The Benefits of Tea Tree Oil What are the benefits of tea tree oil in curing common skin problems? Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is an essential oil that comes from the tea tree leaves that grows in Asia and Australia. The oil extracted from the leaves has been used traditionally to treat skin infections and injuries. Research studies done on tea tree oil show that it has the ability to kill bacteria, fungus (yeast) and viruses. This essential oil is an excellent addition to your first-aid kit. Shown below are all the scientific evidence available to support how effective tea tree oil is in treating and curing various infections. 
Table of Contents Facts on Tea Tree Oil
Selected Research Studies Tea Tree Oil Dosage and Dilution Ratios Tea Tree Oil Side Effects Tea Tree Oil for Athlete's Foot Tea Tree Oil for Wart Removal Evidence of Benefits of Tea Tree Oil (Leaf Rating System)
 What are the active chemicals found in
tea tree oil that gives it the antiseptic properties? They are a group
of compounds called terpenoids that makes up 90% of this essential oil.
A standard was set in Australia for one of this chemical called terpinen-4-ol to be a minimum of 30% in order for it to have the properties expected from tea tree oil. Of course, 40 to 50% would be better. Tea tree oil is able to kill off many harmful bacteria and fungi (including candida albicans) and it does not seem to affect the normal flora ("good bacteria") that is present on the skin. One promising use of tea tree oil is in treating hospital type bacteria such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a bacterium that is very difficult to kill off even with some of the potent antibiotics used only in the hospital today.
Selected Research Studies Highlights for the Benefits of Tea Tree OilAcne One clinical study show that a 5% tea tree oil gel was as good as 5% benzoyl peroxide (e.g. Benzac AC, Oxy-5, etc...) for curing acne. It took longer to get rid of the acne but people did not get as much side effects such as skin irritation. The benefits of tea tree oil for acne treatment and cure is shown in several clinical studies. Warts One small study showed that this oil applied once daily for 12 days to a child's finger eventually caused the wart to go away. Head Lice One small study showed that a tea tree oil in alcohol solution was able to kill of head lice. The tea tree oil was used on the first day and a tea tree oil in vinegar solution was used on the second day. Toenail Fungus Infection (Onychomycosis) Fungal infections of the toenails are very difficult to cure. One study showed that you would have to use 100% concentrated tea tree oil twice daily for 6 months to result in a cure. And even then, only 18% of the volunteers were completely cured. However, over 50% of the volunteers showed less symptoms and had better nail appearance in 3 months. Athlete's Foot (Tinea pedis) A well-designed clinical study with 158 subjects showed that a 50% tea tree oil solution applied twice daily for 4 weeks resulted in a cure in 64% of the subjects. Only four participants dropped out because they experienced moderate to severe dermatitis. Yeast Infections (Candida albicans) There are no studies done to show how effective tea tree oil is for treating vaginal yeast infections. However lab studies clearly show that tea tree oil kills yeast cells. Cold Sores (Herpes labialis) One small study involving 18 subjects showed that a 6% tea tree oil gel applied to the sores may have helped reduce the symptoms and sped up the recovery. It did not appear to be any better than placebo. But the researchers pointed out that the study was small and some subjects had cold sores that was moving towards the recovery stage already. (This makes the results less meaningful and harder to make sense of.) Tea Tree Oil Dosage to UseSee our detailed article on Tea Tree Oil Dosage and Dilution Ratios for complete information on how to use this essential oil along with dilution ratios. Tea Tree Oil Side EffectsSee our informative article on the Side Effects of Tea Tree Oil for complete information and dangers to watch out for. Comments and Success Stories to share with others? Leave your ideas, thoughts and comments here in our User Forum! Related Articles and Resources to the Health Benefits of Tea Tree Oil Natural Remedies for Yeast InfectionsNatural Remedies for Warts Get Rid of Warts and Moles without Surgery! Get Rid of Yeast Infections NOW. 100% Money-Back Guarantee Return to Natural Remedies List References for Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
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