The tea tree plant (also known by the English name "tea tree") is native to Australia and unfortunately the rest of the world has only been able to learn about its powerful properties in recent times. Nowadays we are lucky enough to have access to its oil and we can use it for the hygiene of our homes, to relax in the bathtub and also to treat skin infections. Tea tree oil is one of the safest essential oils, but it still needs to be treated with respect and tested to rule out the possibility of an allergic reaction if you've never used it before.
Steps
Part 1 of 14: Use it to treat acne
Step 1. Tea tree oil works slowly but is less aggressive than other options
Twice a day, after washing your face with lukewarm water, dip a cotton ball in a gel containing 5% tea tree oil (or in a homemade blend of tea tree oil and an oil vector). Tap the product on the skin affected by acne. It may take a couple of months to get real improvements, but compared to conventional acne products (such as benzoyl peroxide), which can easily irritate the skin, tea tree oil is less aggressive. find on the market act quickly.).
Using a more concentrated blend may allow you to get good results faster, but it's more dangerous at the same time. You may also become allergic to the oil and be forced to stop using it
Part 2 of 14: Use it to treat herpes, skin infections or warts
Step 1. Apply tea tree oil to your skin twice a day
Use a cotton ball or pad moistened with a blend of 5% tea tree oil diluted in a carrier oil. This is not a cure-all for skin problems, but there is a good chance the symptoms will subside. In addition to fighting bacteria, mycoses and viruses, tea tree oil is also useful against pain and inflammation. It can also be useful against warts.
- Talk to your doctor before trying to treat a severe wound or insect bite that has become infected with tea tree oil. Also, never apply it to burns, even if there is no ongoing infection.
- Tea tree oil is ineffective against most skin rashes, but you can use it if the irritation is caused by a nickel allergy.
Part 3 of 14: Use it to treat athlete's foot symptoms
Step 1. Use a concentrated mixture to apply to the affected parts of the fungal infection twice a day
Wash your feet with soap and water, wipe the skin between your toes, then apply the mixture to the spots affected by mycosis. By repeating the application twice a day, at least for a couple of weeks, the symptoms should subside or even disappear if you're lucky.
You will have better luck if you use a blend that contains between 25 and 50% tea tree oil diluted in a carrier oil. However, note that this will put you at a greater risk of becoming allergic to the oil and it would be a shame if you are in the habit of using it to treat other conditions as well. If you don't want to take that risk, you can treat athlete's foot with one of the products sold in pharmacies
Part 4 of 14: Use it to cure toenail fungus
Step 1. Apply it to mycosis affected nails twice a day
Use a cotton ball and dab tea tree oil where your nails are visibly affected by fungal infections. Since you won't be applying it to your skin, you can use 100% pure tea tree oil to take full advantage of its antifungal properties. By applying it regularly you can get an improvement in the appearance of the nails (unfortunately the remedies for a definitive healing are not so easy to find).
If you need to repeat the application, use a clean cotton ball to avoid contaminating the oil
Part 5 of 14: Add it to shampoo to treat dandruff
Step 1. Pour a few drops of tea tree oil into the shampoo bottle
Apply it regularly, shaking the bottle well before each use. Over the course of a few weeks you should notice that the itchiness and excess sebum related to dandruff have diminished.
- If you have a digital scale and a dropper, you can make a more powerful treatment with a percentage of tea tree oil up to 5% and the rest shampoo.
- It is possible for tea tree oil to separate from the shampoo and come to the surface. Remember to shake the bottle well before each application to prevent the scalp from becoming irritated. If you also want to add other essential oils that are less safe than tea tree oil, it is preferable to prepare the mixture from time to time in a bowl and avoid storing it.
Part 6 of 14: Use it for fumenti when you have a cough and cold
Step 1. Drop 2 or 3 drops of tea tree oil into a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam
Approach the pot with your head and shoulders covered with a towel to trap the steam. This treatment is widespread in Australia where the tea tree plant grows wild.
- If you have asthma or other chronic conditions involving the kidneys or nasal passages, ask your doctor if you can use tea tree oil this way.
- Do not drink the water you poured tea tree oil into as it is toxic if ingested.
Part 7 of 14: Use it for home hygiene and to fight mold
Step 1. Pour half a liter of water into a spray bottle and add 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of tea tree oil
Shake the bottle and spray the mixture directly on any hard surfaces that need cleaning, then wipe it with a sponge or a sheet of all-purpose paper. If there is mold, keep spraying until the surface is soggy, let the solution sit for at least an hour, and then scrub and rinse with water only. If the spray bottle is clear, store it in a piece of furniture to keep it away from light and heat, otherwise the tea tree oil will lose its valuable properties.
- You can use white vinegar instead of water if you prefer. It will make the spray even more effective against general dirt.
- Tea tree oil is toxic if ingested. If there are children or pets in the house, keep them away until you have thoroughly rinsed all surfaces that you have treated with tea tree oil.
- The oil and water won't mix, so you'll need to shake the bottle thoroughly before each use.
Part 8 of 14: Use it when doing laundry
Step 1. Add it to the rinse cycle to combat mold or odor
Add a few drops of pure tea tree oil to the softener compartment of the washing machine. This is a great way to get rid of bad odors from your washing machine and to freshen up your clothes if they have been in the drum for a long time while they were damp.
Part 9 of 14: When taking a bath, add it to the water along with the fractionated coconut oil
Step 1. Dilute 20 drops of tea tree oil in a teaspoon (5 ml) of fractionated coconut oil for a relaxing bath
Blend the tea tree oil with the fractionated coconut oil, then pour them into the tub to impart a light tea tree fragrance to the water. The oil has a strong balsamic smell, so be careful not to use too much.
- Do not pour tea tree oil directly into the water without diluting it first. Since water and oil do not mix, tea tree oil would remain on the surface of the water, making it aggressive for the skin as it is pure and undiluted. For this reason it is important to mix it in advance with a vegetable oil. Fractionated coconut oil is particularly recommended as it makes the skin silky without greasing it.
- If you make frequent use of essential oils, you can look for alternatives to fractionated coconut oil suitable for this use.
Part 10 of 14: Do not ingest tea tree oil
Step 1. Tea tree oil is toxic if ingested
Taken orally it can cause you to lose control over your muscles, make you confused, disoriented, and can even make you lose consciousness.
Part 11 of 14: Keep it out of the reach of pets
Step 1. Tea tree oil is dangerous for cats, dogs and potentially other animals as well
Never apply any product that contains tea tree oil directly to your pet's skin or coat. Products intended for animals can also be lethal. When using it for home hygiene, lock your pet out of the room and rinse all treated surfaces with plenty of water.
Part 12 of 14: Do a test before applying tea tree oil to the skin
Step 1. Pour a few drops of diluted oil onto a patch, apply it to the skin and notice if there are any reactions
Take the product you intend to use (not pure tea tree oil) and put a few drops on the gauze in the center of the patch. Apply the patch to your forearm and leave it on for 48 hours (or until a reaction occurs). If your skin becomes red or itchy, it means that you are allergic to tea tree oil and that you should therefore avoid applying it to your body.
If you have a bottle of 100% pure tea tree oil, dilute it in a carrier oil first. Avocado and jojoba oil are two popular options, but you can use any plant-based or seed-derived oil (but not another essential oil). In any case it is better to dilute it to 3-5%
Part 13 of 14: Dilute it to use it safely
Step 1. Tea tree oil is safe when diluted
Applied neat to the skin it generally does not carry serious risks, but in some people it can cause a rash. It is a good rule to choose products with a concentration that does not exceed 5% when using it on the skin.) If no negative reactions occur, then you can use it in a higher concentration (10% or more) to fight infections such as foot of athlete.
- Stop using tea tree oil on your skin if it causes irritation or redness. You may have developed an allergy to the plant even if you have experienced no adverse symptoms in the past.
- Keep tea tree oil away from light, air and heat, elements that deteriorate it and make it more aggressive on the skin. The ideal is to keep it in a dark glass bottle and store it in the refrigerator.
- Use it at your own risk if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tea tree oil may also cause side effects in pre-pubertal males.
- If tea tree oil is pure, you can dilute it yourself in a carrier oil by weighing both with a precision digital scale. Drop counting is a much less accurate method, but as a "very rough" estimate one drop of essential oil per teaspoon (5ml) of carrier oil produces a concentration of 1%.
Part 14 of 14: Talk to your doctor about using it to treat vaginal or mucosal disorders
Step 1. Ask your doctor for advice to consider using it in sensitive areas
The internal, moist ("mucous") parts, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and vagina, are extremely sensitive and most essential oils would be too aggressive. Tea tree oil is an exception and has been tested on these areas, for example to treat yeast infections. This does not mean that you can use it without first consulting a doctor who knows your personal situation well. Talk to your doctor and use a commercial product that has been tested for that use instead of using DIY preparations.
Since tea tree oil is toxic if ingested, using it in the mouth is particularly risky. Use it only in low concentrations (for example at 2.5%), be careful not to ingest the product and do not use it on children
Advice
- Some bottles of tea tree oil have a nozzle or a dropper, but that's not always the case. If you have trouble counting the drops, you can purchase a dropper pipette at the drugstore.
- Tea tree oil should be stored at room temperature in a sealed dark container. Air, light and heat make it more irritating to the skin.
- You can put tea tree oil in a diffuser and use it in aromatherapy. However, keep in mind that this pure oil has a very strong smell, similar to that of turpentine, which some people find unpleasant at high concentrations.
Warnings
- Do not ingest tea tree oil. It can cause mental confusion, loss of muscle control, or unconsciousness. If you are concerned that a child may have ingested an essential oil, give him water to drink and monitor it for the next 6 hours. If he has symptoms, take him to the hospital immediately.
- Tea tree oil can be very dangerous for cats, dogs and potentially other pets as well. Never use it on animals, in any concentration. At best, only use products with a concentration below 5% wherever your pet may come into contact with the oil.
- In some people, tea tree oil applied to the skin causes irritation, redness, or itching. You should pay attention to any side effects even if you have used tea tree oil in the past without any consequences, as it is possible to develop a sensitivity over time.
- Use tea tree oil at your own risk if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Absolutely avoid applying it directly to your breasts while breastfeeding.
- While it hasn't been proven, some studies have associated tea tree oil with abnormal breast growth in some pre-pubertal boys. It may therefore be risky to use it repeatedly on children.
- Consult your healthcare provider before applying tea tree oil around sensitive areas of the body, such as the eyes, ears, and private parts. Generally, applying it around the mouth or nose there are no contraindications, but it is important to use a mixture that includes a maximum of 5% tea tree oil and avoid licking.
