Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) bush distilled from Australia

Tea Tree is a plant which grows in Australia and New Zealand. When Captain Cook arrived there, his crew made tea out of the leaves and thus, the name was born. When they bothered to ask the aborigines about this plant, they told Cook’s men that they had been using it for ages for coughs, colds, and headaches.

Essential oil of Tea Tree has probably had more scientific studies performed on it than any other essential oil. These studies have proven over and over again that the oil is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral. In addition, it stimulates the immune response. It is a fantastic oil to use for coughs, colds, flu, asthma, and bronchitis. Simply diffuse it into the air or dilute with Jojoba oil and rub onto the chest.

A tiny drop of this amazing oil can be applied directly to pimples and acne. They dry up extremely fast. It can be spread liberally on the soles of the feet to get rid of Athlete’s foot and other unexplained problems of the feet which some people refer to as ‘foot rot.’ Tea Tree can also be used on cuts, scrapes, insect bites and cold sores.

A few years ago, Kamala was out in the cold walking two golden retrievers (or rather, they were dragging her on the ice) and her hands went numb. Thus, she didn’t feel it when her thumbnail was bent back. When she got back into the warm indoors and took off her gloves, she was in extreme pain and found a thumb covered in blood. When she washed it off and cut down the nail, she doused it in Tea Tree oil and bandaged it. For the next three days, she changed the bandage and doused it with Tea Tree each time. By the second day, the pain had decreased dramatically and the nail looked pink and healthy. Thanks to Tea Tree oil, it is obvious that Kamala will not be losing her thumbnail as might have happened otherwise.

Tea Tree is excellent in a lotion for impetigo, herpes, rashes, and warts. Twenty to fifty drops of Tea Tree can be added to shampoo to reduce dandruff.

Dilute Tea Tree in Aloe Vera oil (2 drops to a tablespoon of Aloe) to use it for yeast infections or general vaginitis. It has a very high rate of success for these conditions.

Psychologically, Tea Tree has a stimulating effect on the mind and helps steady the nerves. It can be used for all sorts of nervous conditions including heart palpitations. Simply breath deeply out of the bottle for these applications.

Always dilute your essential oils in an unscented carrier oil like Sesame or Jojoba. Do not take essential oils internally. Always store essential oils out of heat and sunlight. Keep essential oils away from children and pregnant women.

All information in this description is copyright Kamala’s Own LLC. Please ask for permission to reprint it. This description is not medical advice and the information herein comes from personal experience, research, and folklore. If you believe you are ill, consult an M.D. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any medical condition. Nothing here has been evaluated by the FDA.