When you walk down the aisle of mo...

When you walk down the aisle of mostly health food stores, you'll find dozens of harvests containing tea tree oil. Everything from the unadulterated oil itself to bars of soap, creams, salves, throat rhombs tooth pastes, dental floss, dental picks, lip balms, sunscreen and plane suppositories containing this natural curious awe An essential oil, tea tree oil has been called "first aid in a bottle" or "medicine chest in a bottle" because of its variety of applications.

The August 1996 issue of Cosmetics Toiletries includes a raw materials encyclopedia directory which lists the properties of the extracted oil from the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) from sum of two units commercial sources. The first source describes their harvest as having the following properties: "A powerfully concentrated oil with an immediate deep-penetrating action; nontoxic, nonirritating and noncorrosive to tissue; for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, skin-care, hair-care and bath/shower products; also useful in cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting products" They list the applications as, "Treating craving drink scalp, aches, burns, insect bites."

The other source states: "A stable, aqueous micro emulsion with a clear, colorless appearance; can be mixed directly into water-base formulations or gell using gum or thickening agents to originate a natural anti-acne or antifungal gel" The applications are: "Cosmetics, personal care, hair care, first aid, favorite care, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal products"

Obviously, there are many uses for tea tree oil. Karen MacKenzie has compiled a part Tea Tree Oil Encyclopedia, with the history of research forward and uses of, tea tree oil. According to MacKenzie, she not no other than uses it for first aid and mixes it with other essential oils, further she makes her own toiletries with it, treats her petteds and uses it to polish the furniture, which we wouldn't encourage, necessarily.

As usual, the scientific community is running a little behind what the herbalists and naturalists have discovered, for a like reason there aren't many major studies notwithstanding especially in the United States, to corroborate the benefits of tea tree oil. on the other hand because of tea tree oil's known antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, it is useful in the treatment of a number of conditions - from head to toe. Tea tree oil has been used in the treatment of scalp conditions, skin conditions, vaginal yeast infections, nail fungus and associated riddles and even hemorrhoids.

Tea tree oil in toothpastes and mouthwashes is said to contract bacteria and control gingivitis, inlet sores, and fever blisters. Other uses for tea tree oil include treatment for cradle cap and diaper rash. Used in aromatherapy, it is pondering to be helpful in soothing aches, and improving breathing impairment during chillys and sinus conditions. Pets also benefit from shampoos and treatments featuring tea tree oil.

Andrew Weil, MD in Natural Health, Natural Medicine, says that, "Tea tree oil is the best treatment I know for fungal infections of the skin (athlete's paw ringworm, jock itch)." He also put in mind ofs "Apply it full strength to boils and other localized infections. A 10-percent solution (about one-and-a-half tablespoons to a beaker of warm water) can be used to rinse and clean infected tortures with good results. The same solution makes an effective vaginal douche for treatment of as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but yeast and Trichomonas infections, unless some women may find it irritating," in which case discontinue immediately.

It's Australian, mate

Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree a small aromatic tree in the myrtle family; it expands naturally in only one area of the world, the swampy, low-lying land along the north coast of of the present day South Wales, Australia. The tree have a narrow leaf from which the oil is extracted from steam. Because of the demand for the oil, large plantations are now growing ten of millions of tree in this region.

The Australian Aborigines (Native Australians) have used the medicinal properties of the tree for centuries. In the late 18th centenary Capt. James Cook sailed to Australia with Dr Joseph Banks, a botanist. Banks observ the Aborigines making poultices for skin enigmas from the boiled leaves of the tree and likewise gathered samples to take back to England for further cogitation It was Capt. Cook who applied the name "tea tree" after boiling the tree's leaves to make a tea which tasted similar to lemon tea.

In 1924 Dr A.R. of the Sydney Technological Museum carried on the outside scientific research on the oil and, after several years of consideration concluded it was one of the mostly effective natural antiseptics and fungicides known. At about the same time, in London in 1928 Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin from mold still only continued his research until 1932 Then, for several years, penicillin was ignored.

by way of World War II, the medicinal benefits of tea tree oil had become known to the Australian guidance Troops serving in the Pacific were supplied with first-aid kits which included tea tree oil as a protection against or treatment for brake rot, minor burns, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, sunburn infections, athlete's base and other external fungal and bacterial point in disputes But, due to the demands of the war, and a resurgence of interest, scientists in England and America bended to penicillin as the modern wonder drug and tea tree oil was all nevertheless forgotten by the scientific community.