I remember getting lice at school when I was a kid. I hated the way the shampoo smelled and made my hair feel.
As I became an adult, I realized that there had to be better alternatives for lotions and cleaning supplies. After all, what did people do for eczema and acne before the Industrial Revolution?
I popped open my computer and started doing some research on holistic alternatives. One essential oil that kept showing up in my feed was Tea Tree oil.
So, I did what anyone would do and looked up a YouTube video about tea tree oil. I came across this video by famous Vlogger Glamour Guru’s Tati Whitehall.
For years, tea tree oil has been a staple for treating many ailments. Here are 19 ways that you can use Tea Tree oil in your everyday life:
1. Zaps away Zits
Tea tree oil contains anti-microbial terpenes that gently cleanses the skin without causing damage or drying. According to Wikihow, using a facial cream that comprised of at least five percent of tea tree oil is equivalent to using a face cream with benzoyl peroxide.
2. Keeps Germs at Bay
Hand sanitizer is a must-have for educators and parents. Tea tree oil’s anti-bacterial superpower is what you need to keep your children and yourselves protected, especially during the flu season.
Making your hand sanitizer with tea tree oil means it will be gentler on your skin with the same effect. Take a look at this easy recipe from natural health blogger Claire Goodall on her website, Everyday Roots.
Make sure you check out Claire’s home remedies book here.
3. Foot Care
I love a good professional pedicure, but not everyone takes a natural approach to their clients. Professional pedicures can be expensive, unsanitary, and the chemicals can be harsh on my skin.
A good alternative to this problem is treating your feet with tea tree oil. According to an article in Reader’s Digest, tea tree oil can do wonders for your feet such as:
4. Healing Toenail Fungus
Treating toenail fungus usually means medication or a topical cream and that isn’t successful. A study conducted and published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health showed that using tea tree oil was just as effective when using it with a fungicide.
5. Treating Athlete’s Foot
Forget the powders and creams. If you are an athlete, then you know that your sweaty shoes and socks can cause problems such as itchiness, inflammation, burning, and flaky feet.
Using a little Tea Tree oil with witch hazel up to three times a day could bring you some relief.
6. Smelly Feet
Everyone’s feet can get a little smelly. However, if yours are bad, use an essential oil blend with Epsom salt and tea tree oil.
7. Treating Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin. Mix a little bit of tea tree and olive oil and gently apply to your psoriasis patches. The mixture reduces itchiness and softens the area.
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8. Executing Eczema
According to the National Eczema Foundation, over 30 million people suffer from eczema. There isn’t a cure. However, management is key.
Using a few drops of tea tree and coconut oil on your eczema rash has been known to help relieve itchiness and dryness.
6. Dissolving Dandruff
Shampoos and conditioners with tea tree oil are great if you are someone with dandruff. Tea tree oil helps to keep the scalp moisturized, itch-free, and healthy.
If a pre-mixed shampoo isn’t doing the trick, you can always opt to make your own.
7. Can Create Cleaning Products
Antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal— any of those words you want to see on a bottle of a household cleaner. Tea Tree oil is a natural 3-in-1 oil and can tackle your everyday household cleaning regimes.
According to Mother Earth Living Magazine, a mixture of tea tree oil and white vinegar is a great alternative to getting rid of mildew. You can also make a multi-purpose cleaner using tea tree oil and warm water.
8. Make a Bug Spray
Bugs and insects are not fans of how Tea tree oil. In a spray bottle, mix a little bit of water and tea tree oil to keep bugs at bay. Rubbing tea tree oil directly on a bug bite will also help relieve you from feeling itchy.
9. Wart Removal
Got warts? Tea tree oil has anti-fungal capabilities and is a safe and natural way to remove warts. Mix a drop or two of tree oil with water and apply on your warts twice a day for at least four weeks.
Make sure to cover it with a bandage so that the area of the skin stays clean and healthy during the removal process.
10. Make a Mouthwash
Personally, I like a fresh breath and don’t always carry a toothbrush. Tea tree oil can be a lifesaver. Remember, tea tree oil is antibacterial it will give you fresh breath and keep things clean.
Mix a drop of tea tree oil with water, gargle it in your mouth and spit it out. Be sure not to swallow it, ingesting tea tree oil is toxic to your body.
11. Soothe an Aching Ear
If you have young children, or you fall victim to earaches and ear infections, tea tree oil is an excellent remedy. Mix a drop of tea tree and olive oil. Using a dropper, tilt your head and add the mixture directly into the ear canal.
12. Make Your Own Toothpaste
Oral health is important. More people are moving away from commercial toothpaste to paste that is natural and glycerin free. Often, tea tree oil is used in a homemade toothpaste recipe.
If you are looking for a natural alternative to toothpaste, contributing author Stephanie Langford of the natural blogging site, Keeper of the Home, offers a simple homemade clay toothpaste recipe.
13. Keep the Laundry Fresh and Mildew Free
It has happened to all of us. We start a load of laundry, forget it was in the wash, and it never makes it to the dryer. Never fear, tea tree oil is here.
Add a couple of drops of tea tree oil in the basin and run the laundry again. Your laundry will come out smelling fresh and will prevent mildew from building on the clothes.
14. Control Body Odor
Occasionally, everyone smells. I can speak for myself, especially if I buy a deodorant that doesn’t work well. Tea tree oil’s strong anti-microbial properties are perfect for making your own deodorant.
The process is straightforward and inexpensive. All you need is coconut oil, tea tree oil, and baking soda.
15. Mold Removal
Mold spores can be dangerous to your health. Tea tree oil’s anti-fungal power is a safer way to get rid of a mold problem. Make a gentle tea tree cleaner or purchase a natural cleaner with Tea Tree extract.
Spray it in and around the problem areas where mold seems to grow, especially bathrooms and kitchens.
16. Healing Cold Sores
Cold sores can painful, and you guessed it, tea tree oil is an excellent way to get rid of them. Website DIY Naturally, suggests mixing a drop or two of Tea Tree oil and carrier oil.
Apply the mixture to the cold or canker sore throughout the day.
17. Use as a Topical Cream
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and is useful for healing staph infections, bug bites, blisters, and burns. Add a diluted or undiluted amount of tea tree oil directly to the affected area for relief and healing.
18. Calming a Cough
Tea Tree oil is an expectorant and can be used to help soothe coughs and congestion. As a quick side note, don’t ingest it because Tea Tree oil is highly toxic once swallowed.
Instead, replace your store-bought vapor rub with naturally homemade one. Here is a simple recipe from DIY Naturally.
19. Head Lice
Head lice removal is awful, and the store bought shampoos can be rough on your head and scalp. Short of shaving your head, Tea Tree oil is the next best thing to a natural remedy.
Natural living website, Home Remedy for Life, has eight recipe’s that will help you remove these head bugs.
Give Tea Tree Oil Try Today!
As consumers, we spend thousands of dollars on cleaners, toothpaste, medicine, and other products. We trust these products to heal our bodies and clean our kitchen counters although they contain chemicals that can be a lot more harmful than we imagined.
Tea Tree oil is versatile and natural. It allows us to steer away from the chemicals that aren’t good for us, and most importantly, help us save a little cash since we don’t have to take a trip to the store as often.
If you can trust scientifically modified cleaners and medicines, try shelling out a couple of bucks for a good bottle of tea tree oil. We live on a great big Earth, and it takes care of us, regardless if we don’t always take care of it.
Getting Started With Oils?
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Then grab your copy of The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Essential Oils that will teach you everything you need to know about oils.
You will learn best safety practices, over and uses, how to build your own essential oil toolkit, and recommended companies you should buy your oils from.