OK, just to clarify things first, I never promote or recommend a product that I have never tried. I also was not a fan of herbal remedies until I tried this. So all of this is based on first-hand experience.
I recently became aware of the benefits of using tea tree oil in my hair as a disinfectant (since I stopped using regular shampoo), so I bought a little bottle of it from Zen Zest. I did notice that it made my scalp feel amazing. So I started researching on its other uses. This stuff is truly miraculous!
Here are the other uses I found (and tested):
- Insect repellant: I put a few drops of it in a small spray bottle with some water and used it on our sink where we have an infestation of ants. Within seconds, they all either died or scurried away from it!
- Antiseptic: I have had a second pair of piercings in my ears for a year now and I still get contact dermatitis and infections in the holes once in a while, even when I use alcohol and antibacterial ointment. With just a couple of drops of undiluted tea tree oil, I felt relief from the itching and swelling. And since that one application, I haven’t had another outbreak yet.
- Anti-acne: I wasn’t sure if I could use it for this purpose, but I figured that since pimples are just small infections, I gave it a go. I put one drop of undiluted oil on each pimple. I kid you not, they dried out and disappeared within 2 hours.
Apparently, you can also use it to treat fungal infections, lice, and many other things. Just thought I’d share! 🙂
Notes:
Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is found in Australia.
When using any pure essential oils make sure to avoid contact with eyes. If you do get it in your eyes, use milk to wash it out before rinsing with water. Also, test undiluted oil on a small patch of skin before using it as a wound antiseptic. According to studies, 6% of people who use undiluted tea tree oil experience skin irritation. The chances of getting it from diluted oil (1% oil to water or less) are much lower.
