Tea tree oil uses, benefits and side effects

Acne has been a difficult medical condition to pin down with consistent and foolproof treatment. Tea tree oil could fill the void and has already been used copiously for the treatment of acne. In fact, a recent study has shown that it has appreciable better performance in terms of effectivity when compared with benzoyl peroxide, a common chemical agent to treat acne. In the study, 124 patients were divided into two groups. One group was treated with 5%  tea tree oil gel and the other was treated with 5% benzoyl peroxide. Significant reduction in acne symptoms was noted in both groups. Tea tree oil had fewer side effects when compared to benzoyl peroxide. That can only be a good thing, right?

Consequently, tea tree oil is incorporated as the main ingredient in several face cleansers, serums, moisturisers, face masks, creams and lotions for acne reduction.

If you are somebody who suffers from stubborn dandruff that loves to appear, again and again, tea tree oil shampoo or hair oil could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Dandruff is a fungal infection that predominantly affects the scalp but can also spread to neck, shoulder and forehead regions in severe cases. Tea tree oil has proven antifungal properties. Washing your hair with 5% tea tree oil shampoo can reduce the production of dandruff and provides respite from the itchiness, greasiness associated with this condition.

Next time before buying a shampoo, check the ingredients list to see if tea tree oil makes the cut.

Having lice can be a nightmare for many. Often people have to apply chemicals like permethrin (a popular insecticide) on the scalp in order to treat the problem. However, the compound itself leads to harmful effects. Additionally, these chemicals also become resistant after a few times of application. Tea tree oil acts as a natural lice repellent. It has been evidenced by research studies that this oil is effective in killing head lice without any side effects. Many preparations of tea tree oil in the form of shampoo and oil are straddling the market space for the same purpose.

(Read more: Head lice treatment)

Tea tree oil is a multipurpose oil but among all of its benefits, antimicrobial action has been the most exploited one. If you are suffering from sore throat, cold or flu try having tea tree oil infused steam or bath to get instant relief.

The leaves of the tea tree can be directly used for infusion if you can manage to find a tree nearby.

Tea tree has several bioactive compounds like terpinen-4-ol which make it effective in suppressing the growth and spread of influenza virus.

Cold sores appear as small blisters around the lip area. They usually are quite painful and are also associated with fever. Due to its strong antiviral properties, topical application of tea tree oil could be beneficial as a form of naturopathic treatment.  A mix of tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil has shown verifiable benefits when it comes to herpes virus infection. Make sure you don't ingest tea tree oil while applying around the mouth as it could be toxic when taken internally.

If you are looking for a natural solution to bed bugs and mites, tea tree oil can be your saviour. Due to its insecticidal properties, it has emerged as a natural alternative to chemical insecticides and insect repellents. You can add a few drops of this magical oil to the spray mix.

This will also reduce your exposure to noxious chemicals. An important detail especially if you have kids in your house running helter-skelter.

Yeast or fungal infections are very common among the general population. Fungal infection can manifest in the form of dandruff, oral candidiasis (fungal infection of the mouth), onychomycosis (fungal infection of the fingernails), tinea pedis (fungal infection of soles of feet) and vaginal candidiasis. In all these infective conditions tea tree oil could be beneficial.

This essential oil has been found to be effective against fluconazole (an antifungal drug) resistant Candida albicans infection.

Research has established that a combination of tea tree oil and conventional antifungal medicine may help to treat stubborn fungal infections.

Topical therapy of tea tree oil in combination with clotrimazole (an antifungal drug) is very effective in decreasing the severity of fingernail fungal infection.

You will be surprised to know how efficacious essential oils are in terms of removing microbes from your tiles and floors. According to a study published in the Journal of Cranio-maxillo Facial Surgery, tea tree oil is very effective against resistant strains of gram-negative microorganisms, the most common cause of hospital-borne infections. Additionally, opting for a natural source is far more affordable and carries fewer side effects.

Essential oils are volatile in nature, a quality extensively courted in aromatherapy. You may be curious to know what exactly does aromatherapy entail? It refers to holistic use of various essential oils to improve the overall health of body, mind and spirit. Tea tree oil is an important part of this tradition. Who wouldn’t want their house to smell good and refreshing? You could easily add this oil to a diffuser that helps to spread it all over your place. This oil can also be used as a massage oil as part of aromatherapy. Few drops of tea tree oil can be added to the regular massage oil to impart additional benefits.

• Tea tree oil can be used to treat halitosis (bad breath). Add a few drops of the oil to water and use it as a mouthwash. This should allay foul odour leaving you with a fresh smell.

• It can also be used to treat bed sores. Bed sores are a type of infection that develops usually in a patient who has been bedridden for a long time without any physical movement. Few drops of this oil are applied to the affected area.