7 Creative Uses for Tea Tree Oil

There are so many uses for tea tree oil that make it pretty handy to have in your nature-based self-care kit!

Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil

You can use tea tree oil to clean EVERYTHING. I put about 20 drops in a 4 oz. spray bottle and filled the rest with water (boil the water first to sterilize!).

I use it on the counters, the high chair, the floor, the entire bathroom and on and on and on.

It doesn't stain the carpet and it doesn't give me a headache (bleach, i'm looking at you with my grumpy face) and the smell makes you feel like you live in a rain forest. 

I've read that tea tree oil really fights mold like a champ too, but I haven't had the chance to investigate for myself... I suppose that's a good thing.

Cosmetic Uses for Tea Tree Oil

My skin can be really sensitive, especially when I travel or am under a lot of stress. I even get cystic acne once in a blue moon, and that's just the worst.

Depending on how serious the situation is, I either mix a couple drops with my moisturizer or just apply it directly to the mess on my face.

It never takes more than a day to start looking better. Amazing!

Medicinal Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Besides the health benefits of killing harmful bacteria and viruses, tea tree oil is a good one to keep in the medicine cabinet.

Here are some of tea tree oil's medicinal uses:

For congestion: add tea tree oil to any moisturizer and rub it on your chest for a natural alternative to Vicks VapoRub. Alternatively, use tea tree oil in a vaporizer or in a bath.

Cuts and scrapes: Rub tea tree oil or a TTO-water solution on cuts and scrapes to prevent infection.

Ear infection: Put a drop or two of tea tree oil in the ear to fight the infection. If you're prone to ear infection, this can also be a preventative measure - yay!

Yeast Infection: Adding 4 to 6 drops of TTO in a bath can be effective against vaginal yeast infections.

Lice & Dandruff

Dandruff! It’s one of those things that is more of a bother than a danger. There are a lot of mass-produced shampoos, conditioners and over-the-counter treatments to help get rid of it, but you should know that a great dandruff home treatment can be whipped up right in your kitchen using tea tree oil and a handful of other ingredients! I used to have dandruff back when I had dreads and tea tree oil has worked for both of us!

What Causes Dandruff?

Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not always the result of a dry scalp. Dandruff can come and go, or it can remain for years as a chronic condition. Dandruff is a skin condition that occurs when new skin cells are produced rapidly, causing the old ones to die and flake away from the scalp. Dandruff can be caused by irritated skin, a chemical imbalance, a compromised immune system or a zinc or B vitamins deficiency. Dandruff is often the result of inflammatory skin conditions like Seborrheic dermatitis or eczema. The good news is that it can usually be remedied.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia. Melaleuca, a plant native to Australia. Crushed leaves are used for their medicinal properties to treat cuts, scrapes and burns. Tea tree leaves contain natural antiseptic, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. The healing effects of the oil in the Melaleuca leaf is what is ultimately used to help people control and eventually get rid of their dandruff.

Tea tree oil is very potent. A few drops will usually meet medicinal requirements, especially when it comes to applying tea tree oil to your skin. There are several ways you can go about using tea tree oil to eliminate dandruff.

• Create your own tea tree oil shampoo. Add about 15 drops of tea tree oil to a full-sized bottle of mild, unscented shampoo and wash with it daily for a month. This mixture of tea tree oil and regularly cleaning your hair and scalp will help to remedy dandruff, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
• Dab a little tea tree oil on your scalp. Using a cotton swab, dab a bit of tea tree oil directly onto the scalp in the affected areas. Doing this regularly will reduce the amount of dandruff present in the targeted areas.
• Give yourself a warm oil treatment. Mix 8 drops of tea tree oil with 2 oz. of a non-clogging carrier oil such as jojoba, grape seed, extra virgin olive, almond or mineral oil. Warm the mixture, apply it to your scalp and allow it to remain overnight. Rinse hair in the morning and repeat the process once a week until the dandruff has been cured.

Give tea tree oil a try if you want to get rid of dandruff for good with something that is all-natural.

There are other uses as well - tea tree oil can also be used to treat bug bites, diaper rash, warts and ear mites in pets. There's no question about why it's come to be known as a "medicine chest in a bottle!"

Important to Note

Tea tree oil should never be added to teas or taken internally in any way.