The Amazing Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

For centuries tea tree oil has been hailed for its medicinal properties. Tea tree oil comes for the melaleuca alternifolia plant which is native to Australia and is said to have been originally used by the aboriginal Australians several hundreds of years ago to treat a number of ailments.

Nowadays, tea tree oil is still derived from the sticky leaves of the melaleuca plant, but now it is also distilled, bottled and readily available in most health food and drug stores all over the world. Whereas in the past this was a product that was considered exclusive and difficult to find in the States, tea tree oil is now available to everyone. In case you find yourself asking what tea tree oil could possibly be good for, the answer is, pretty much anything. Tea tree oil has been called a "medicine kit in a bottle" and it's curative nature makes that old adage an easy one to believe.

The most common uses for tea tree oil is to soothe and aid in the healing of cold sores, acne, and fungi such as athlete's foot, ring worm and even dandruff. However, tea tree oil also extremely useful for other ailments such as insect bites, cuts and scrapes, canker sores, rashes resulting from exposure to poison ivy, and sunburn. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, germicide and fungicide with antibacterial properties that is more soothing than aloe and which has an uncanny ability to destroy bacteria without being harsh on the area being treated. Therefore, it is no wonder that it has been used effectively for so many years to treat conditions that affect the skin.

Although excellent for treating practically any type of skin problem, tea tree oil's benefits don't stop there. When diluted with equal parts water, tea tree oil can and has been used to soothe a sore throat or even a toothache when gargled. It can also be added to shampoo and used in order to ward off head lice. When used in a spritzer bottle tea tree oil can be sprayed around the house to eliminate ants and fleas without harming children, pets or upholstery.

Tea tree oil can also be used as a natural, safer household cleaner as it has antibacterial properties but no chemical additives. Adding tea tree oil to toothpaste is known to destroy the germs that cause gum disease and bad breath. Added to laundry detergent it helps to kill dust mites and mold. Tea tree oil is truly nature's little multitasker!

In order to ensure that the efficacy of the tea tree oil you purchase, you will want to make sure that it comes in a dark or clouded bottle. Too much exposure to light, especially sunlight, destroys some of the natural components that make the oil work as well as it does. You will want to store the tea tree oil in a cool, dry place that is out of direct sunlight for this reason as well.

This secret wonder cure of the Aborigines is now widely available to all of us. With one small bottle of tea tree oil we can naturally and effectively cure a lot of the minor ailments, we or our loved ones may be subject to. It's a little product that everyone should have in their medicine cabinets.