Tea Tree Oil is an anti-fungal and its effectiveness has been proven in killing Candida Albicans. It has exhibited excellent antibacterial, “anti-fungal”, antiviral, and antiseptic healing properties. It has also been proven to be effective for the treatment of the yeast infection candidiasis due to its ability to kill candida in vitro.
Tea tree oil is derived from distilling the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. After the leaves are distilled, it forms a powerful extract. This extract is anti-fungal and antibacterial in nature. This gives it many important medicinal properties. Skin lesions, head lice, and nail fungus, are only a few of its many uses.
The plant is native to Australia and has been used for various medicinal purposes by the native indigenous population for hundreds of years. The leaves are often crushed and the vapors are then inhaled to treat congestion caused by colds. Natives also use the leaves for treating infections, and for making infusions to treat things like sore throats.
Anti-fungal, Antibacterial, Antiseptic and Antibacterial Properties
Tea tree oil has been proven by scientists to hold all of these beneficial properties. In fact, it has been rated 11 times more active than Phenol. Although Tea tree oil has only been scientifically researched fairly recently, test results also suggest that it’s anti-fungal properties are just as beneficial when applied as a topical solution. Some of the more common uses of tea tree oil as a natural, topical anti-fungal remedy include acne, thrush, dandruff, eczema, athletes foot, jock itch, abrasions, flea bites, and cosmetic benefits to name just a few.
Common Medicinal Anti-Fungal Tea Tree Oil Uses
Foot Fungus
The uses for Tea Tree Oil are almost countless. During the Second World War, soldiers would use it as a remedy for treating foot fungus. A native Australian introduced it to the British troops after it was found out that foot fungus was becoming a huge problem. In fact, it worked so well in treating foot fungus that it was ordered to be carried in the soldier’s first aid kits. They even used it as insect repellent due to it’s natural Camphoraceous scent.
Nail Fungus
Proven to be an excellent anti-fungal agent, you can use Melaleuca extract, or tea tree oil, to treat nail fungus. Simply use a drop or so each day and after a while you will notice that it is clearing up. For some people, pure extract may be too powerful or irritating to the skin. It is possible to dilute it with olive oil to get the best effects.
Skin Blemishes
Some cases of acne are thought to be caused by bacteria. Extract from the Melaleuca has strong antimicrobial properties. This can work to clear some skin lesions.
Head Lice
Head lice do not like the aroma and odor from this potent extract. Many people prefer natural shampoos with this ingredient, as opposed to strong, chemical shampoos. If you cannot find any products at your store, it is possible to make your own. Place a few drops of oil into a bottle of baby shampoo.
With some people, this type of shampoo may cause irritation. It is important not to use it frequently, and perhaps wash only a small area at first. However, it is still considered safer to use than many chemical products. Yet, it is important to keep it out of reach of children, as it is not recommended for internal use.
Burns
Many people suffer with burns and especially sunburn. Tea tree oil is usually used for anti-fungal purposes, however if you notice that you are out in the sun too long, there are products that can help to prevent peeling and pain from sunburn. The products contain aloe and tea tree oil. Apply it to the affected skin liberally. In many cases, you may not have sunburn to deal with the next day. However, this will depend on how serious the sunburn is. It also works very well for other kinds of burns.
Household Tea Tree Oil Products
Leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant are crushed and distilled to get the extract. The extract comes in the form of oil and has many natural ingredients. You will find this extract in many natural products around the house. Some of these products include Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, lotions, creams, ointments, conditioners, cleaners and laundry soap. In fact, this essential oil cannot be synthetically duplicated, and is showing to be more flexible in it’s uses every day.
Before treating any anti-fungal ailment, burn, acne, etc.. you should be very familiar with tea tree oil safety, and always read the instructions of the tea tree oil bottle.
Sources
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/TeaTreeOil.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9055360
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-tea-tree-oil
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/tea-tree-oil-treatment-lice
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03139/Nail-Fungus.html
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/tea-tree-oil
