Hey all,
Tea tree oil is a very powerful natural anti-fungal agent. It has SO many uses. You can apply it directly to acne, and athlete's foot, dilute it in water for a mouth wash ( I've even heard that it can be used in a douche, but I haven't tried) You can find bottles of it at a health or natural foods store such as Wild Oats or Whole Foods. It comes from Austrailia. I make a natural cleaning solution if the smell of bleech is getting to me. I mix about 1 part rubbing alcohol, 2-3 parts water and add a few drops of tea treeoil and lavender ( good anteseptic) and use it in the air, on the counter, ect. and it smells good. I use an oil diffuser to freshen the air. A great idea for cold season is to add eucalyptus, tea tree and lavender oils to your bath water. I mix a few drops ( a little goes a long way) in with some honey or milk and pour it in. They relax and help open air ways, while the honey and milk sothes and softens skin. Eucalyptus has a cooling effect and can feel great if you have a fever, but shouldn't be applied undiluted to skin, and avoid contact with the eyes. Also, if you're prone to muscle aches and joint pain (what cfer isn't?) mix oils with epsom salts for the bath.
There are many great products made with tea tree, I like Tom's of Maine for dental care and I use Wyndemere essential oils for my baths. I have also gotten into using tea tree oil from Thursday Plantation. They have a web site: thursdayplantation.com.
Hope this helps!
Debbie
23 w/ cf
