Tea Tree Oil: This is How I Use it
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 12.20.05
It occurred to me this week that I am tea tree oil dependent. I guess it's a relatively harmless oil dependency; I seriously don't know what I would do without it. Its antifungal and antiseptic properties make it perfect for a surprisingly wide array of applications where toxic or less healthy alternatives are usually employed. I'm partial to Desert Essence's organic variety. Though it can be pricey at about $11 for .5 ounces, it's much less expensive than buying all of the potentially toxic or synthetic products it replaces.
Here are some ways tea tree oil has helped me in the last few weeks. These are just a few of its many uses. Let us know how it has helped you, too!
Sinus Infection
I was one of millions who had my style cramped by a sinus infection last week. Since I'm trying to wean myself of antibiotic reliance, I sought out an alternative. Steaming once in the morning and once at night for 20 minutes with about 4 drops of tea tree oil seems to have done the trick. I just relaxed on the couch with a steaming pot on my chest and a towel over my head. Then, before I went to bed, I dabbed some oil under my nostrils since my skin isn't sensitive to it (yours might be). Within a few days, the horrid head aches and exhaustion had passed. Of course, my advice is no substitute for your health care provider's.
Farewell, Mustiness
I just liberated a bunch of belongings from storage this week. They needed some help airing out. Since green dry cleaners can be hard to find, it's nice to have a safe way to freshen up fabrics. For things like decorative pillows and curtains that can't be laundered, a spray bottle with two cups of water and two tablespoons of tea tree oil works wonders. Spray the stale-smelling area and leave it. Within a few days, both the musty scent and the tea tree smell will be gone. I've also done this a few days before packing a suit case that's been out of use for months.
Heal, You Abrasion
When I was unloading a box from the storage unit, I scraped my hand. A direct application of the oil helps heal and disinfect.
Stay Fresh, Mouth
A drop of tea tree oil in a glass of water makes a good mouth wash. You can also gargle it to help fend off illness. Just be sure not to swallow.
Don't Offend, Feet
I like my shoes to last a long time, and I like to go sockless. To keep the shoes' insides fresh, I often rub some oil on my feet before subjecting them to a day of oxygenless urban traipsing. Definitely beats using scary aerosol sprays.
Though it's a wildly helpful substance, you want to keep tea tree oil away from the kids and, again, avoid swallowing it. Now, how do you use it? ::
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Treat Your Skin Problems Naturally with Tea Tree Oil
- Reading this Article Will Green Your Brain and Other Tips
- Tools for Enjoying Hammocks and High Tea
- Greening Gifts this Holiday Season
I have the same admiration for lavander essential oil. Supposedly it has the same antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and it also supposedly helps skin cells heal (it's supposed to be great for minor burns).
When a sore throat is coming around, I put about 2 drops in a glass of water and gargle.. again make sure not to swollow :>
I leave a small bottle in my bathroom with the cap off. Slowly, it leaks that wonderful clean smell into my bathroom and any musty (or otherwise offending odors) seem to vanish.
We use tea tree oil in our homemade baby wipes, its fantastic stuff.
I use Dr. Bronner's tea tree oil soap in my homemade laundry detergent. Tea tree oil helps kill dust mites and mold in clothing. I use 1/2 cup liquid Dr. Bronner's, 1/2 cup borax, and 1/2 cup washing (not baking) soda, whirred together in the mixer until powdery. A half-tablespoon per load does it for me. You can also add a several drops of straight tea tree oil to regular detergent as you add it to the wash.
i mixa few drops of tea tree with a few drops of dr. bronner's sal suds [though any dish detergent would do] in a spray bottle and voila! all purpose surface cleaner! it even bleaches out the stains in my sink. great stuff.
Don't pay so much! Check out Bramble Berry's site and buy their organic tea trea oil at one oz for $7.54, 4 oz for $20.96, 8 oz for $31.68, or 16 oz for $63.56. My husband and I make and sell handcrafted soap and since we've been in the business we buy all of our oils in bulk and use them for everything. My favorite is the lavender oil. I mix 2 parts jojoba oil, 1 part sweet almond oil and a bit of lavender oil and use it as a body oil after my shower. You could use any essential oil in place of the lavender just fine though.
You can also put a few drops in your shampoo to help with dandruff/itchy scalp. I also use it on my dogs cuts or scrapes too.
After brushing my teeth, I put a drop of teatree oil on my toothbrush and do another quick round-- I swear it makes my teeth brighter, and my mouth incredibly clean.
For a very effective cleaner, mix the following in a jar (measurements are rough) and shake:
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
1/8 cup salt
15 drops tea tree oil
You can sprinkle this on a damp sponge (or directly on the surface) for cleaning sinks, tubs, and counters, or sprinkle in a toilet bowl and scrub with a toilet brush.
Ah, im glad i have found people with a love of tea tree oil similar to mine. Just smelling it brings me back to my childhood. My mother was into holistics so tea tree oil was always on hand.
Thanks for the new tea tree oil tips!
I use tea tree oil on pimples and blemishes. Just dab a bit on in the morning and night and the spot(s) vanish in a day or two.
I work at a locally owned health food store. I've seen tea tree oil in shampoo, toothpaste, soap (I use Desert Essence's Castile Soap for both body cleaning and as a shampoo), mouthwash, a very good clay mask, disinfectant and of course the essential oil. I personally have used it on athlete's foot, and have seen it used sucessfully to treat dandruff (mine, and why I use it in a shampoo) and head lice (my sister's when she was about 6. My mother had bought a tea tree oil shampoo, and added a a few drops of the essential oil to each headful of suds).
I add some to a bucket of boiling hot water to wash my floors down with. Works a treat, and the place smells great afterwards!