In my earlier post, I talked about how we started using tea tree oil many years ago to help my hubby to get rid of his acne problem successfully. Today I will share how I use tea tree oil on a daily basis for some of the minor ailments that my children and I suffer from. These are mostly relating to allergy-related.
For many years, I did not think of using the tea tree oil for other purposes. Instead, I let the bottle of oil stand inside my vanity cupboard solely for my hubby’s use. If I have known how useful the oil is, my children and I might not need to endure our unpleasant experiences for so long.
Tea Tree Oil – Its uses
Tea tree is well-known for its powerful antiseptic properties and ability to treat wounds. It comes from an Australian native plant known as Melaleuca alternifolia and has been widely used throughout Australia for at least a century.
Tea tree oil is mostly used for skin issues. Having antiseptic, anti-fungal, infection-reducing benefits and antibiotic properties means that the tea tree oil can be used to treat many kinds of skin conditions such as skin infections, rashes, burns, dandruff. That is why we see tea tree oil included in various skincare products ranging from body wash, skincare to even toothpaste.
With its wide range of uses, the tea tree oil is one of the essential oils that I must have at home all the time. As we see the effects on us quite quickly, it is one of our most trusted oils.
How we use Tea Tree Oil at home
1. Eczema
My eldest daughter and I were plagued by eczema for years. Our paediatrician once advised that she may have inherited her from her asthmatic parents, and that’s me!
My daughter’s eczema was more severe than mine. She was regularly itching on her limbs and even on her face since she was a baby. Her elbows and face were covered with rashes. The symptoms were severe enough for us to bring her to the National Skin Centre.
The dermatologist there gave her some steroid cream to stop her atopic eczema from flaring. Also, we were instructed to use some gentle body wash specially formulated for eczema so that it will not cause additional irritation to her already fragile skin.
However, we were also advised by the same doctor to limit the usage of steroid cream as the long-term use of steroid will thin her skin.
Last year, my daughter’s eczema relapsed when we were in the midst of moving to our new place. Dust was flying all over our previous home. My son and I had asthma attacks because of our sensitive airways, my daughter suffered from itchy rashes, and the babies fell sick.
See my blog post here for the story.
She scratched her itchy elbows frequently, and needlessly to say, her skin broke. There were lots of unsightly red scabs forming all over her limbs.
After applying a concoction of essential oils which I learned from my friend, my daughter’s eczema improved very rapidly. Her itch and rashes subsided just after a couple of days.
Depending on the level of your skin sensitivity, you can increase or decrease the amount of coconut oil in the mixture to adjust the concentration level.
The antiseptic properties of both lavender essential oil and tea tree oil help to soothe the skin irritation and stop the itch.
Lavender essential oil is an excellent add-on in this formula also because it is anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Adding frankincense into the concoction helps to heal the skin and reduces the appearance of scars.
It is necessary to top up the mixture with a carrier oil to help spread the essential oil evenly on the skin. I prefer fractionated coconut oil. Further, essential oils are volatile organic compounds. If rubbed directly onto the skin without dilution, some of the oil may evaporate, and you may not get the full effect of the oils. Thus mixing it with a carrier oil helps the body absorb the oil better.
Storage
Keeping the mixture in an amber glass bottle is important. Dark glass such as amber-coloured ones helps to keep the essential oil out of sunlight and protect its aromatic and therapeutic properties. Keeping essential oil in a plastic bottle may destroy the oil and often cause leakage.
2. Running nose
My children and I suffer from running nose frequently. In the past, we would reach out for Zyrtec, and Telfast in the case of the babies.
I am thankful to discover that tea tree oil helps in relieving our running nose symptoms and we have significantly reduced our reliance on medicines. In fact, I find it more effective than medication when I apply the oil on the babies.
How to use
Babies have sensitive skins, and it is important to use essential oils safely on them. With the ratio of 1 drop of tea tree oil to 4 drops of coconut oil, I drip the oils into a roll-on bottle so that I can conveniently roll the oil combination on top of their noses. If I merely drip the oils onto my palm, I may drip the oils on the floor while running after the children.
Their running nose typically stops for about two hours before mucus starts dripping out again. Thus I roll on the oil on their nose every 2 hourly.
While the ratio of 1:4 has no significant impact on my running nose, it works well on my kids. My daughter will complain of burning eyes if I increase the dosage to 1:3.
3. Red-Nosed Reindeer from Sinus
I have sinus, and I saw an ENT specialist a while ago. I vaguely remember he said my slightly enlarged tonsil might be the cause of my recurring sinus and asthma. Unless I undergo an operation to correct my tonsil, the issue will be permanently there. As a result of the sinus, my nose is always itchy, and I rub my nose all the time. This repeated action of rubbing my nose causes rashes below my nose.
Friends in my previous workplace may recall me walking around the office with scaly red patches under my nose. At times, there were inflammations that felt itchy and burning.
Purely out of concern, my facial therapist recommended me facial packages that cost thousands of dollar to calm my skin and get rid of the rashes. But those treatments didn’t work because I kept rubbing my itchy nose.
Many months ago, the burning rashes recurred out of nowhere, and I had to attend a wedding event in a week’s time. I didn’t want to turn up with a red patchy and scaly nose, just like a red-nosed reindeer.
I decided to turn to essential oil for a try. Since tea tree oil works on my daughter’s eczema, it might work on my rashes. I used the same formula that my daughter is using for her eczema, and ta-da! The outbreaks went away in a few days’ time, just enough for me to look sufficiently presentable for my friend’s wedding event. I was thrilled that I don’t have to spend a couple of thousand of dollars on facial treatments anymore!
4. Diaper Rash –
It is the same formula, just different level of dilution.
One drop of lavender oil and one drop of tea tree oil plus a few drops of coconut oil to eradicate diaper rash. It works well most of the time if my babies encounter any mild rashes on their butt.
Click on this Youtube post by Dr Axe if you are keen to know more about tea tree oil. Also, read this post by Dr Axe to learn how to use tea tree oil safely.
Before I end my post, I want to clarify that I have not ditched our medications. The bottles of medicine and tubes are still sitting in our cabinet, on standby in case the essential oils don’t work.
To me, applying essential oil to counter any illness is always my first step. If it works, great because it will save me the hassle of bringing the sick child to the clinic and usually having a baby to tag along. If the oils don’t work after trying for a day or two, we still go to the clinic to seek professional medical advice, take a number and queue for the next one hour.
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