9 Daily Uses and Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
Each essential oil boasts an impressive list of benefits. While many oils span the various categories of health and beauty, none are as versatile as tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree found in Southeast Queensland and the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. It was first used for its disinfectant properties, but soon essential oil enthusiasts found additional uses for tea tree oil, including household cleaning.
You might be thinking that you know all there is to know about tea tree oil and its different uses, but we encourage you to read through our list of top nine uses and benefits. We guarantee you’ll walk away with a new way to use your new favorite essential oil.
Fight Bacteria with Tea Tree Oil
For years, people have been using tea tree oil to fight infections by using it to help reduce harmful bacteria. The easiest way to do it yourself, is to add one to two drops of tea tree oil with dasa dime size dollop of aloe vera. This creates the perfect all-natural ointment to put on your wound to help fight bacteria.
If you’ve ever used tea tree oil on a wound, you can thank the terpenes in it for fending off bacteria so your body could heal with less chance of infection. Terpenes give tea tree oil its antiseptic properties that, in some cases, makes it the most powerful option.
Take for example, this 2006 study researching the antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil. When scientists tested tea tree oil against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) it was doing a better job fighting the bacteria than other common antibiotics! You should never use essential oils to avoid doctor’s visit. If you think you might have a staph infection you should always see your doctor as soon as possible. Using tea tree oil may help your antibiotics work better. Why not do everything you can to feel better faster?
Taking advantage of the antifungal properties of tea tree oil helps with common foot problems too. Adding tea tree oil to your regular foot care routine can help keep away nail fungus and athlete’s foot. A tea tree oil foot soak is an awesome way to fend off fungus and relax after a long day. You can also make your own DIY tea tree moisturizer by mixing a few drops with ultra-nourishing argan oil.
*Tea tree oil safety tip: Remember essential oils, including tea tree oil, should always be properly diluted when applied to your skin or hair. It’s also always a good idea to do a small skin patch test whenever using a new ingredient.
Tea Tree Oil Can Be a Natural Deodorant
In recent years, deodorant and antiperspirant have been in the center of a heated debate. One side believes that store-bought deodorant is a helpful step in daily hygiene. Others say that most common deodorants contain harmful parabens and should be avoided at all costs. Whatever side you fall on, we can all agree that smelling bad is not an ideal situation for anyone.
Sweat itself does not carry a bad odor, it’s actually the sweat that mixes with the bacteria that’s already on our skin that causes the unpleasant smells. Because tea tree oil contains all those antiseptic properties, there are two ways you can use it to smell better.
Washing your body with tea tree oil products helps reduce the bacteria. You can buy them pre-made, simply add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular body wash, or mix your own DIY tea tree oil body wash. The other way to use tea tree oil to smell better is make your own tea tree deodorant instead of using store-bought deodorants that are full of harsh chemicals.
Homemade Natural Deodorant with Tea Tree Oil
Ingredients:
- 1. ½ cup baking soda
- 2. ½ cup arrowroot powder*
- 3. 5 tbs raw coconut oil
- 4. 25 drops tea tree essential oil
*You can find arrowroot in the health food aisle or substitute with cornstarch.
Supplies:
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Whisk or hand-mixer
16 oz mason jar with lid
Instructions:
In mixing bowl, mix your dry ingredients (baking soda and arrowroot) using your whisk or hand-mixer. Add in coconut oil and essential oils. Mix well until fully blended. Pro Tip: If the coconut oil is difficult to mix you can warm slightly to soften. Store finished mix in your mason jar. Your homemade deodorant should last about 3-6 months. To use, apply a pea-size amount to each underarm, coating each armpit thoroughly.
Soothe Skin Using Tea Tree Oil
The natural skin-soothing properties of tea tree oil can help with a few skin care issues, especially itchiness. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of tea tree oil are what help soothe irritation that causes scratching. Minor bug bites and rashes can be calmed by mixing a couple drops of tea tree oil with your favorite nourishing carrier oil. Science is even looking to tea tree oil for psoriasis help. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition wherein the skin breaks out in red, itchy, scaly patches. Researchers believe the anti-inflammatory properties of terpinen-4-ol in tea tree oil may be able to help at a molecular level.
Don’t forget that your scalp is skin too. Using tea tree oil for dandruff control is a great idea when taking care of your hair. There are wonderful natural tea tree oil hair care products to try, and you can also make your own DIY hair treatments. Our DIY Jojoba Oil Scalp Refresh Recipe features tea tree oil and it’s one of our favorites for soothing an itchy scalp.
Use Tea Tree Oil as a Hand Cleanser
Have you ever carried one of those travel hand sanitizers? They’re pretty convenient. They’re small enough to fit into a purse or a backpack— some even come with a cute plastic carrying keychain to give you easy access. The problem is, they often leave your hands feeling sticky and they reek of chemicals.
Tea tree oil can be used as a natural, pleasant-smelling hand sanitizer that doesn’t leave a layer of sticky grease on your hands. This is because the same antibacterial properties that help fight infections, can also work topically on your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria like E. coli, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae.
To make your own tea tree oil hand sanitizer at home, you’ll only need five ingredients: 8 drops of lavender essential oil, 30 drops of tea tree oil, 1 tablespoon of witch hazel, 8 ounces of aloe vera gel and 1/4 teaspoon of jojoba oil oil. Mix it all up and apply as needed.
Tea Tree Oil for Acne Prone Skin
Acne treatment can be a devastating cycle. Common treatments often include severe side effects that very few people would sign up for if they had a choice. Thankfully, more and more people are hearing about the benefits of tea tree oil for acne prone skin. The natural essential oil soothes the skin without putting harmful chemicals into your body.
Using tea tree oil for acne problems helps in two major ways. First, we know tea tree oil is useful for clearing away surface bacteria. Ridding your face (and more importantly pores) of bacteria can help avoid breakouts in the first place. Second, the skin soothing properties of tea tree oil can help calm redness associated with acne.
To use tea tree oil for acne related issues, try a pre-made tea tree face wash, or simply add a few drops to the face wash you’re already using. You can even experiment with making your own DIY cleansers and tea tree spot treatments. We’ve got tons of DIY tea tree oil recipes and information that can help you learn how to incorporate tea tree oil into your beauty routine.
Tea Tree Oil Is Your New Favorite House Cleaner
Most of us avoid putting harmful chemicals in or around our body. When it comes to household cleaning supplies, however, we rarely think about the dangers of regular exposure. It’s understandable to want chemicals to keep our bathrooms and kitchens clean, but those are still surfaces we touch every single day.
If you’re looking for a natural cleaning product to help sanitize and disinfect surfaces, look no further than tea tree oil.The same antimicrobial qualities that fight bacteria on your skin help fight bacteria around the house too. Frequent uses of tea tree oil include all-purpose cleaner (try our super easy DIY cleaning spray), laundry detergent ( just add a few drops of pure tea tree oil to your regular wash) and as a bathroom scrub. Clean your entire house with peace of mind knowing you can pronounce every ingredient and don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals.
DIY Tea Tree Bathroom Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1. ¾ cup water
- 2. ½ cup baking soda
- 3. ⅓ cup liquid castile soap
- 4. ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide
- 5. 30 drops tea tree oil
Supplies:
16 oz squeeze bottle*
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Measuring cups
Funnel
*Hint: plastic condiment squeeze bottles work great!
Instructions:
Add tea tree oil and other ingredients in your mixing bowl. Whisk together until all ingredients are combined. Use your funnel to transfer the mix to squeeze bottle. To use, squeeze on surface, scrub and rinse. For tough stains let tea tree oil mix sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing.
Control Pests with Tea Tree Oil
Lastly, tea tree oil is a helpful agent against pests that find their way into your home or garden. This time, it is the anti-parasitic properties that work to destroy the spread of annoying parasites like ticks, fleas, and lice. You can also use it to repel spiders, mosquitos and pesky ants as well.
Worried about head lice? Use our Lice Prevention Shampoo and Conditioner Duo to prevent head lice infestation.
To use tea tree oil as a repellent, coat cotton balls in the oil and spread them throughout your house. You’ll hardly notice them, but they will build a barrier around your house to discourage pests. Another option is to dilute tea tree oil in water, pour it into a spray bottle, and use the solution as bug spray any time you’re enjoying the great outdoors.
No matter what your concern is, you can be sure to find a solution with tea tree oil and this is nowhere near a comprehensive list. If you want to find out other ways tea tree oil can help you in your daily life, grab a bottle and start experimenting around your house. We’d love to hear your favorite way to use it!
Ditch the itch and get a tingly, deep clean every time you wash your hair with our soothing Tea Tree Oil Shampoo.
*Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.