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If you use essential oils to freshen up your home you may have heard of tea tree oil. This oil comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia – or tea tree – that is native down under in Australia. According to Healthline, the leaves were crushed into an oil and used in traditional Aborigine healing for hundreds of years.
Today, tea tree oil is an ingredient in skin care products and shampoos but this essential oil has a myriad of other uses. It is safe and effective to use as directed. Here are seven everyday uses for tea tree oil.
Natural Hand Sanitizer
Tea tree oil has been shown to kill common bacteria and viruses including E. coli and H. influenzae according to a 2011 study of the antimicrobial properties of the essential oil. This makes it a very effective hand sanitizer. You can DIY your own hand sanitizer that is effective as well as easy to make.
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Could Help Clear Up Acne
If you are prone to pimples or mild acne, you can try using a natural solution that contains tea tree oil according to Real Simple. The antibacterial properties in the oil are also effective against the Propionibacterium that causes acne. “Try to look for acne formulations that address multiple causes of acne, such as oil control, antibacterial properties, redness reduction, and skin-soothing benefits; the formula should synergistically work together to deliver results,” Julio Pina, the director of R&D Innovation at Innovation Labs told Real Simple.
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Contains Deodorizing Properties
Those same antibacterial effects may also help to control underarm odor according to Healthline. That’s because sweat does not smell by itself, the body odor comes when your secretions combine with bacteria on your skin. This is the reason why so many natural deodorant products use tea tree oil as one of their active ingredients. You can even DIY your own deodorant.
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May Help Against Nail Fungus
Nail fungus is common but not dangerous. But it is not pretty. You can use medications to treat the condition or you can use undiluted tea tree oil instead. A study showed that the oil was an effective way to treat nail fungus alone or in combination with other natural healing remedies.
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Natural Mouthwash
Tea tree oil may also fight the germs that can cause bad breath. A study found that a mouth rinse containing tea tree oil was as effective as chlorhexidine, the active ingredient in many mouthwashes, in reducing germs and that it tasted better so people were encouraged to use it more. Healthline suggests making your own mouthwash by simply adding one drop of the essential oil to a cup of warm water and mix it thoroughly. Just swish in your mouth for 30 seconds and then spit it out. Do not swallow.
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Could Help Improve Dandruff
The antifungal properties in this essential oil make it an effective treatment for mild to moderate dandruff according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Participants who used a 5 percent tea tree oil shampoo showed a significant improvement in appearance and itchiness over the placebo group.
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Natural Insect Repellent
Tea tree oil may help keep insects away. Even better than DEET, the most common active ingredient in commercial insect repellents according to Healthline. You can look for a commercial natural repellent or follow this easy recipe from Leaf to make your own bug spray.
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