5 Great Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is the one thing I always have in my medicine cabinet. I also take it on all my trips and make sure never to go into the woods without it in my backpack. Why do I always need to have this essential oil around? Because it is one of the most versatile oils there is, that's why!

I thought I'd highlight my five favorite uses for tea tree oil to help you get better acquainted with this wonderful natural first aid remedy.

1. Helps Disinfect Wounds

A few months ago my next door neighbor's child came to the door in a panic. His brother hit his head and the wound kept bleeding. His parents ran out for a quick errand. I came onto the scene armed with tea tree oil and when I was sure the bleeding had stopped, I put a drop on a paper towel with some water and instructed his brother to hold it.

Later on, the parents took the child to get stitches. The doctor was amazed. He said that usually with wounds like that the biggest concern is that infection starts to set in. His wound, however, didn't have any infection. He didn't even need stitches. He said, "Whatever your neighbor did to the wound worked like a charm!" I can't take the credit - it was the tea tree oil.

2. A Great Bug Repellent

I can't tell you the amount of times I've been caught in the woods with nothing but what's in my backpack - and that usually doesn't include bug repellent. What happens when mosquitoes flock to me? I improvise with tea tree oil by rubbing it on my skin and clothes. I think it works even better than the bug spray you get in the stores.

3. Helps Heal Acne

One of the best acne remedies there is includes jojoba oil (which is actually a wax) and tea tree oil. Just mix ½ cups jojoba oil with 5 drops tea tree oil. Apply to the acne twice a day. Don't be alarmed by the jojoba oil. It's actually a misnomer. Chemically jojoba is a liquid wax and is actually beneficial for acne.

4. Effective against Dandruff

Over the past few years tea tree oil has made it into more and more dandruff shampoos. For me, I don't bother buying a special shampoo. I usually just put a drop in the palm of my hand with my regular shampoo and mix it quickly in the shower before massaging my hair and scalp with it. Dandruff isn't something I am normally afflicted with and only happens to me once in a while. I find that this works better than the actual shampoos.

5. Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash

A few years ago my husband was scheduled to get some cavities filled. I could tell he wasn't happy about it so I told him to gargle with a drop of tea tree oil mixed with water after brushing, or to put a drop of tea tree oil on the toothbrush with the toothpaste. His appointment came up two or three weeks later. When he was sitting in the chair the dentist looked at his mouth and he didn't have any cavities. Blaming it on a faulty x-ray, he sent my husband home. We've both been using tea tree oil this way ever since.

This is just a small sampling of what tea tree oil can do. One small bottle usually costs around $10 and the bottle lasts at least a year if not longer. All you need is one drop or so each time you use it because a little goes a long way.