The Melaleuca alternifolia leaves give a powerful essential oil known as Melaleuca oil or tea tree oil. It contains more than 92 compounds, and different ranges of color from pale yellow to clear. Also, it is characterized by camphor-like smell and it can grow both as a tree or as a shrub. The tree is can grow up to 100 feet height.
It origins from the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and Southeast Queensland. However, the “tea tree” name first appeared around the 1770`s, when Captain James made a drink out of water and the leaves to drink instead of tea.
Arthur Penfold first started the commercial tea tree industry, as a result of his research in 1920. He made a research about different essential extracted oils. Melaleuca alternifolia is the most principal of the eight species that became cultivated for their oil.
Melaleuca is packed with potent purifying qualities. Traditionally, the Aboriginals in Australia have crushed the leaves and inhaled the oil vapors in order to get the feeling of clear airways. The also used the leaves as bandage because of their cooling effects.
Melaleuca can promote a healthy complexion and purify both the nails and skin. Clean some surfaces in your home with tea tree oil which will protect them from environmental threats. On the other hand, if you take Melaleuca internally it significantly boosts your immune system.
Melaleuca Alternifoliate’s Properties
Melaleuca is rich in many health properties such as antibacterial, stimulant and tissue regenerative, analgesic, neurotonic, antifungal, insecticidal, anti-infectious, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, decongestant, antiparasitic, strong antiseptic, expectorant, digestive, immune stimulant, and insecticidal.
Household Uses of Tea Tree Oil
Topical Uses:
- Clearer complexion – add 1-2 drops to the facial cleanser.
- Cleaning – in a spray bottle combine several drops of this oil and water. This solution will make your home surfaces cleaner and will protect them from environmental threats.
- Clean toothbrush – rub several drops of this oil into your toothbrush once weekly to remove all the bacteria.
- Hand sanitizer – thirty drops of tea tree oil are mixed with ten drops of lavender oil, clove oil and eight ounces of Aloe Vera gel. Mix it together in a pot and use a container to store it.
- Healthy nails – apply to fingernails and toenails after a shower.
- Irritated skin (ex. after shaving) – combine 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil (almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil).
Aromatic Uses:
- For clearer breathing – put one drop of tea tree into your palms, bring them to the nose and inhale the vapors.
- To purify a larger area –add three to four drops to your diffuser.
Internal Uses:
- Add one drop of tea tree oil in four oz of liquid.
- To support healthy immune function add one drop of the solution to, warm tea, water or veggie cap, or in a citrus drink with olive or coconut oil.
Consult your physician, if you are under a doctor’s care, pregnant or even nursing. Additionally, make sure to avoid contact with sensitive areas including inner ears, eyes etc. And always make sure to keep out of reach of children.
Administration of Food and Drug hasn’t evaluated these statements. You shouldn’t use this product to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure diseases.
Other Uses of Tea Tree Oil
- Earaches
- Acne
- Bacterial infections
- Chickenpox
- Cold sores
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Congestion
- Respiratory tract infections
- Fungal infections.
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