REMEMBER: These Are 9 Incredible Benefits of Tea Tree Oil You Have to Know About! Pay SPECIAL Attention to Benefit #6! AWESOME Photos and Tips Included!
Used topically, tea tree oil (or its liquid form) is often found in creams. Applied to the skin, this substance can significantly boost your healthy lifestyle.
If you’re not currently using tea tree oil, you’ll be shocked by the incredible benefits that you’re missing out. We’ve compiled nine benefits that you didn’t know about tea tree oil.
Benefit #1 – Good for Treating Acne
There is a significant debate on the connection between the treatment of acne and tea tree oil. A recent study took 124 patients and conducted a tea tree oil experiment to see how it helped with their acne.
The results were that the oil helped inflamed and non-inflamed lesions heal much faster.
Tea tree oil also exhibited fewer side effects than the benzoyl peroxide that was used. Both variables did show positive results in the fight against acne, but this is one of the most recent studies demonstrating how effective tea tree oil is.
Related research study:
“The results of this study showed that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients’ acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones), although the onset of action in the case of tea-tree oil was slower. Encouragingly, fewer side effects were experienced by patients treated with tea-tree oil.”
– Bassett, I. B., et al. (1990). “A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne“, in The Medical Journal of Australia, Vol. 153(8).
Benefit #2 – Softening of Dry Cuticles
Dry and cracked cuticles can be painful. When splitting occurs, cuticles are often overly dry and will need to be softened. This is easily achievable thanks to the mixture of tea tree and jojoba oil.
Just mix equal parts and apply these oils to your problematic nails.
Splitting is reduced almost immediately, and dryness will be minimized as well. For the best-looking nails, a little oil will go a long way. Just remember to take off any nail polish before the application for best results.
Related research study:
“Tea tree oil 10% cream was compared in a randomized, double-blind trial of 104 patients with 1% tolnaftate cream and placebo cream. Although symptomatic relief was comparable in tea tree oil and tolnaftate groups, there was significantly greater mycologic cure in the tolnaftate group (85%) than the tea tree oil group (30%).”
– Shenefelt, P.D. Herbal Treatment for Dermatologic Disorders. 2011. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed.
Benefit #3 – Helps with Athletes Feet
Another study was done on people that had athletes foot. This research study demonstrated that when used on patients with athlete’s feet, this oil was more effective than the placebo group.
Scaling, itching, burning, and inflammation were all calmed as a result. Treating tinea pedis with this oil is highly recommended.
Related research study:
“Tea tree oil cream (10% w/w) appears to reduce the symptomatology of tinea pedis as effectively as tolnaftate 1% but is no more effective than placebo in achieving a mycological cure. This may be the basis for the popular use of tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis.”
– Tong, M. M., et al. (1992). “Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis”, in The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 33(3).
Benefit #4 – Good for Cold Sores
The study of TTO (tea tree oil) on cold sores was rather inconclusive. This research study took just ten patients with cold sores and applied tea tree oil gel to their sores.
Initial results were very promising with the reduction of symptoms and their eventual disappearing.
More studies in this area need to be conducted due to the small sample size used. However, it is a very cheap alternative to usual medications.
Related research study:
“TTO [tea tree oil] may be a potentially useful cheaper alternative, acceptable to patients, and which poses little threat of inducing resistance to systemic antiviral agents. A larger study has begun to further evaluate TTO as a topical treatment for RHL [recurrent herpes labialis].”
– Carson, C. F., et al. (2001). “Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil gel (6%) for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis“, in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol. 48(3).
Benefit #5 – Reduces Body & Foot Odor
Many people put tea tree oil in their laundry detergent. Why? Because it has a pleasant pine smell and removes the hidden odors often found in clothes.
The same can be done for body and foot odor. This works in two ways:
- The scent of the oil masks your body odor. This is a quick fix.
- The oil fights off bacteria that cause a bad smell.
Often, odors are caused by bacteria that is allowed to grow. When this happens, you’ll notice that horrible foot or body odor that you’re trying to get rid of permanently.
The best way to do this is to apply the oil to the source of the odor as best you can. This will allow the oil to begin fighting the bacteria immediately and mask the scent!
Related research study:
“A wealth of in vitro data now supports the long-held beliefs that TTO [tea tree oil] has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite some progress, there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Large randomized clinical trials are now required to cement a place for TTO as a topical medicinal agent.”
– Carson, C.F., et al. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. 2006. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 19(1): p. 50–62.
Benefit #6 – May Help to Fight Bacterial Infections in Cuts & Burns
Cuts and burns are known to grow bacteria and become infected. When infected, this poses a significant risk of spreading and becoming a big issue. TTO is applied directly to cuts and burns in an attempt to fight off bacterial infections.
Done in a test tube study, the oil is found to help fight off bacteria.
However, the NIH recommends this oil as a supplement to other medications and applicants to help further with bacteria.
The study did indicate that further studies need to be done against resistant bacteria that is hard to combat with regular medications and ointments.
Related research study:
“Ten participants volunteered for the quasi-experimental study, and four of the 10 were used as matched participants to compare wound healing times between conventional treatment alone and conventional treatment plus fumes of tea tree essential oil. The results demonstrated decreased healing time in all but one of the participants treated with tea tree oil. The differences between the matched participants were striking.”
– Chin K.B., and Cordell, B. The effect of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on wound healing using a dressing model. 2013. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 19(12): p. 942-5.
Benefit #7 – Fight Against Dandruff
Do you have dandruff? If so, tea tree oil is a wonderful cure. Not only does this oil reduce dandruff, but it’s very effective. Just use 5% TTO in your shampoo and wash your hair like normal.
This research study was conducted on 126 males that had dandruff and was done over a period of 4 weeks.
Using quadrants to judge the effectiveness, the placebo group only noticed an 11% difference in the total amount of dandruff they had. However, the tea tree oil group had a 41% improvement over the same period. One key note to take from this study is that there were no adverse effects.
Related research study:
“The 5% tea tree oil shampoo group showed a 41% improvement in the quadrant-area-severity score compared with 11% in the placebo group (P <.001). Statistically significant improvements were also observed in the total area of involvement score, the total severity score, and the itchiness and greasiness components of the patients’ self-assessments.”
– Satchell, A. C., et al. (2002). “Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo“, in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 47(6).
Benefit #8 – Promotes Gum & Teeth Health
Plaque and chronic gingivitis are always hard to treat. This research study shows that tea tree may keep your gums healthy. A gel with TTO was created, applied to a toothbrush and used twice daily.
The study went on to show that there was a severe reduction in both PBI and GI scores. The plaque was not majorly improved.
TTO also fights inflammation, which is perfect for sensitive gum tissues. For a non-toxic means of periodontal therapy, this gel is a great option and can be used alongside regular teeth cleaning habits (do not swallow it).
Related research study:
“Although further studies are required, the anti-inflammatory properties of TTO [tea tree oil] -containing gel applied topically to inflamed gingival tissues may prove to be a useful non-toxic adjunct to chemotherapeutic periodontal therapy.”
– Soukoulis, S. & R. Hirsch. (2004). “The effects of a tea tree oil-containing gel on plaque and chronic gingivitis“, in Australian Dental Journal, Vol. 49(2).
Benefit #9 – Relieves Toenail Fungus
Nail fungus is a growing issue. Dabbing tea tree oil on your feet twice per day will help eradicate the fungus and make sure it doesn’t come back.
Various research studies have shown that tea tree oil is effective when used as an initial treatment strategy when the fungus has not exceeded normal levels.
Related research study:
“All current therapies have high recurrence rates. Oral therapy has the added disadvantages of high cost and potentially serious adverse effects. Topical therapy, including the two preparations presented in this paper, provide improvement in nail appearance and symptomatology. The use of a topical preparation in conjunction with debridement is an appropriate initial treatment strategy.”
– Buck, D. S., et al. (1994). “Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole“, in The Journal of Family Practice, Vol. 38(6).
Contraindications, Side-Effects & Dangers of Tea Tree Oil
One of the things that you’ll quickly notice is that for medicinal issues, every study recommends using tea tree oil as well as traditional methods.
Why? Because it can only help speed up the results. When used on the skin, this oil is harmless unless a person has an allergy.
The absolute biggest danger is taking this oil orally. When taken orally, whether directly or in tea, it will be TOXIC! Small amounts may not kill you, but they will make you very sick.
Studies have not been conducted with pregnant women, so if you’re pregnant, you’ll want to use tea tree oil at your discretion.
Tea tree oil is something you should have in your medicine cabinet. This oil is very inexpensive and can combat a variety of ailments and skin issues. Used with medicine or other forms of treatment, this oil has been shown to kill bacteria, ease inflammation, and increase your healing process.
