Tea tree essential oil, possibly one of the most popular essential oils out there in the market, is derived from steam distillation of the twigs and leaves of the tea tree plant, scientifically known as Melaleuca Alternifolia. The tree is indigenous to Australia but its myriad beneficial qualities have undoubtedly resulted to its international and global spread across the continents!

Tea tree oil is also popularly known as melaleuca and since historical times, it has been used to treat a variety of skin and fungal viral infections because of its powerful disinfectant and antiseptic attributes. In fact, its use dates back to the indigenous people found in Australia, as they mainly used tea tee to heal any cuts, wounds or infections as well as to alleviate symptoms of respiratory ailments.

The name “tea tree” was actually coined by a British explorer named James Cook in the 18th century, as he saw the local indigenous people brewing tea from the melaleuca tree. Subsequently, he made his own tea from the same tree, and gave it to his crew so as to prevent scurvy!

Now that I’ve given you a fair bit of history lesson about tea tree oil, let us look at its myriad health benefits. Indeed, this is one essential oil that should be in every household!

Health Benefits of Tea Tree Essential Oil:

1. To Alleviate Skin Conditions

One of the most popular and common uses of tea tree essential oil is as an effective skin-care agent to alleviate many skin conditions, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Tea tree oil contains powerful antioxidant properties, making it an especially useful agent for improving the appearance of blemishes and marks as well as dark spots on the skin.

Furthermore, it is a potent antibacterial and antimicrobial agent which seeks to eradicate any harmful bacteria or dirt that is lingering on your skin, thus causing your pores to be blocked. As such, it greatly helps to inhibit the formation of pimples, blackheads and whiteheads as well as reduce the risks of acne and other skin conditions from worsening.

Tea tree oil can help to relieve skin inflammation as it soothes red and inflamed skin. In fact, it can be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but it does not contain the negative side effects that people normally experience when they use benzoyl peroxide, which includes dryness, redness and peeling skin.

This is backed up by a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Dermatology which illustrates how tea tree oil exhibits strong antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity against bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoal infections affecting skin and mucosa. As such, the incorporation of tea tree oil is a revolutionary discovery for dermatological treatments!

How to Use it: To help alleviate acne, you can make an acne face wash by combining 5 drops of pure tea tree essential oil with 2 teaspoons of raw honey. Proceed to apply on your face and leave on for 1 minute before washing it off. To help alleviate eczema, you can combine 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, 5 drops of tea tree oil and 5 drops of lavender oil to make a homemade eczema lotion.

2. To Improve Hair Health

Besides contributing to a smoother and healthier complexion, tea tree oil can also be used to improve the health of your hair and scalp. Its stimulant properties make it a potent natural remedy for dry and flaky scalp, dandruff and even to help eradicate lice.

It can also help to prevent excessive hair loss since it stimulates increased blood circulation to the hair follicles, thus enabling them to stay healthy. This thus strengthens the hold on your hair. Moreover, it can moisturize your hair and keep it radiant!

How to Use it: You can mix a few drops of tea tree oil with aloe vera gel, coconut milk and lavender oil to create a homemade shampoo.

3. Helps to Heal Wounds and Cuts

Because of its antimicrobial and bactericidal properties, tea tree oil is an effective antiseptic agent, making it a perfect addition for your first aid kits! So, if you have obtained a wound, cut, abrasion or scrape, you can always count on tea tree oil to remove whatever bacteria and harmful microbes that is festering on your skin, thus preventing infections and complications from setting in.

This hence speeds up the recovery times of the wounds and cuts, while ensuring that the resulting scar will not be so nasty as it facilitates cell regeneration and tissue growth as well!

A 2006 study published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews found that tea tree oil is particularly useful in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, such as S. aureus and various other harmful, resistant bacteria.

How to Use it: You can mix lavender oil with tea tree oil to create a perfect homemade wound ointment and ratio apply onto the affected areas. If the cut or wound is an open one, be sure to clean it thoroughly first using water or hydrogen peroxide if necessary. Ensure that you do not apply the essential oils on open wounds.

4. Helps to Alleviate Fungal Infections

Tea tree oil is also especially potent for treating various skin fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch and toenail fungus since it contains anti-fungal components as well!

According to a 2016 research study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, researchers found that tea tree oil can be used to help alleviate conditions of candida because its antifungal abilities inhibited the growth and activity of the bacterial strain that causes candida, C. albicans, even more efficiently than clotrimazole.

As such, the essential oil of tea tree is even stronger than the prescribed drugs used for fungal infections. This is because the essential oil mainly targets the cell walls and membranes of the yeast, thus effectively killing the bacteria.

Another 2006 study carried out by researchers from the University of Glasgow Dental School found that tea tree oil is also very useful in preventing and managing infections of the mouth that are caused by yeasts, as a result of their treatment from advanced cancer. As such, tea tree oil can also help to prevent and treat oral fungal infections, thus attesting to their antifungal abilities.

How to Use it: You can dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio and proceed to apply it topically onto the affected areas on your skin till the skin condition subsides and disappears.

5. May Have Anti-Cancer Ability

Tea tree essential oil also has anti-cancer potential as seen in the various research studies carried out. For example, a 2004 research study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that tea tree oil exhibited strong anti-tumoral activity against melanoma cells, as they induced cell death in these cells.

Another 2009 study published in the Journal of European Food Research and Technology found that tea tree oil also exhibited strong inhibitory attitude towards human lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer cell lines as it prevented the growth and spread of such harmful and dangerous cells.

These initial research studies undoubtedly show much positive and promising results pertaining to tea tree oil’s anti-cancer potential but further research still needs to be done to ascertain how exactly to incorporate tea tree oil into anti-cancer treatment plans.

6. As a Cleaning Agent

Tea tree essential oil, with its antibacterial and antifungal properties, certainly serves as an effective household cleaning agent. It can effectively kill off any bad bacteria, other harmful microbes as well as parasites on surfaces and floors in your home.

Additionally, the oil can help to eradicate molds, which are common in many households. As such, it serves as an efficient and powerful household disinfecting agent.

How to Use it: To kill off molds in your rooms, you can diffuse a few drops of the tea tree oil in a diffuser or vaporizer. To make a homemade and natural cleansing agent for your homes, try adding vinegar, lemon essential oil and tea tree oil into a spritz bottle containing water and shake well. Proceed to spray at the desired areas, such as your kitchen tops, sinks and other surfaces.

7. Provides Respiratory Relief

Tea tree oil, with its expectorant properties, also greatly helps in easing lung congestion and blockages caused by an excess amount of mucus and phlegm lodged in your nasal and respiratory passageways. This helps to solve any breathing difficulties and provides immense relief as your breathing becomes much easier and freer.

It can also help to eradicate any bacteria or viruses that are causing such ailments in the first place, given its antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory attributes. This hence facilitates the fast and speedy healing of common ailments associated with the respiratory system, such as cold, flu, cough, bronchitis and sinusitis.

How to Use it: You can diffuse tea tree oil into a diffuser or vaporizer and inhale the aromatic wafts emanating out to ease chest congestion.

Safety Precautions:

Now that you have read about the myriad health benefits and uses of tea tree essential oil, it is important to take note of certain issues to ensure that you stay safe while using the oil as you reap maximum benefits from it!

• Notably, tea tree essential oil is not safe to be taken internally. It is actually poisonous and highly toxic if swallowed so ensure that you do not ingest any of the oil. Even though there are some benefits to using the oil especially in maintaining proper oral hygiene and eradicating bad breath, toothaches and mouth ulcers, extreme caution must be taken to ensure that you do not ingest the oil.

• Ensure that you store the oil in a dark, cool and dry place.

• Tea tree oil is mainly applied topically on the skin, so ensure that there is proper dilution with a carrier oil (notably, coconut oil as it also has benefits of its own that can enhance results further) in a 1:1 ratio.

• Ensure that you perform a skin patch test first to ascertain for any allergic, sensitive or irritant reactions. Discontinue use immediately if unusual reaction occurs.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do consult your doctor first before using the oil as a form of treatment.

• It can be applied on children over the age of six months, but only do so in small dosages (2-3 drops).

References:

Pazyar N, et. al., “A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology”, International Journal of Dermatology (2013); 52(7)

C.F. Carson, K.A. Hammer, T.V. Riley, “Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties”, Clinical Microbiology Reviews (2006); 19(1)

Bona E, et. al., “Sensitivity of Candida albicans to essential oils: are they an alternative to antifungal agents?”, Journal of Applied Microbiology (2016); 121(6)

Bagg J, et. al., “Susceptibility to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil of yeasts isolated from the mouths of patients with advanced cancer”, Journal of Oral Oncology (2006); 42(5)

Calcabrini A, et. al., “Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil inhibits the in vitro growth of human melanoma cells”, The Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2004); 122(2)

Xia Lu, et. al., “Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity towards cancer cells of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil” European Food Research and Technology (2009); 229(2)