The local Australian indigenous inhabitants told him about the healing powers of these trees. The leaves of this tea tree were used for many years by the indigenous peoples of Australia. The Australian aboriginal people used tea tree leaves to In 1770, captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy set down at Botany Bay landing near to the eventual site of present day Sydney.

From there, he travelled north through the coastal regions of New South Wales. In New South Wales he found masses of trees thick with sticky, aromatic leaves that, by boiling, rendered a spicy tea. As the tea tree oil leaves fell into the waters of the surrounding lagoons, freshly crushed leaves were applied directly to an injury and then held in place with a mud pack.

The medicinal effects of this poultice were so powerful that it helped combat infection in the wound and also overcome the potential for further infection caused by the non-sterile mud pack.

Tea Tree Oil has wonderful properties that makes it a popular natural agent for curing all three types of infectious organisms: fungus, bacteria and virus. More importantly, it is known to effectively fight a number of infections that are resistant to some antibiotics.

Therefore, Tea Tree Oil is an excellent natural remedy for hundreds of bacterial and fungal skin ailments such as acne, abscess, oily skin, blisters, sun burns, athlete’s foot, warts, herpes, insect bites, rashes, dandruff and other minor wounds and irritations.

Studies have shown that Tea Tree Oil also treats respiratory problems ranging from common sore throats, coughs and runny nose to severe conditions such as asthma, tuberculosis and bronchitis.

The antiviral properties of the oil fight many common infectious diseases such as chicken pox, shingles, measles, flu, cold sores and verrucae.

It also strengthens the body’s immune system, which is often weakened by stress, illness or by the use of antibiotics and other drugs.

It can also be used as a mouth wash, since it is highly effective in healing oral candidiasis (a fungal infection of mouth and throat).

Fortunately, Melaleuca alternifolia oil has over 100 components working synergistically together, most of which could not even be identified back in the early years, so an exact nature-identical copy was impossible to synthesize from man-made chemicals.

In the sixties, the oil made a remarkable comeback. The first scientific evidence in decades confirmed that it had a favorable effect in the treatment of boils, gynecological infections and later for varied foot problems and nail bed infections.

Now the once side-lined oil was gaining in popularity and farms were being set up to harvest the oil on a commercial basis.

Warnings: Pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid the use of tea tree oil.

Undiluted tea tree oil can cause itchiness, irritation, and redness on sensitive skin. Therefore, if you have sensitive skin, it is always safer to dilute the oil in another base oil such as olive oil.

The information provided is for educational purposes only and must not be taken or interpreted as a suggestion or as medical advise.

If you have any medical conditions, you should consult your health care professional.