The Powerful Healing Properties of Tea Tree Oil

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Tea tree oil, the essential oil extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant native to Australia, has been used by the aboriginal people of that country for thousands of years to treat and cure a variety of ailments. This was later discovered by European explorers when they settled on the continent and was found to be an effective remedy. And as early as the 1920’s, scientists were studying the effects of its antiseptic properties for application in modern medicine.

There are good reasons, therefore, why every medicine cabinet should contain a bottle of tea tree oil, especially for homes which are interested in natural remedies instead of conventional medications to help treat many common ailments. Read on to find out more about this amazing oil!

Tea Tree Oil and its Active Ingredients

Tea tree oil, extracted from the tea tree plant, is produced by distilling the Melaleuca leaves and has a pungent, distinctive aroma. The main reason this oil has so many medicinal properties is that it contains an astonishing 100+ active compounds, including an array of terpinenes, terpineols, cineol, cymones and pinenes, just to name a few. Each of these compounds brings with it its own healthful properties, making this oil a very potent healer indeed, and it has been shown that they work together synergistically to produce even greater medicinal effects.

A Natural Antiseptic

There are many reasons why tea tree oil makes for such great treatment. The fact that tea tree oil has powerful antimicrobial properties that help to kill off fungus, bacteria and viruses alike makes it a wonderful antiseptic, and when applied topically to wounds, it can prevent infection and speed the healing process. Even more importantly, it can help kill of bacteria and other pathogens infesting a wound without damaging healthy tissues. Moreover, it has a mild analgesic effect that can ease pain or discomfort associated with a wound.

These antimicrobial properties also make it excellent for killing off the bacteria on the skin which can cause acne and the bacteria in the mouth which can cause bad breath and eventually lead to gum diseases like gingivitis. A few drops of it can also be added to water and gargled to treat a sore throat associated with respiratory infections. It is important to remember, however, that tea tree oil is recommended for external use only, so if gargling, be sure to spit the mixture out rather than swallowing it!

Thus, having a bottle of tea tree oil in the home is a good idea for treatment of all kind of common ailments and is a natural alternative to more conventional  though sometimes less effective – therapies. It has certainly earned its place in any medicine cabinet!

Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, activistpost.com, organicfacts.net

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Mayimina
Mayimina has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.