Tee Tree Essential Oil Spotlight
Quick Facts:
Latin Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Native to Australia
Steam distilled from the leaves
Top Note
Average shelf life: 1-2 years
Safe for children 2 and up, in pregnancy, and while nursing
Therapeutic properties: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antiparasitic, antiseptic
Safety: May cause skin irritation, low dilution is recommended
Melaleuca alternifolia, more commonly known as Tea Tree essential oil, is one of those oils that I would put in my “starter kit” for every oil user! Harvested in Australia, Tea Tree essential oil has a medicinal and light herbaceous aroma to it. It is commonly used for first aid ailments because of its antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antiparasitic, and antiseptic properties. Because of these properties, it is also good for use on the skin for fungal, bacterial and respiratory infections, blemishes, acne, and warts. Tea Tree can also be used for repelling insects, and makes a great additive in cleaning products.
When using Tea Tree essential oil, we need to make sure that we are using at a low dilution, as this can be a drying oil to the skin. I always recommend diluting to a 1% and trying a skin patch test before applying essential oils to large areas of your body. This will allow you to see if your skin is sensitive to a certain oil, and help you determine if you would like to dilute further, or discontinue use.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use Tea Tree essential oil!
Healing Roller Blend
10 ml roller
1 drop Tea Tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
1 drop Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
1 drop Frankincense Carterii essential oil (Boswellia carterii)
Fill rest with carrier oil of choice (Fractionated Coconut oil or Jojoba oil are great choices)
Use this roller to help heal wounds on the skin. This is at a 1% dilution, which would be safe for children 2 and up. Do not use on open wounds, and as always, apply on small areas of the skin to see if there is a reaction before continuing use.
Respiratory Help Diffuser Blend (ages 10 and up)
2 drops Tea Tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
3 drops Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
4 drops Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon)
Respiratory Help DIffuser Blend (ages 2 and up)
2 drops Tea Tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
3 drops Rosalina essential oil (Melaluca ericifolia)
4 drops Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
Add drops to your diffuser and breathe in! I recommend using the diffuser on an intermittent setting, such as 15 minutes on, 30 minutes off, or 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off for 1-3 hours.
SAFETY: Eucalyptus Globulus can cause respiratory irritation with young children, elderly, women who are pregnant, and people with asthma. Further dilute to remove from skin, and discontinue use if irritation occurs.