Antibiotic Tea Tree Oil Uses
The tea tree, scientifically known as Melaleuca Alternifolia, has become quite popular for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits. It is also one of the most popular oils that practitioners of alternative medicine prescribe for their patients. Through steam distillation of tea tree’s leaves, tea tree oil is created, and this oil is known to have excellent antibiotic properties. Originally, the tea tree oil was used by natives of Australia to help in preventing and treating a variety of infections, especially those that were skin related. New South Wales in Australia is where the best quality tea tree oil can be found.
Tea tree oil consists of 48 compounds; however, the primary element is terpinen-4-ol, which makes up 41.7% of this oil. The terpinen-4-ol element is what gives tea tree oil its antibacterial and antifungal properties. For more than 60 years, this amber colored, nutmeg scented oil has been used in homes worldwide. Tea tree oil has the ability to treat all of the three infectious organisms (fungus, bacteria, virus), and it is also known to fight infections that cannot be treated by certain.
Here are some of the tea tree oil uses:
- Tinea Pedis or Athlete’s Foot – If you apply tea tree oil to athlete’s foot twice per day for a period of 2 weeks, it will effective cure the infection.
- Acne Vulgaris – Tea tree oil is a popular acne treatment, as it helps to decrease the number of non-inflamed and inflamed lesions. To reduce infection and inflammation, all you need to do is wipe the area of your skin that is infected by acne with a cotton ball that has been soaked in diluted tea tree oil. The solution can also be used to prevent the development of new acne. While killing bacteria, tea tree oil does not cause irritation of the skin.
- Head Lice and Dandruff – Research has shown that using 5% tea tree oil shampoo can effectively treat dandruff that ranges from mild to moderate. You can also add at least 10 drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo, to help treat head lice.
- Vaginal Infections – Research has also shown that tea tree oil is effective in killing yeast and bacteria. It is believed that the oil reduces itching associated with yeast and bacteria; however, it may cause itching from dry skin or allergic reactions.
- Apart from the uses mentioned above, tea tree oil can also be used to treat sunburns, insect bites, sinusitis and colds and flu.
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