Tea Tree Oil - The Natural Go-To Household Item

TEA TREE OIL 

Post by Sharon

Although I am not a health care professional, I am a savvy consumer with healthy skepticism about claims by products. However, some products stand the test of time and cultures to prove some very important benefits. One of the top go-to items I keep in my cabinet is Tea Tree oil and the reasons are vast!

Tea tree oil is distilled from the Australian tea tree. It is used both topically, in cosmetics and household cleaning because of its powerful antimicrobial (bacteria/viruses/fungus) properties and helpfulness for many skin conditions. 

Here's just some ways I utilize tea tree oil - 

Surface cleaner  - instead of the spray bottles that make you cough to inhale them and cost a lot and utilize a lot of plastic for each purchase, a simple cleaner that you don't mind coming in contact with that can be handmade for pennies, and is very good curbing bacteria and viruses on surfaces, tea tree oil is my buddy! I use a small spray bottle filled with 2 c. water and 1/2 c. white vinegar, 10 drops of tea tree oil and I like to use 10 drops of eucalyptus for scent and also for extra antimicrobial, but you can use other essential oil scents like lemon or lavender instead. Any homemade bathtub scrub, deodorizers, room sprays and such give it a wonderful antimicrobial effect. Spraying with items that contain bleach can be hard on your lungs ,so this is a wonderful alternative. You can add drops to shampoo for scalp treatments. You can add drops to the wash when doing laundry. 

Mold treatment - 1 cup water and 1 tsp tea tree oil in spray bottle sprayed onto moldy surfaces. Spray on a few minutes and then wipe off.

Skin issues - (see caution highlighted below). Tea Tree oil is amazingly good for acne, dry skin, psoriasis, inflammation, oily skin, bug bites, infection/cuts/wounds, and hair and scalp issues. Mix 10 drops with water in small spray bottle for insect repellent. Works for nail fungus by mixing with coconut oil or other oil and putting on a cotton ball and spreading on nail and leaving on until dry. 

Cosmetics - 1/2 tsp tea tree oil and a cup of water and soak your toothbrush 10-15 minutes and it kills bacteria. I put a couple drops in my water pic when I clean my gums. A few drops in 1/2 c. coconut oil and a few teaspoons of baking soda and some mint essential oil and you have a wonderful toothpaste. Because sweat smells due to bacteria, some drops of tea tree oil mixed with coconut oil and baking soda and you have a nice pit paste to rub a bit on for natural deodorant. Mix 3 drops oil to 1/2 c. warm water for a mouthwash that helps with gingivitis and bleeding when  flossing. BE CAREFUL - DO NOT INGEST IT - DO NOT SWALLOW.

NOTE **tea tree oil should be mixed with something else such as olive oil, coconut oil, etc., before applying to skin because it can be irritating alone. Best ratio is 2 drops tea tree oil to 12 drops carrier oil**