Natural First Aid Kit, part 1: Tea Tree

Tea Tree, or Malaleuca alternifolia, is the subject of our first element in the natural first aid kit.  Every day we are going to take a look at different essential oils that can’t be left out of your natural first aid kit.  Today, the “star” essential oil is tea tree.

Characteristics of Tea Tree esence oil

• It has an herbaceous, fresh tone.  Fairly intense (one characteristic to keep in mind when buying it in an organic foods store).
• It is a mental stimulant that acts against lack of energy and drive.

Special information

• It is a very sought-after and respected oil.  Why?  Because it has excellent antiseptic and disinfectant properties.
• It is effectively used to treat fungus, viruses, and bacteria.

Tips to keep in mind

• It can be used directly on skin, with a Q-tip for example.

Good combinations

• Lemon, pine, mint, cypress.

Natural Recipe

• If you have a small wart on your arm, use a Q-tip dipped in one drop of organic tea tree oil, and cover with with adhesive tape for one day.  Remove the tape.  Repeat for 2 weeks.

Remember

• Essential oils are not to be ingested.  They are applied to local areas, some pure, others with a carrier oil.
• Always consult your doctor.  Some conditions cannot be cured with essential oils, but do lead to their improvement.  You must use conscience and responsibility when using essential oils, which is why it is always a good idea to consult your physician.

References

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2018. Tea tree oil
• Bagherani, N., & Smoller, B. R. (2015). Role of tea tree oil in treatment of acne. Dermatologic Therapy, 28(6), 404.
• Hammer, K. A. (2015). Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: a review of efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 45(2), 106–110.
• Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Bagherani, N., & Kazerouni, A. (2013). A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. International Journal of Dermatology, 52(7), 784–790.
• Larson, D., & Jacob, S. E. (2012). Tea tree oil. Dermatitis : Contact, Atopic, Occupational, Drug, 23(1), 48–49.
• de Groot, A. C., & Schmidt, E. (2015, December). Eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. Contact Dermatitis. England.
• Li, M., Zhu, L., Liu, B., Du, L., Jia, X., Han, L., & Jin, Y. (2016). Tea tree oil nanoemulsions for inhalation therapies of bacterial and fungal pneumonia. Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 141, 408–416.
• de Groot, A. C., & Schmidt, E. (2016). Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact Dermatitis, 75(3), 129–143.
• Li, Y., Shao, X., Xu, J., Wei, Y., Xu, F., & Wang, H. (2017). Tea tree oil exhibits antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea by affecting mitochondria. Food Chemistry, 234, 62–67.
• Li, M., Zhu, L., Zhang, T., Liu, B., Du, L., & Jin, Y. (2017). Pulmonary delivery of tea tree oil-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes for the  treatment of fungal and bacterial pneumonia. The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 69(11), 1458–1467.
• Patri, G., & Sahu, A. (2017). Role of Herbal Agents – Tea Tree Oil and Aloe vera as Cavity Disinfectant Adjuncts in Minimally Invasive Dentistry-An In vivo Comparative Study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR, 11(7), DC05-DC09.

Revised by: Dra. Loredana Lunadei on 11/15/2018

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