Melaleuca - Explore Its Natural Wonders

Not only does our company carry a strong line of Shea Butter products, we are proud to announce our involvement with essential oils.  Essential oils play a large when it comes to enhancing the healing effects of cosmetic products, especially Shea butter.  We do offer 100% pure Grade A Shea butter blended with Tea Tree oil.  Why Tea Tree oil you may ask?  We are strong fans of amazing properties found inside this product.  Here is some information that we collected regarding Tea Tree oil.

Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a multi-purpose herb that traces its roots to the Aboriginal people of Australia. For thousands of years, they used the leaves as an antiseptic and antifungal by crushing the leaves and making a mudpack.

Properties of Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil's properties are contained in the oils of its leaves. The oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and then tested for chemical properties, which can number between 50 and 100. The number of components may explain tea tree oil's many beneficial uses. The main active components are terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene and other turpenes. Its aroma is one of a healthy pleasant disinfectant.

General Use

Antibacterial

The most promising new function of tea tree oil is to counter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also called the hospital super bug. In United States and European hospitals, MRSA grew from under 3% in the 1980s to 40% in the late 1990s. This super bug attacks people who have wounds, such as post-operative infections, and a depressed immune system. MRSA resists conventional antibiotics, except Vancomycin. A Thursday Plantation in vitro study, at East London University, comparing Vancomycin and tea tree oil, shows the latter as a powerful alternative. This study corroborated the University of Western Australia study by Thomas Riley and Christine Carson. Because the spread of MRSA occurs mainly by hands, one London hospital uses tea tree oil soap for staff and patient hygiene.

Antiseptic

Tea tree essential oil is an excellent natural antiseptic for skin infections. The oil immediately penetrates outer skin layers and mixes with body oils to treat such conditions as insect bites, cuts, burns, acne, infected wounds, bruises, boils, scabies, lice, chilblains, diaper rash, hives, poison ivy and oak, prickly heat, and sunburn.

A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, in 1990 outlined the results of using 5% tea tree oil gel versus 5% Benzoyl peroxide lotion for acne. The 124 participants showed improvement with both treatments. Benzoyl peroxide worked better with non-inflamed acne while the tea tree gel caused only 44% of side effects such as dryness and red skin compared to Benzoyl peroxide's 79%.

The simplest methods to treat acne with tea tree oil are to wash the face with soap containing tea tree essential oil or swab pure tea tree oil on the acne twice daily. (Too high a percentage or direct application of essential oil can cause irritation and blistering.) Applying tea tree oil cream can also prevent blistering from sunburns.

Anti-Inflammatory

Tea tree oil has pain-numbing properties and can be used topically for sprains, arthritis, bunions, bursitis, eczema, gout, carpal tunnel syndrome, and hemorrhoids. It is best to use products containing essential tea tree oil, since the pure essential oil would be irritating to sensitive areas.

Anti-Fungal

Tea tree oil is an excellent antifungal agent and can be employed to treat athlete's foot, jock-itch, ringworm, thrush, and nail infections.

A study published in the Journal of Family Practice in 1994 compared the treatment of onychomycosis with a pharmaceutical clotrimazole solution at 1% to tea tree oil at 100% on 117 patients. After six months, the two groups had similar results, with the culture from the clotrimazole group showing 11% infection and that of the tea tree oil group, 18%. For ringworm and nail infections, besides applying a tea tree gel, cream, or essential oil, bath and laundry water can be disinfected by adding a few drops of tea tree essential oil to the tub and washing machine.

Preventative

Tea tree oil can boost suppressed immune systems and help those with chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome. Surgeons in Australian hospitals treat patients in these situations with tea tree oil before surgery. To increase the power of the immune system, several drops of tea tree oil can be added to the bath or weekly massages. A few drops of tea tree oil can also be added to vaporizers.

Personal Hygiene

To fight plaque, brushing with toothpaste containing tea tree oil or adding some to regular toothpaste is advised, as is adding a few drops of tea tree oil to mouthwash. The latter helps both teeth and gums. For sore gums, a few drops of the oil can be swabbed on the sore area.

Household Cleaning

Tea tree oil's natural solvent properties make it an excellent biodegradable cleaning product. It can be used for washing cotton diapers; as a deodorizer, or disinfectant; to remove mold; and to treat houseplants for molds, fungus, and parasitic infections.

Animal Care

Because pets also suffer many of the same diseases as humans, tea tree oil can also be used as treatment for such diseases as arthritis, fleas, bad breath, gum disease, abscesses, dermatitis, lice, parasites, ringworm, rashes and sprains. Dogs in particular are susceptible to mange, a hard-to-eliminate skin disorder causing hair loss and itching. We have a great directory of skin disorders where Tea Tree oil may have an effect.  This is hopefully a positive effect, right?  Click here to view a guide to skin disorders.