Tea tree is a popular essential oil with a plethora of health benefits. Over the years, this essential oil has been used for numerous purposes and it has proven to be worthwhile. It is obtained from a plant known as Melaleuca alternifolia found in abundance in Australia. Please remember that tea tree oil is nothing similar to Chinese tea oil, manuka oil and kanuka oil as many think.
If you think that tea tree oil is something that has been newly discovered then you are wrong This essential oil has been used for years in soaps, lotions, shampoos and other similar cosmetics because of the benefits it provides.
Tea Tree Oil and its Usages:
Long before we knew about tea tree oil, it was used by Australian natives for external and internal body usages. They used to apply tea tree leaves on bruises and cuts to heal them, on external skin infections and by making a paste of these leaves with other ingredients and applying it on cuts.
Why did they do so? For them back then it was just a remedy. They didn’t really know much about the ingredients but we do today. Tea tree oil is rich in terpenoids. Terpenoids is an antiseptic and antifungal element that makes this oil fight against infections and fungus. In particular, tea tree oil is rich in terpinen-4-ol. This is the compound which is considered to be the most active one in the oil and the reason for its antifungal activities.
Today, tea tree oil is widely used for a number of purposes. For curing acne, athlete’s foot, thrush, eczema, dandruff, yeast infection and vaginitis are some of the many usages of this oil. Surely, it is considered as a miraculous aid for us. But, remember, this oil is only beneficial if it’s all the elements are in the right composition. This means that as a buyer of tea tree oil you need to be extremely careful about what you are buying.
How to Buy Tea Tree Oil?
There are a number of things you need to keep in mind while buying tea tree oil. It is a beneficial product but you don’t play by the rules you might reverse the effects. Follow these tips to make sure you buy the right thing:
- When buying tea tree oil, the first thing you got to make sure of is the concentration level of terpinen 4 ol in it. If this concentration is high then the oil will be strong. Similarly, if it is low, the oil will be light in effect. The concentration of terpinen 4 ol is usually stated on the label in percentage. 10% is low while 40% is high and this is the usual range for it. Also, make sure you are not allergic to it. The best way of doing this is to skin test the product before you buy it.
- This one might seem a bit awkward but it is an important factor to consider. The jar or bottle of the oil you buy should be black or dark brown allowing little to no light from damaging the properties of it.
- Finally, make sure you are buying 100% pure tea tree oil. Some products do some with a blend of other essential oils as well to make them smell good.
- Follow these tips to ensure you always buy quality tea tree oil.
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