Everyday Uses for Melaleuca (Tea Tree Essential Oil) and an Acne Treatment Serum Recipe

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For the fourth day in a row, I’m going to tell you that this is an essential oil every essential oil user needs in their arsenal. But I suppose if I’m writing about the 10 Best Essential Oils for Everyday Use, it makes sense that I’ll likely say that 10 times, right? 

The first time I used Melaleuca (also known as Tea Tree) essential oil was several years ago before I even new much about essential oils. It was actually the first essential oil I ever purchased, and I bought it from a local health food store when Ben got chicken pox. Someone recommended to me, “go get some tea tree oil for the itching.” I didn’t even realize it was an “essential oil” at the time. But it worked — it helped with the itching AND it dried up his pox in record time. 

My next miracle testimony came when I got a fungal infection on all 10 of my toenails after a pedicure. I went to the doctor and she informed me that she could not prescribe the very expensive medicine that it would take to cure it until after I had used an OTC anti-fungal for 6 months. She told me that the OTC product would not work, so I should call her in 6 months for the prescription. I was flabbergasted. A quick online search for natural treatment of toenail fungus led me once again to tea tree essential oil. I began applying it 3 times a day to all 10 toenails and within one week, there was no sign of fungus. 

Tea tree essential oil is so versatile, you really will want it around all the time, especially in your first aid kit. And the really great news? It’s dirt cheap.

Here’s a fun little tidbit: during World War ll producers of tea oil were exempt from military service until enough essential oil had been accumulated. It was issued to each soldier and sailor for them to treat tropical infections and other problems of warfare, including wounds. This is what tea tree oil is most known for — it’s antiseptic properties making it perfect for treating skin conditions and minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.  

Some of the most common uses for tea tree essential oil include healing:

• Acne
• Bacterial infections
• Chickenpox
• Cold sores
• Congestion and respiratory tract infections
• Earaches
• Fungal infections ( jock itch, athlete’s foot and toenail fungus)
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Head lice
• MRSA
• Psoriasis
• Dry cuticles
• Itchy insect bites, sores and sunburns
• Boils from staph infections

Here are some of the best everyday uses for tea tree essential oil:

AcneTreatment: Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your usual skin cleanser.

Athlete’s Foot: Add a few drops to a carrier oil and massage into feet or soak your feet in a bath of sea salt with 2-3 drops of tea tree (or both!)

Canker or Cold Sores: Dab a small amount of tea tree directly onto cold sores daily until healed. If it burns, dilute with an equal part of coconut oil.

Cavity Prevention: Add a couple of drops to your homemade toothpaste, or place a couple of drops directly onto your toothbrush and brush it onto your teeth after brushing. 

Earache: Add 1 drop of tea tree to a tablespoon of water and drop into your ear. Leave for a minute before allowing to drain back out. 

Lice Treatment: Soak hair, brushes, and combs in a solution of purified water with several drops of tea tree. 

Wart Treatment: Apply directly to wart several times a day until the wart is gone (may take up to 6 weeks). Dilute with coconut oil if skin is sensitive. 

Gum Disease: Rinse mouth twice a day with a solution of purified water, 1 drop tea tree oil and 1 drop peppermint oil. 

Cuts and Scrapes: Mix with equal parts lavender essential oil and apply to clean minor cuts and scrapes to promote healing and prevent infection. Cover with a bandage. 

Warnings

Tea tree Essential Oil is one of the safest essential oils available. Be careful with sensitive skin and always dilute with a carrier oil before using topically.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, strong, and powerful liquids that can be harmful if not used carefully and properly.  This is an especially potent blend of essential oils which could cause irritation when applied to the skin, even in diluted amounts. Use caution when using them. Please keep essential oils out of reach of children. Please do not use this essential oil on children under the age of 6 months.

Having a teenage son, I know a little bit about acne. One of the everyday uses for tea tree oil in our home is as an acne treatment. Ben doesn’t suffer considerably like some teens; it’s mostly on his forehead underneath his bangs, but he also occasionally gets pimples on other parts of his face. For the most part, he’s unaffected by this condition except when those larger blemishes occur in plain site. Those he wants gone yesterday.

For a couple of years, we have used a commercial skin care system on his face that has tea tree oil as it’s main active ingredient. In fact, we purchased it through the company, Melaleuca, when we were members. I dropped that membership because this was the only product we really used and I would have needed to buy more of it than we needed to maintain our membership. 

I decided to make our own acne treatment serum. Keep reading to find out how I make it. 

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