From Walgreens, CVS and Walmart to Vitamin Shoppe or Amazon, tea tree oil is very easy to find, and well worth the purchase because of its many uses. It’s a natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial, and can be used to clean a yoga mat, heal cuts and burns and help with dry scalp.
Here are five of the ways you can use tea tree oil for healing:
Acne – Apply it directly on acne blemishes as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide.
Athlete’s Foot – Adding 20 drops to a small tub of water to soak the feet can offer antifungal effects.
Cuts and Burns – As a natural antiseptic, it can be used to treat small cuts, razor burns and even sunburn. It is recommended to dilute with water for less potency.
Dandruff or Dry Scalp – Mix a few drops of the oil with your shampoo – about 10 drops for 8 ounces of shampoo.
Laryngitis – Add three to four drops of tea tree oil to one cup of warm water and then gargle with the solution twice daily without swallowing.
Lice (Prevent or Treat) – As with dandruff or dry scalp, tea tree oil can be added to your shampoo to treat and prevent lice.
Respiratory Ailments – Whether it’s a sore throat, sinus congestion or chest infection, inhaling the vapors of tea tree oil can help. Simply boil water, add two to three drops of tea tree oil, remove from the heat, and inhale steam with a towel over your head.
Toothache – It can temporarily relive a toothache while waiting for a dentist appointment by applying it directly to the tooth with a cotton swab.