11 benefits of tea tree oil

Benefits

There is some evidence to show that tea tree oil may have several uses.

1.Antibacterial

The oil has been used in Australia for almost 100 years as a therapeutic medicine, especially for skin conditions.Today, it is used in a variety of situations.Tea tree oil is probably best known for its antibacterial activity.Several studies have suggested that the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity associated with the oil comes from its ability to disrupt bacterial cell walls.

2.Anti-inflammatory 

Tea tree oil may help calm inflammation, possibly due to its high concentration of terpinen-4-ol, a compound with anti-inflammatory properties.In animal tests, terpinen-4-ol was found to inhibit inflammatory activity in oral infections.In humans, tea tree oil applied topically was more effective than paraffin oil at reducing skin inflammation and swelling caused by histamine.

3.Antifungal

Reviews of tea tree oil's effectiveness highlight its ability to kill a range of yeasts and fungi.Most of the research reviewed focused on Candida albicans, a yeast that commonly affects the skin, genitals, throat and mouth.Other studies show that terpinen-4-ol enhances the activity of fluconazole, a common antifungal drug, in drug-resistant strains of Candida albicans.

4.Antiviral

Some research suggests tea tree oil can help treat certain viruses.

5.Acne

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises that research on the effects of topical tea tree oil on humans is limited.However, the oil may be useful for many skin concerns.Acne is the most common skin disease.It affects as many as 50 million Americans at any one time.One study found a significant difference between tea tree oil gel and a placebo in treating acne.Participants treated with tea tree oil experienced improvements in both the total number of acne breakouts and the severity of acne breakouts.This builds on earlier research that compared a 5 percent tea tree oil gel to a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide lotion in mild to moderate cases of acne.Both treatments significantly reduced the number of acne lesions, although the tea tree oil worked more slowly. People who used tea tree oil had fewer side effects.

6.Athlete’s foot

According to a studyTrusted Source symptoms of athlete's foot, or athlete's foot, can be reduced by using a tea tree oil cream topically.A10% tea tree oil cream seemed to be as effective at reducing symptoms as 1% tolnaftate, an antifungal drug.However, tea tree oil was no more effective than placebo in achieving a complete cure.A recent study compared the effects of high concentrations of tea tree oil on athlete's foot with a placebo.Of those who used 50% tea tree oil, 68% experienced significant improvement in symptoms and 64% were completely cured.This is more than double the improvement in the placebo group.

8.Dandruff and Cradle Cap

According to one study, mild to moderate dandruff associated with the yeast Pityrosporum ovale can be treated with 5% tea tree oil.

People with dandruff who used a 5% tea tree oil shampoo daily for 4 weeks had significant improvements in overall severity and levels of itching and greasiness compared to a placebo.Participants experienced no negative effects.Another study found that tea tree oil shampoo was effective in treating children with cradle cap.May be allergic to tea tree oil.To check for a reaction, put a little shampoo on baby's forearm and rinse it off. Safe to use if no response within 24 to 48 hours.

9.Head lice

Head lice are becoming increasingly resistant to medical treatments, so experts are increasingly considering essential oils as an alternative.The study compared the effectiveness of tea tree oil and nerol, a natural compound found in some essential oils, in treating head lice. Tea tree oil kills lice more effectively, eradicating 100% after 30 minutes.On the other hand, nerol was more effective at killing eggs.A combination of the two substances, in a 1:2 ratio, is most effective at destroying both lice and eggs.Other studies have found that a combination of tea tree oil and lavender oil is effective at "suffocating.".”

10.Nail fungus

Fungal infections are a common cause of nail abnormalities.They can be difficult to treat.One study compared a cream containing 5% tea tree oil and 2% butenafine hydrochloride, a synthetic antifungal, to a placebo.After 16 weeks, 80% had cured their nail fungus. None of the patients in the placebo group were cured.Another study showed that tea tree oil was effective in eliminating nail fungus in the laboratory.However, this study did not definitively show that the tea tree oil ingredient in the cream was responsible for the improvements experienced, so further research is needed.

11.Oral health

A gel containing tea tree oil may benefit people with chronic gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums.Study participants who used the tea tree oil gel experienced significantly less bleeding and inflammation compared to a placebo or chlorhexidine antiseptic gel.Other research has shown that a type of bacteria associated with bad breath can be treated with tea tree oil and alpha-bisabolol, the active ingredient in chamomile.