Oil spotlight: tea tree

Melaleuca Alternifolia, better known as Tea Tree Oil, is an amazing oil to have around the house. It is gentle enough that it can be applied directly to the skin, but powerful enough to help with some not-so-nice stuff:

Soothe discomfort from rashes and bug bites.

Mix with apple cider vinegar to help combat mold in and around the house. (Keep some in a spray bottle for bath tile/grout.)

Add a couple drops to 1/4 cup of white vinegar to freshen laundry.

Apply 1 drop directly to acne blemishes (this works wonders for me!).

Diffuse to cleanse the air and help relieve asthma and congestion.

Place 1 drop on a tick to unlatch (can be used on humans and pets).

Apply to feet to help alleviate toenail fungus and Athlete’s foot.

Apply 1 drop to cuts and scrapes to facilitate healing.

Massage around the outside of the ear to help relieve earaches.
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Apply 2x daily to fingernails and toenails to help them repair and regain a healthy look after being damaged by harsh polishes or fake nails.

In addition to all of these everyday uses, Melaleuca can be used in your yoga practice to balance the fifth chakra, known as the throat or Vissudha chakra. This chakra is the center of communication, and when it is blocked it can be difficult to maintain clear and honest lines of communication or to speak up for yourself (or others!).

Diffuse tea trea to cleanse and purify the air as you practice poses with Jalandhara Bandha (the throat lock) and throat-opening poses such as puppy and fish pose to release blockages and allow truth to flow through the Vissudha chakra.

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