Tea tree: its properties and health benefits and beauty
Originally from Australia, the tea tree oil is obtained by distillation from the leaves of a tree known as Melaleuca alternifolia. Its properties have been used, especially by indigenous Australians since hundreds of years ago. Oil is a favorite in aromatherapy and cosmetics due to its multiple uses for skin and health.
Tea tree Properties
- Antiseptic, has a triple effect: it acts by removing bacteria, viruses and fungi.
- It is bactericidal.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Anti–acne.
- Regenerative Cell.
- Wound healing: helping to heal injuries and wounds that bleed.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Expectorant: helps remove phlegm and mucus.
- Deodorant: cools and absorbs odors.
- Fungicide: eliminates fungi.
- Balsamic.
Tea tree uses for beauty and health
- Used to help heal skin ailments such as acne, warts, granite (bars), and infections.
- Used in cases of chronic catarrh, sinusitis, flu, infections paranasal sinuses, and so on.
- To cool the house or indoors (used in the aromatherapy diffuser)
- Helps to regenerate and heal the skin, deeply penetrates the dermis and oxygenates the cells, a cleaning depth, which is widely used in cosmetics and beauty products.
As used in the beauty of skin and hair:
Tea tree oil can be used with great confidence, because it carries no health risk, is not irritating, but you have to avoid eye contact. If this happens, it should be washed with water.
Hair
Oil regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands, which will serve both as greasy and dry hair. Based shampoo or conditioner with this essence is on the market, but you can add a few drops to your normal shampoo, about 4 or 5 drops on the amount of shampoo you use to wash your hair every time. If you want an infallible remedy against lice, then wash your hair in a comb spread of tea tree oil and comb your hair. Watch how it heals quickly.
Skin in general
There are now many brands of creams and products containing tea tree. However, you can buy oil at any store where they sell aromatherapy products and add some drops to your cream. Even if you set a mask, you can add a few drops of this essence. Give a massage to your face mask when applying the cream or to activate and enhance their healing effects.
Acne
If you have acne, dilute about 3 or 4 drops of tea tree oil in a tablespoon of hiperic. Apply after washing your face very well, gently, without scrubbing. Remember that in this case, hygiene and nutrition are very important, do not forget to take lots of water, fresh vegetables and wash your face daily.
Warts
If you want to remove any wart, the tea tree oil combined with the scent of lemon is a wonderful remedy. Apply at night a drop of each of these essential oils directly on the wart and cover the area with gauze. Do it every night until dry and disappear, which can happen in a few weeks. This will prevent most warts do not go in that area.
As used in certain conditions:
Flu, sinusitis, catarrh: You can use a diffuser or vaporizer at night tol help keep the airways free of bacteria to clean the room. Furthermore, a resistance against microorganisms and increase the activity of the cells defending the body. If you're going to work and have a cold or flu, take a wet cloth with a bit of this essence and smell it repeatedly during the day.
Mycosis or athlete's foot: after bathing or cleaning the area very well, spread a little oil directly on the affected skin. For fungus in fingernails or toes, you must soak your fingers in a glass of warm water with 15 drops of grapefruit oil and tea tree 15.
Skin infections: Take a bath in the tub and add a few drops of this essential oil.
Massaging with tea tree is ideal for sports massage and sick people who stay too long in bed. We need to mix about 25 drops in a bottle of almond oil.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2018. Tea tree oil
- Bagherani, N., & Smoller, B. R. (2015). Role of tea tree oil in treatment of acne. Dermatologic Therapy, 28(6), 404.
- Hammer, K. A. (2015). Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: a review of efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 45(2), 106–110.
- Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Bagherani, N., & Kazerouni, A. (2013). A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. International Journal of Dermatology, 52(7), 784–790.
- Larson, D., & Jacob, S. E. (2012). Tea tree oil. Dermatitis : Contact, Atopic, Occupational, Drug, 23(1), 48–49.
- de Groot, A. C., & Schmidt, E. (2015, December). Eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. Contact Dermatitis. England.
- Li, M., Zhu, L., Liu, B., Du, L., Jia, X., Han, L., & Jin, Y. (2016). Tea tree oil nanoemulsions for inhalation therapies of bacterial and fungal pneumonia. Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 141, 408–416.
- de Groot, A. C., & Schmidt, E. (2016). Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact Dermatitis, 75(3), 129–143.
- Li, Y., Shao, X., Xu, J., Wei, Y., Xu, F., & Wang, H. (2017). Tea tree oil exhibits antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea by affecting mitochondria. Food Chemistry, 234, 62–67.
- Li, M., Zhu, L., Zhang, T., Liu, B., Du, L., & Jin, Y. (2017). Pulmonary delivery of tea tree oil-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes for the treatment of fungal and bacterial pneumonia. The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 69(11), 1458–1467.
- Patri, G., & Sahu, A. (2017). Role of Herbal Agents – Tea Tree Oil and Aloe vera as Cavity Disinfectant Adjuncts in Minimally Invasive Dentistry-An In vivo Comparative Study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR, 11(7), DC05-DC09.