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Tea Tree

An effective oil with powerful antiseptic properties. It benefits the immune system, disinfects, deodorizes, and strengthens during the winter months and convalescence. Very helpful in skin care and currently very popular for a number of uses. A tree or shrub with needle like leaves and heads of sessile pale flowers. It is native to Australia, but other varieties have been cultivated elsewhere. Due to its unique composition, Tea Tree oil displays a number of remarkable properties making a very effective oil for a wide range of complaints. What makes Tea Tree outstanding in comparison to other remedies is that it is active against all three varieties of infectious organisms: Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses. Independent microbiological testing has confirmed the effectiveness of Tea Tree oil in fighting infection.
History / Traditions

 The narrow-leafed paper bark Tea Tree is one member of an extensive botanical family, the Myrtaceae. All plants belonging to this family are aromatic because they have glandular dots in their leaves which, when crushed, release essential oils of varying amounts and constituents. There is a large group of plants in Australia known collectively as Tea Trees. The fact that the same name is commonly used to describe a very diverse and wide spread botanical group of plants has led to some confusion. Aborigines used a number of tea trees in medicine for coughs and colds. The leaves were crushed and inhaled or soaked to make an infusion. Leaf washes were applied to painful areas, sores and burns.

Extraction

 Essential oil is produced by steam or water distillation from the leaves and twigs.

Details of Oil

 A pale yellow-green or water-white mobile liquid with a warm fresh, spicy-camphoraceous aroma.

Aromatherapy Uses
Skin Care: Abscess, acne, athlete's foot, blisters, burns, cold sores, dandruff, herpes, insect bites, oily skin, rashes (nappy rash), spots, verrucae, warts, wounds.

Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, sinusitis, tuberculosis, whooping cough.

Genito-urinary System: Thrush, vaginitis, cystitis, pruitis.

Immune System: Colds, fever, flu, infectious illnesses such as chicken pox.
Antiseptic / Bacterial Properties
Treatment of cuts, burns, insect bites, infected splinters and all kinds of wounds. As an antiseptic, it is valuable for general skin care, spots, acne and blackheads. As a general disinfectant, it is especially useful for respiratory or genito-urinary tract infections (i.e. bronchitis, sinusitis or cystitis).
Anti-fungal Properties: Tea Tree is an effective treatment for ringworm, athletes foot, and thrush (candida). It has also been used to combat fungal diseases affecting animals, fish and plants.
Anti-viral Properties: Viruses are the invading organisms responsible for most epidemic illnesses. As a powerful anti-viral agent, Tea Tree is effective in fighting many common infectious diseases such as measles, chicken pox, flu, cold and shingles, as well as other viral complaints (i.e. cold sores and warts).
 Immuno-stimulant Properties: Tea Tree is of great value as a preventative remedy to help the body fight off all kinds of infection. Especially important if the body is already in a weakened condition brought on by either stress, illness or the use of antibiotics or other drugs which have lowered the body's natural resistance levels. It can be helpful to those who need to build up their strength before a surgical operation or for those suffering from chronic or long standing debilitating illness. Its possible application to AIDS is also currently being researched.  
Safety
Non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitization in some individuals. The strength of Tea Tree oil should be respected and therefore large amounts should never be used undiluted on the body or in particularly sensitive areas.
Other uses
Tea tree oil is employed in soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, disinfectants, gargles, germicides and increasingly in aftershaves and spicy colognes.
Components
Terpinene-4-01 (up to 30%), cineol, pinene, terpinenes, cymene, sesquiterpenes, sespuiterpene alcohols.

 Blends

Clary Sage, Clove Leaf, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Orange, Rosewood, and Rosemary.

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