Tea Tree Oil

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

We just discovered that Bath and Body Works carries essential oils

and diffusers. loves the aromatherapy products, but we have

never tried the essential oils. I knew many of you had tried Tea

Tree Oil with success. Before we use it I just wanted to clarify a

few things. How often is it used? Daily?

If anyone purchases this, I do want to warn you the directions say

it can be used in baths. However, TTO could burn a childs eyes if

the water were to splash in their eyes.

They have several different scents too.

Sara

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I use tto for a and the rest of my crew as inhalations. I boil a

pot of water for 10 mins, then put a few drops of tto and sit it near

where the kids are doing home work or watching cartoons. When a

is sick, I sit it close to where she is doing the vest and before

going to bed. Kim likes to let it cool a bit before putting the

TTO. Bath and Body have a Lavender that I like and buy from them.

The people from crataegus believe that TTO and lavender inhalations

help erradicate PA's.

I am hooked on tto, I believe is one of our best weapons that we have

to fight bugs, I have seen a have a nonstop cough go to nothing

after TTO inhalations. (always becareful since it is very hot)

I hope this helps you some,

> Hi Everyone,

> We just discovered that Bath and Body Works carries essential oils

> and diffusers. loves the aromatherapy products, but we have

> never tried the essential oils. I knew many of you had tried Tea

> Tree Oil with success. Before we use it I just wanted to clarify a

> few things. How often is it used? Daily?

> If anyone purchases this, I do want to warn you the directions say

> it can be used in baths. However, TTO could burn a childs eyes if

> the water were to splash in their eyes.

> They have several different scents too.

> Sara

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I haven't been into Bath and Body Works in a while, but I do love that store.

Are you saying they now carry

essential oils (EO's), or are you referring to their products with essential

oils in them such as shampoo, soap,

lotion, massage oils? Since you mentioned diffusers, I'm thinking they're now

carrying bottles of EO's, right?

Just a couple reminders for buying EO's:

When using EO's for diffusing and inhalation, only buy pure 100% EO's. *Never*

buy EO's labeled distillates,

floral water, or absolutes! If it's not 100% pure, then bacteria could grow in

the bottle so avoid EO's not labeled

100% pure.

When shopping for pure EO's, examine the label. What does it tell you? It should

list the latin and greek name

of the plant, for example, tea tree is Melaleuka alternifolia. However, there

are many species of tea tree -- many species

of all plants, and each specie is known for its specific healthful properties.

If you're shopping for tea tree, you want to be sure you're buying Melaleuka

alternifolia from Australia, which is where

it's indigenous. If it says organic on the label, all the better. You don't want

your child inhaling pesticides into those

delicate little sinuses and lungs.

EO's are concentrated oils from plants, hence they are very strong, so *never*

buy an EO in a plastic bottle. The EO

softens the plastic over time and all that stuff in the plastic will leach into

your EO. Only buy pure EO's in glass

containers, preferably dark blue or brown bottles, not clear, to help protect

the precious oil from light.

A few years ago, I had some massage oils from Bath and Body Works that contained

various EO's. Within a

year the oils had leached through the plastic making the outside of the bottle

tacky and gummy. I figured the oil

was now compromised by mingling with the plastic, and no way did I want to

massage plastic (potenially toxic)

oils into my daughter or me (I used to massage her back and legs after those

daily grueling cheer practices and

dance classes).

You can easily make your own massage oils, using a carrier oil such as almond

oil or light olive oil and adding a few

drops of various essential oils. I like to make my own as I need it, but I also

have two massage oils made by Weleda --

Lavender and Arnica. Lavender is very relaxing while Arnica is great for sprains

and sore muscles. Weleda uses only

dark glass bottles and puts an expiration date on the label.

Making your own bath salts is easy. Get a carton of epsom salts, pour into a

large glass or metal bowl, add several

drops of your favorite EO's (I use lavender and tea tree for the bath because

it's very soothing, good anti-inflammatories)

stir well, add more drops, then store in individual glass containers. I save all

my glass Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter

jars to use for bath salts. If you can find sea salt then adding this is a great

bonus.

Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. This is absorbed through the skin boosting

your magnesium levels, so it's a

great way to get magnesium into kids! Soak at least 20 minutes for most

absorption. (An epsom salts + lavender bath

right before bedtime will relax and calm down those kids in no time!)

Remember, if you ever want to make your own candles, then it's okay to buy EO's

labeled floral waters, distillates, or

absolutes, but *never* use those for diffusing, inhalation, or massage. Only buy

the pure stuff!

Below are just a few of my favorite bookmarks for learning the basics about

EO's, aromatherapy and familiarizing

yourself with the botanical names of plants used in EO's and the healthful

properties associated with specific

EO's. It's really fun once you get into it and you'll be amazed at what

aromatherapy can do for your well-being.

I always keep the following in my medicine cabinet:

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) from China (my son uses Eucalyptus radiata)

Clove (Syzyglum aromaticum) from Madagascar

Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) from Australia

Lavender (Lavendula officianalis, also known as Lavendula agustifolia) from

France

Lemon-Scented Tea Tree (Leptospermum petersoni) from Australia

This doesn't mean you have to hunt down and order these products directly from

each country. It simply means

you want to be sure the plants used in your EOs are native to (and grown in)

that country.

Soil and climate vary widely, even in the same region, so for example, if

someone takes a eucalptus plant

native to China and transplants it into US soil under US climatic conditions,

then you likely change the properties

of the plant's oils, possibly not getting the benefits intended.

That's why a lavender species grown in France may have different properties than

say, a different lavender species

from Bulgaria. Notice above that my son and I use two different eucalyptus

species; each is from China and they

have similar health-promoting properties, but also some differences.

Or in simpler terms, think about wine. You know that grapes grown in the same

orchard vary each year depending

on soil condition and climate. In the fall of 2001, I bought a great (cheap!)

frascati by Fontana Candida, it was a 2000

vintage. I should have bought more bottles because it was scrumptious, but the

next time I went to look for it, the label

said 2001, which wasn't nearly as lovely as good as the previous vintage.

This makes me wonder how much the properties of EO's vary if soil and climate

conditions have varied greatly from

each harvest. And maybe this is why some people experience greater benefit from

EO's than others. Maybe some

vintages just aren't as scrumptious in a particular year.

Learn about alternative therapies, including aromatherapy and EO's at

http://www.holistic-online.com/Aromatherapy/hol_aroma.htm and

http://www.aromaweb.com/

Uses of tea tree oil: http://www.teatreeoiluses.com/humanex.htm#20

A fun EO site: http://www.firstessentials.net/

Trusted EO's:

http://www.primaveralife.com/

http://www.auracacia.com/shop/merchant.mvc (you can usually find these in local

stores; I've seen them in Whole Foods

and health stores, etc.). This is the brand I buy simply because it's easiest

for me to find, they're affordable, and they

have organic versions.

However, my lemon-scented tea tree oil is made by Auroma, an very trusted

Australian company. A listmate shipped

it to me from Australia, but I've also found this brand carried locally in

Chicago. Lemon-scented tea tree oil is *not* the

same thing as tea tree oil with a more pleasant lemon scent. Botanically, it is

Leptospermum petersoni, which is

actually a member of the manuka family, not tea tree (botanically, they're

cousins). Studies show this particular plant

has a greater killing power against organisms including pseudomonas and MRSA

than both tea tree and a specific

concentrate of manuka.

I know uses and swears by Lema oil, which is a combo of this special manuka

concentrate AND tea tree oil. You

can read more about that particular oil at http://www.coastbio.co.nz/ and you

can view charts comparing the killing

properties of tea tree, manuka, and the company's Lema oil.

Kim

> Hi Everyone,

> We just discovered that Bath and Body Works carries essential oils

> and diffusers. loves the aromatherapy products, but we have

> never tried the essential oils. I knew many of you had tried Tea

> Tree Oil with success. Before we use it I just wanted to clarify a

> few things. How often is it used? Daily?

> If anyone purchases this, I do want to warn you the directions say

> it can be used in baths. However, TTO could burn a childs eyes if

> the water were to splash in their eyes.

> They have several different scents too.

> Sara

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

Congrats on the engagement. I LOVE Arizona. My goal in life

(before Zach) was to retire young and move to sdale. Now I

have other goals, but I can live vicariously through you. Try to see

Taliesin West if you get a chance.

The TTO at Bath and Body works is from Australia and is labeled

Melaleuca Alternifolia. It is in a glass brown bottle. The bottle

is less than 10 ml, so I hope a little goes a long way.

They aslo mention Eucalyptus in their pamphlet for sinus

congestion. I thought about using that too. Zach will be getting a

a runny nose any day now. He has a constant runny nose from March

to May every year.

Thanks for all of your good advice and I will check out the websites

you suggest.

Sara - mommy of Zach 2 wcf

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/2/2004 1:05:14 AM Central Standard Time,

kimpayne@... writes:

Kim

What TTO bar of soap do you use? I just brought home a Tea Tree bar soap by

home for my daughter who is fighting with pimples terrible but

will not let me put tea tree oil on her face so I brought this bar home and I

really think it is helping!! Finally something she will use and she doesn't even

know that tea tree is in it! Mothers will do anything to out fox there

kids!!! LOL!! Deb A

[Guest guest]

My MIL used to but an acne wash at the health food store that was made with TTO

for my hubby and my Sis in law. I can't remember the name but it was not at all

irritating for them (both have oily skin) I tried to use a bit of it on a nasty

pimple that I had and got a horrible rash from it. how well it works for you

depends on your skin type. ( I am very dry and sensitive and prone to rashes.)

Re: Re: Tea Tree Oil

In a message dated 3/2/2004 1:05:14 AM Central Standard Time,

kimpayne@... writes:

Kim

What TTO bar of soap do you use? I just brought home a Tea Tree bar soap by

home for my daughter who is fighting with pimples terrible but

will not let me put tea tree oil on her face so I brought this bar home and I

really think it is helping!! Finally something she will use and she doesn't

even

know that tea tree is in it! Mothers will do anything to out fox there

kids!!! LOL!! Deb A

[Guest guest]

I am very dry-skinned and TTO shampoo and soap work for me--but

then I use a hand-lotion or body lotion for the dryness--so far, so good.

Good luck, n

Re: Re: Tea Tree Oil

In a message dated 3/2/2004 1:05:14 AM Central Standard Time,

kimpayne@... writes:

Kim

What TTO bar of soap do you use? I just brought home a Tea Tree bar soap by

home for my daughter who is fighting with pimples terrible but

will not let me put tea tree oil on her face so I brought this bar home and

I

really think it is helping!! Finally something she will use and she doesn't

even

know that tea tree is in it! Mothers will do anything to out fox there

kids!!! LOL!! Deb A