Tea Tree Oil and Its Many Uses
Tea tree oil is an essential oil known for its medicinal properties. Native to the New South Wales, Australia steam distillation of the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia helps obtain tea tree oil. Among the 100 compounds found in the oil terpinen-4-ol primarily accounts for most of the activities that are antimicrobial.
Tea tree oil is a clear to green or very yellowish -tinged essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous scent. These leaves were previously used as a stand-in for tea, which will be the way the oil got its name.
One shouldn't confuse Tea tree oil and Tea Oil (the seasoning and cooking oil obtained from pressed seeds of the plant Camellia oleifera).
Tea Tree oil was used as a potent antiseptic considerably before any scientific research in Australia. Tea Tree crushed leaves were used as traditional medicine also scattering them and by inhaling the oils treating cold and cough.
It was just after 1920's use of oil itself become popular. A streak of research papers evaluating antimicrobial properties released by Arthur Penfold. The oil was expressed using mobile, makeshift, wood- plant material and fired bush still was cut immediately. The demand ebbed following the war largely due to development of efficient antibiotics and interest in natural products and was quite high till World War II. But, the interest in natural essential oils was rekindled in 1980s and 1970s and its demand has surged for uses in medicinal and cosmetic uses. Further studies in the recent time support the use of tea tree oil in various aliments and skin care.
Here are glances of the uses of this wondrous oil:
O Tea Tree Oil Acne: A study done in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Department of Dermatology established Tea Tree oil as quite successful in treatment of moderate acne.
It may also minimize the indications of cold, sore throat flu and systemic fungal infection.
O Dandruff: Tea tree shampoo helped significantly reduce dandruff symptoms after 4 weeks of use. It was reveled in a study done on 126 people with mild to moderate dandruff. That is a result of its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the general common cause of the dandruff.
O Athlete's Foot: A study to treat athlete's foot was done and 50% placebo and tea tree oil solution was utilized.
O Tea tree oil is also effective against candidiasis and other vaginal infections.
O It may also be utilized as a bath additive and also may control bacteria in pools and hot tubs.
O Tea Tree oil is also found in cosmetic products to create shampoo and tea tree soap.
o It has also been used in treatments for eye aliment and blepharitis.
O It can be found in toothpastes, mouth washes for curing bad breath and gum ailments.
o It can also be effective in treating minor wounds, insect bites soothe sunburn and ear infection.
O Tea Tree oil diluted solution can also be sold as to cure fungal and bacterial infection for pet fish.