Tea Tree Oil: The Savior for all things "skin?"

Up until recently, I have had no issues outside of the normal "my weeks been off" problems. Skins been good, hairs been good, life’s been good right? WELL, rewind up until a few months ago when it seemed like everything started going out of whack. My hair started falling out at a rapid pace, my skin started breaking out, and I developed eczema on my hands? (Seriously, what in the WORLD?) I'm not the world’s healthiest person but I take multivitamins for wellness, skincare, hair and my body and yet it seemed like my "outside" was failing me no apparent reason. I eat right, exercise, and drink my weight in water daily, yet here I was....a broke out, eczema ridden, balding mom of two (I know....dramatic, but I am who I am haha). Now, I’m not AGAINST doctors, I just prefer not to use them unless it comes to my kids. They aren’t old enough for me to feel comfortable to try out all the more natural methods on them before I just get meds. In other words, I’m not going to let my kids suffer with pain from an ear infection for a week just because I want to try a more natural route, just give them the amoxicillin and let’s get them better you know? But, when it comes to me, I’m going to try every natural route possible before I seek a doctors help.

So, the first thing I did was post on Facebook and asked my friends if they knew of any natural skin care remedies to cure my acne. Most people said I needed to get a skin care routine, do masks, exfoliate, moisturize, etc., etc. Which I did, along with using a naturally based face wash, AND toned my skin....essentially what I’m saying is I was doing everything "right" according to everyone else and I was still falling apart. I also had a lot of people recommend I use their products but....if you know anything about me, your girl likes to budget and find ways to live my life without spending $70 a month on a facewash or vitamins. SO, I did yet MORE research, and after weeks of coming across a million articles saying I’m doing everything “right” (by the way, did you know you’re supposed to wash your face for a minimum of 60 seconds every time? The more you know), I came across the holy grail of all my problems…..TEA TREE OIL. This bottle of liquid gold is $8 (sometimes less) for a bottle and you only need a few drops.PLUS, i got mine at Walmart! So easy to get your hands on!

Hear me out here…I added 7 drops to 8oz of my shampoo (I bought a travel sized bottle and put some shampoo and the 7 drops of oil and shook it up), washed my hair with it, left it in for 5 minutes and rinsed. I did this for 5 showers and my hair loss slowed down TREMENDOUSLY. I added 2 drops to my hand lotion at night and after a week, the eczema stopped spreading and my skin got smoother, and after a week of adding 3 drops to my face moisturizer at night….my acne is GONE!!! For $8 I have cured every single issue I have. Now, I’m not saying it can cure all diseases but I’m saying it might cure some of your issues haha! Here’s what I’ve learned about it so far:

Tea Tree Oil is derived from a leafy plant called the Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree oil is well renowned for TONS of uses. For thousands of years, tea tree oil has been harvested and harnessed for an array of medical and household properties. Many hundreds of scientific studies, say that tea tree possesses very strong antimicrobial and antifungal properties, making it an excellent tool against viruses and fungal infections, as well as making it a particularly useful medical treatment against a whole host of different types of bacteria….and eczema apparently. Here are the uses if found it works as;

1.)  It’s an excellent acne treatment-studies have shown that tea tree oil was even more effective than one of the most commonly used acne treatments, benzoyl peroxide. It is a lot more natural too, meaning that unpleasant and unwelcome side effects, like dry, peeling skin with a reddish appearance can be avoided. It might not be the miracle cure that all acne sufferers have been waiting for, but it is a better option for people seeking a much more natural and less harmful treatment for their breakouts.

2.)  Hair Treatment- Its Highly effective in treating a number of hair and scalp issues, tea tree oil may be able to replace a good number of expensive, over the counter treatments. The fact that is all-natural is just a bonus in my opinion. Dandruff can be fought off and kept away with the topical use of tea tree oil, either on its own or when mixed up in whatever shampoo you want. The way to mix should be by adding several drops of tea tree oil into a base liquid of normal shampoo, with the amount of tea tree oil being determined by experimenting, to see which amount is enough to make a difference. The itchy and dry scalp that usually accompanies dandruff is treated effectively by the use of tea tree oil, in my experience it helps hair regrowth and hair loss, and a bonus for us moms…. it can also be used as a natural treatment for the prevention of head lice as well!

3.)   It’s a lifesaver with Eczema- By mixing tea tree oil with coconut oil and lavender oil, (or in my case hand lotion) it works as an unexpected natural treatment for these skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. The mixture, when applied topically on a semi-regular basis, can actually alleviate the symptoms and provide a soothing sensation that other anti-inflammatory treatments may fail to live up to.

4.)  It works on the dreaded ringworm- If there was one thing that the human race could do without, it’s probably parasites. In the fight against complaints such as Athlete’s foot, the development of toenail fungus and ringworm, tea tree oil can be highly effective. This natural choice can either be mixed with water, to stretch it out a little and extend the lifespan, or used on its own, as a raw, topical treatment. Healing and improvements wont happen overnight, but the symptoms should start to improve within a week.

5.)  It can literally be used as a deodorant- I mean obviously, no one wants to smell bad, so giving up deodorant is not exactly a viable option in a world of socialization and where people generally live and work within close proximity to one another….and some of us want a more natural option with deodorant…which to me is a scary thought, but APPARENTLY the oil is fantastic when it comes to eliminating body odor. Due to its antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil is superb at keeping those pits clean, fresh and odor-free. Mixing the oil into a concoction with baking soda and coconut oil will help you create your own natural deodorant, a much better solution that is easier on the environment and less harsh on the skin. The big brands claim to have the best ingredients when it comes to deodorant, but without giving the natural option a try, do we really know? Or better yet, are we brave enough to try it out? haha

6.)  It apparently should be a “go to” with cuts and infection- Tea tree oil has been found to be very effective when it comes to killing the MRSA virus, a task that many chemically formed agents have struggled with. This is more of a treatment for infection than prevention, but when it has reached that stage, it’s all about acting quickly and effectively. As an ointment to help seal wounds, tea tree oil is also effective. It sounds pretty cool and I’d like to see if it works!

7.)   And LASTLY…toothpaste?- according to my research, Inflamed gums, bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth decay can all be prevented and treated by the oral application of tea tree oil. The oil fights and kills the development of bad breath causing bacteria and plaque within the spaces of our mouths. Many people have become accustomed to using a certain brand of toothpaste, however, a little variation in the type of toothpaste that someone uses can make a huge difference. To make a natural toothpaste using tea tree oil, several drops can be added to  mixture of coconut oil and baking soda. Who knows, maybe it's worth a shot? i Heard coconut oil is amazing for many things, and I've heard it's great for teeth too!

  I mean I know the more natural route isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I don’t think changing up some things or trying a more natural way of doing things is always bad, and sometimes it saves you money! I’m just glad I was able to rediscover this stuff (I had heard of it before), and decided to try it out. I hope no one else suffers with this issues, but if you do I hope it helps. Or if you know someone who would benefit from this info, send them this way, it’s been a life saver for me!

Xx,

Autumn