount first to make sure that it will not cause any adverse reaction, such as allergy or irritation.
Natural preservative
As is well known, cosmetic preparations are an ideal substrate for the appearance, growth, and development of microorganisms and are therefore susceptible to both biological and physicochemical degradation.
Tea tree essential oil is able to prevent this microbial contamination and thus can be used as a natural preservative. The characteristics that make the use of tea tree essential oil as a natural preservative effective are its broad antibacterial and antifungal spectrum and its pH stability.
Acne prevention
More than 80% of teenagers have acne. It is a common, inflammatory, and recurrent condition of the skin’s pilosebaceous follicles that results in the appearance of comedones or blackheads, which evolve into nodules or cysts. Four factors are involved in this process:
– Obstruction of the pilosebaceous canal.
– Excessive sebum production
– Biochemical changes in the lipid composition of the skin surface.
– Bacterial colonization of the sebaceous follicle.
Hygiene and general care measures and the use of specific anti-acne products are recommended to treat this condition, explains Women’s Concepts. Due to its antibacterial and antifungal action, tea tree essential oil can be applied to the formulation of this type of product and can replace benzoyl peroxide, which has certain side effects.
Clinical studies have been carried out comparing the efficacy of an aqueous gel with 5% tea tree essential oil and an aqueous lotion containing 5% benzoyl peroxide, showing that the former is the appropriate substitute in these conditions. The effectiveness of tea tree essential oil can be improved by incorporating products with keratolytic action (AHA, salicylic acid, etc.).
Shaving products
Tea tree essential oil can be incorporated in all types of shaving products due to its action as a natural preservative, but, above all, it is highly recommended for after-shave products due to its bactericidal, disinfectant, and healing action.
Summary
In conclusion, tea tree essential oil is an active ingredient with a long history and proven effectiveness in cosmetic applications that we wish to present as a new concept for the development of products that meet the modern demands of consumers, that is, effective, safe, of natural origin and very respectful of the environment.
If you are still thinking about it, don’t hesitate! Introduce tea tree essential oil into your life. The more you use it, the sooner you will notice improvements in both your skin and hair.