10 Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, has been used for medicinal purposes for years. It is mainly used for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for a variety of diseases.
Tea tree oil can be used on its own or added to your favorite products to get most of the benefits. Today, tea tree oils are added to lotions, shampoos and cleaning supplies. Tea tree oil continues to be one of the most beneficial essential oils and can be used in a variety of ways.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #1: Relieves Congestion
For thousands of years, the leaves of the melaleuca plant have been used to treat coughs, colds and sore throats by being crushed and soaked. Today, tea tree oil is used to relieve congestion and respiratory tract infections.
Recent studies have found that tea tree oil has antimicrobial actions, which it allows it to fight bacteria that can lead to respiratory tract infections. It is also helpful for fighting and preventing congestion, coughs and the common cold.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #2: Natural Bad Breath Remedy
Dealing with bad breath can be uncomfortable. Tree tea oil has been used as a natural remedy for bad breath when used as a toothpaste additive. For years, tea tree oil has been used as a mouthwash and other solutions for stopping bad breath.
Studies found that tea tree oil is safe to use when used for bad breath due to its antifungal and antiseptic qualities which can attack the bacteria that feed on food particles left in the mouth.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #3: Helps Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease can be excruciating and is caused by bacteria in plaque that is not removed from your teeth which turns into tartar. Eliminating tartar can be difficult and can only be removed in professional dental cleaning.
Tea tree oil has been used to remove food that stays in the teeth which causes bacteria from growing. Recommendations suggest rubbing tea tree oil on your gums or brushing teeth with tea tree oil twice daily to prevent gingivitis.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #4: Improved Wound Healing
Tea tree oil has been used to improve the healing of wounds and it is known to help reduce inflammation. Tea tree oil has the ability to activate the healing process of white blood cells.
Studies have shown that applying tea tree oil to individuals with wounds leads to a decrease in wound size and healing time. Adding just a few drops of tea tree oil to the wound dressing when the new dressing is applied can help a lot.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #5: Helps Prevent Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance can happen when bacteria changes in composition. This reduces the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals or other agents made to cure or prevent a disease. When bacteria cannot be killed, it reproduces and continues to cause harm.
With the overuse of antibiotics, preventing antibiotic resistance is essential. Tea tree oil has been used in replacement of conventional medications for this reason. Recent studies suggest that essential oils like tea tree oil along with traditional antibiotics have positives effects 1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3950955/.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #6: Helps Hair Health
People spend thousands of dollars trying to get healthy thick hair. What if the answer was easy? Tea tree oil has been used to provide and give healthy hair while reducing a dry, itchy scalp that may produce dandruff.
You can either buy shampoo with tea tree oil already added to it, or you can use your favorite shampoo and add a few drops of tea tree oil.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #7: Asthma Reliever
Dealing with a respiratory condition such as asthma can be extremely difficult. As mentioned earlier tea tree oil can assist in respiratory diseases and as such it can be used to relieve side effects of asthma attacks.
Try adding a few drops of tea tree oil to water and inhaling the scent directly. Other suggested uses are to combine tea tree oil with coconut oil and rub it on your chest.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #8: Eczema Reliever
Eczema can lead to a series of complications including bacterial skin infections, fungal infections, herpes breakouts, erythroderma, eye problems, sleep disturbances, allergies, and asthma.
With that in mind, tea tree oil may be to help treat eczema due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil may be used as an alternative to lotions and other procedures which are may not be chemical free.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #9: Acne Treatment
One of tea tree oil’s main uses is to treat acne. Acne can be tough and embarrassing to deal with and tea tree oil has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which can be used as a natural alternative to acne medication.
Studies have shown that participants who used a face wash containing tea tree oil compared to those using face wash which did not had fewer acne breakouts.
Tea Tree Oil Benefit #10: Fights Recurrent Herpes Breakouts
A common cold sore can be extremely uncomfortable, painful, itchy and embarrassing. Lab studies have shown that tea tree oil can help reduce herpes breakouts due to the antiviral activity of tea tree oil.
Other studies have also shown that tea tree oil might help get rid of warts. Common recommendations suggest applying tree tea oil directly to the cold sore as a treatment.
