grenade fishing

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what ten things would you take with you?

Make sure one is tea tree oil. I am so not kidding you. After months of research on how to deal with mites (yes, the dogs AND the garden), the same solution kept coming up over and over again. Tea tree oil. It is one of nature’s phenomenon (It may out-do vinegar and borax). Tea tree oil provides a shocking amount of healing benefits. From what I’ve experienced so far, it does work amazingly.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS

antibacterial    antiviral    antiseptic    antifungal    analgesic (pain)    anti-inflammatory    sinus congestion    cicatrizant (wound-healing)    dandruff    acne    skin spots    insect repellent    mites    demodex    chiggers    scapies    lice    fleas    anti-itch    bug bites    warts    boils    cold sores    ringworm   athletes foot   nail fungus    yeast infections   diaper rash   

A FEW NEGATIVES

It is poisonous to pets, even ingested in small amount. You can use tea tree oil on dogs for fleas and mites, but careful not to have them swallow the oil pure. It is also poisonous to people if ingested, so refrain from swallowing.

I’m not a fan of the eucalyptus/pine scent, and tea tree oil definitely has that same strong odor, as it is from the same family of plants. I did grow accustom to it, though it still reminds of my Grandmother’s tiger balm ointment (which I am now suspicious that it is tea tree oil).

WHERE TO BUY IT

The Body Shop has a great selection of nice tea tree oil body care. They also offer the essential oil (image at top)  Plus they donate a portion of proceeds to help the Aboriginal co-operative to provide training for farmers and to develop pride in their tea tree heritage. (Tea tree oil originates from Australia and is still mostly produced in Australia and New Zealand.)       

Paul Mitchell has a decent assortment of tea tree oil hair care and men’s grooming products. A good selection is also available at Amazon.

I’ve used Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Oil Conditioner,  and I liked it fine. I have to use a lot of it to benefit from the conditioning part. This was available at Farmer Joe’s in my neighborhood, which is the equivalent of Wholefoods.

Plantlife 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil is available at some health or drug stores. It is potent, so be careful using too much. It will peel skin, but not too badly. Eyes will sting like mad though.

One of my favorite new discoveries in the tea oil area. This shampoo lathers nicely and does not smell like tea tree oil. Note it is not all natural, but it is good stuff. $21 from Bumble and Bumble.

For the puppies, I use Earthbath Tea Tree Shampoo, which is all natural and biodegradable. It is available at most large pet supply stores or smaller natural pet supply shops, such as Paws & Claws in Oakland.

RESOURCES

Wikipedia  Definition and medicinal qualities.

Natural Life Magazine    History of tree oil and benefits.

Berkeley Parents Network   Discussion board for nail fungus remedy.

Tea Tree Oil Uses   Comprehensive list of benefits.      

Treehugger    The author’s personal dependency on tree oil and how he benefits from it.

ABC News Online    Tea tree oil used for scabies.

The Herbs Place   How to use tea tree oil for various ailments.
Molly’s Herbals  Natural care for pets and people.

Learn about Tea Tree Oil Phenomenon  Make your household tasks safer, simpler and healthier.
In the Shade of the Tea Tree Blog    It’s all about using Tea Tree Oil for a multitude of problems.

Tea Tree Oil Exposed    Medical uses for tea tree oil.