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Industrial Uses of Tea Tree Oil

Although Australian aborigines used tea tree oil for healing spanning thousands of years, scientists did not recognize tea tree oil until Australian physicians started using it in the 1920s to sterilize wounds after surgery. This oil became especially useful as an antiseptic and antibiotic during World War II. After the discovery of penicillin, tea tree oil became popular again in the 1980s to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and continued research reveals this oil kills mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria, viruses and much more.

  1. Air Purifier and Cleaner

    • Tea tree oil safely cleans indoor air of mold and bacteria, making it ideal to use in places like hospital rooms, cruise ships, offices, hotels and homes. Purify the air with tea tree oil by placing some inside of the air-conditioning in office buildings, for example. This helps keep employees protected from airborne diseases and getting watery eyes, headaches or runny noses from contaminated air.

      As an environmentally safe product, tea tree oil cleans and disinfects all areas including bathrooms. Companies use this oil to make antibacterial soap.

    Effective Pesticide

    • Since tea tree oil kills fungus, using it on plants keep fungus at bay. Make a pesticide spray to control pests such as rice hopper, leeches, cotton aphids, cutworms and wheat rust.

      Tea tree oils proved to effectively kill termites and fire ants more quickly than the other five essential oils or treatments in a 2001 study at Clemon University in South Carolina. Cockroaches in this study remained unaffected by tea tree oil or any of the essential oils used.

      (See Reference 2 and Resources 1)

    Powerful Antioxidant

    • Use the antioxidant benefits of tea tree oil to get rid of all types of warts, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The wart will die and turn black sometime during three weeks of nightly applications.

      Since the herpes simplex virus can become resistant to antivirus medications, a 2008 study at the University of Heidelberg in Germany examined tea tree essential oil (Melissa officinalis) as a possible medication for herpes. Using monkey kidney cells in vitro, researchers noted, "Melissa officinalis oil might be suitable for topical treatment of herpetic infections."

      Tea tree oil also helps reduce acne. Although a slow process, this oil works by limiting oil production on the skin and kills the bacteria.

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