Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for the Skin
It may seem outlandish, but oil extracted from the leaves of an Australian tree can do wonders for your skin. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and antifungal properties and has been used on everything from fever blisters to toenail fungus with success.
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What Is Tea Tree Oil?
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Tea tree oil is an extract from the leaves of the tea tree, or paperbark tree, which grows only in Australia. Long used by Aboriginal Australians, it has become popular in the United States since the 1920s.
A clear liquid, it has a strong distinctive but not unpleasant smell. It's generally sold in 1/2-ounce and 1-ounce bottles in natural food stores as well as at drugstores and an increasing number of supermarkets. In the grocery store, look for it in the health and beauty or natural/organic products area. Tea tree oil is beginning to be studied by medical researchers. Because it is not a commercially manufactured medication, there are no established guidelines for how much to use or how frequently to use it. Caution is important.
Tea Tree Oil and Bacteria
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Tea tree oil is effective at treating acne. An Australian medical journal reported that it was just as effective at treating acne as the standard treatment of benzoyl peroxide. The oil did take longer to work, but it caused less discomfort. Its antibacterial properties allow tea tree oil to kill the bacteria that cause acne.
Research has shown that tea tree oil can be effective against the staphylococcus aureus bacterium, which causes staph infections and MRSA, a serious respiratory disease.
Because of its antibacterial properties, tea tree oil is a good antiseptic for cuts and scrapes, but do not use it on recent piercings, deep cuts or puncture wounds.
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Tea Tree Oil and Fungus Infections
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Besides being effective against bacteria, tea tree oil is naturally effective against fungus, including ringworm, athlete's foot and the fungi that cause infections under the nails. Among the components in tea tree oil that kill fungi are terpinen, terpineol, linalool, pinene and cineole, according to a study by Australian scientists K.A. Hammer , C.F. Carson and T.V. Riley, which was published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology in 2003.
Tea tree oil can also be used to treat vaginal infections and thrush, although, if you use it in your mouth, be very careful not to swallow it.
Other Uses
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Tea tree used in shampoo is very good for fighting dandruff (it also leaves the hair shiny). Skin irritations caused by histamines can be calmed with an application of tea tree oil. Canker sores can be healed with the application of tea tree oil, undiluted. Even lice and ticks can be discouraged through the use of tea tree oil.
Warning
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Tea tree oil should never be taken internally. It is for topical use only. If swallowed, it can cause serious reactions, including nausea, mental confusion and coma.
Even when using it topically, be careful not to use too much, because some people have reported allergic reactions and itchy skin.
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