I grew up in a household where more natural health remedies were common: I remember that when we got a cold, my mom used to have us put drops of echinacea in orange juice (I also remember it being nasty!) and gargle with warm salt water to cure any sore throat that started coming on. She usually cleaned with a spray bottle containing a simple mix of water and white vinegar. Funny enough, as I’m typing this while I’m visiting my family, I looked over to see this spray bottle on my mom’s kitchen counter:
In my adulthood, I too find myself looking to more natural solutions, with everything from the cure for a rash to what I clean my house with. That’s why when Apothecary Extracts reached out to me asking if I’d like to try their 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil, I happily agreed. I actually remember my mom having me use tea tree oil for something as a kid (though I can’t remember exactly what), and wanted to try it out as an adult.
The possibilities for what tea tree oil can help with are pretty much endless. In fact, tea tree oil, which is extracted from a small type of tree called Melaleuca, is sometimes referred to as a ‘catch all’ medicinal ingredient since it can treat such a variety of ailments. With that being said, here are three ways that I’ve been using my tea tree oil:
As a Skin Care Treatment – My #1 favorite way to use tea tree oil thus far is as a skin treatment. I’ve always been prone to breakouts, and this all-natural remedy has been been great in keeping my skin clear. Tea tree oil is an effective skin treatment due to its antibacterial properties, which pull excess dirt and toxins from the top layers of the skin.
The way I use tea tree oil on my skin is by combining a few drops of it with a few drops of my facial toner on a cotton pad every night. It tingles a bit and makes my face feel super clean and refreshed.
As a Hair Mask – When I read that tea tree oil can be used as part of a hair mask recipe, I was interested. I’m pretty low maintenance with my hair: I’ve never dyed it, I wash it 2-3x a week, and I only cut it maybe once a year. Longtime readers may remember that I chopped my hair off and donated it the end of last year. Well, let’s just say that I’ve been longing for my longer locks back, and I hardly ever do hair treatments, so I decided to try out a DIY mask to give my hair some extra love. I used a sample of lemon ginger coconut oil that I had laying around, but regular coconut oil or using coconut oil + fresh lemon juice will work just fine.
While it definitely felt sticky and gooey in my hair and took 2 washes to get it fully out, my hair was extremely soft for awhile afterwards!
As a Cleaning Solution – I have a long/hate relationship with cleaning supplies. I enjoy a clean house, but cannot deal with anything too strong and chemically. It makes my eyes burn and nose itch, not to mention how that bleach smell gives me a pounding headache. I usually use more natural cleaning supplies because of this, but this DIY cleaning solution takes the term “natural cleaner” to another level:
When you purchase tea tree oil from Apothecary Extracts, they send you this neat eBook full of ideas for tea tree oil uses (53 of them to be exact!). A few recipes included in the book that I’ve been wanting to try include tea tree oil as part of a moisturizing yogurt face wash (sounds funky and fun!), brown sugar body scrub and bath soak for sore muscles.
Questions: Have you ever used tea tree oil? What has your experience with holistic remedies been like?
Disclaimer: I received complimentary tea tree oil for this post, but as always, all opinions expressed are genuinely my own.
I use tea tree oil to clean my yoga mat and for DIY home cleaners mostly. My husband likes to use it as aftershave sometimes, putting a few drops in some almond oil. I was trying to get into essential oils for a while there, there’s so many great uses for them!
Tea tree oil as a yoga mat cleaner is a great idea! I need to try that for sure.
I have used tea tree oil on my face but that’s it! I have eucalyptus oil that I really love. I stock up every time I go back to Oz (although I’m sure I can get it here, I don’t know why I need to buy it there…). I use it for cleaning, especially my yoga gear and as a decongestant.
Also, that post-it on your mother’s spray bottle is kind of hilarious! I love it!
Haha, it’s like a Christmas-themed notepad from probably 10 years ago! She cracks me up.
I haven’t ever used tree oil but am very interested in trying it as a cleaner. The stuff I use to clean our venue gives me a headache every single time!!
Ugh, isn’t that the worst?!! When that happens I think, “This has got to be horrible for me to be breathing in!”
Very interesting! I’ve been thinking a LOT lately about replacing most of my products with more natural products. Face wash, for example – in the midst of doing lots of research on that. I’ve definitely tried the salt/water for a sore throat thing though and it totally works. That vinegar/water cleaning solution is brilliant!
I’m with you on that… I try to at least use beauty lines that are known for being natural, like the one that Kristen Bell is the spokeswoman for that I can’t think of at the moment.
Oh wow, I’ve heard of tea tree oil but had no idea that it can be used for so many things. I might need to give it a try as a skin toner!
You should! It’s great.
I love posts like this! I’ve been trying to learn more about homeopathic remedies and oils and what they can be used for. I’m going to get some for my skin asap 🙂
Thanks, Charlotte! You definitely should. I really like it!
I grew up in a house with lots of holistic, natural medicines and supplies too. I actually kind of forgot about tea tree oil – my mom used to use it on my skin when I broke out and I loved how clean it makes your face feel! I might have to pick up some again 🙂
Yes! That tingly, clean feeling right?
I love tea tree oil, too! Whenever I start getting a breakout on my chin I dab some on a cotton ball with water and wipe it across my chin. I’m always amazed that I can tell from the cotton ball that it worked. It’s amazing stuff!
The power of a natural remedy like tea tree oil is awesome!
I think it’s very cool that you grew up using more natural products/supplements. I actually wish we would’ve done the same thing. Such is life. It’s now something I can teach my own kids though when that time comes. I really appreciate you sharing a little bit of information on how you can use Tree Oil. I don’t have any in our home now, but it’s now on my list of things to get before the babies are born. Thanks!
Definitely, you can be the mom that makes her kids drink echinacea orange juice when they get colds like my mom was! 🙂
I use tea tree oil as a skin care treatment. I did not know it can be used as a cleaning solution, I’ll give it a try!
AHH!! This is so great!! I LOVE tea tree oil! I used to use it on my ears when I had horrible eczema 🙁 Thankfully after going gluten free it’s gone away! But that stuff is great! I love how natural things like this and various oils can be used for so many different purposes!! 🙂