5 Weird Ways Tea Tree Oil Can Improve Your Health

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If you’re not already aware, tea tree oil is a kickass essential oil that can do just about anything. You may have seen face wash or shampoo with the potent ingredient, but the health benefits of tea tree oil far surpass acne and scalp treatment. Here are five surprising ways you can use it to maintain your health:

1. Treat Foot Fungus

Tea tree oil has extremely powerful antifungal properties, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. It will come in handy any time you have a foot fungus, and it can even cure ringworm and athlete’s foot.

2. Alleviate Mild Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that can affect your hair, nails, skin and joints. Its most common symptom is flat and dry skin, which tea tree oil can help reduce. Just make sure to dilute the oil in water before applying directly to the skin — pure tea tree oil can sometimes be too overpowering for especially sensitive skin.

3. Treat Receding Gums And Freshen Breath

Because of its potency, tea tree oil is known to fight off harmful bacteria in your gums and in between your teeth, making it an effective treatment for receding gums and plaque gingivitis. You can also swab your mouth with it to freshen your breath. But take note: you should always dilute the oil by adding several drops to a glass of water and never swallow the solution. Tea tree oil should never be consumed on its own.

4. Heal Wounds Faster

Dr. Michael Chillemi of the Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Center of New Jersey wrote that because of tea tree oil’s antimicrobial properties (including 8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol and lineol), a diluted amount can make it effective wound care treatment.

5. Exhibits Anticancer Properties

Yep, diluted tea tree oil applied topically is shown to have anticancer effects and has even proven to slow the growth of tumors in mice.

You can get a lot of use out of a tiny tea tree oil bottle, and you can typically find tea tree oil at any skincare, makeup or department store. We don’t know about you, but we’re on board the tea tree oil train.