Tea Tree Oil Uses for Nasal Congestion
Tee tree oil is a natural antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial agent that is created by steaming the twigs and leaves of tea trees (melaleuca alternifolia) and then squeezing the oils out of them. Used for thousands of years by the aborigines as a tonic to cure congestion, heal wounds and treat a variety of symptoms, including fungal and bacterial infections, the natural remedy has become popular again in recent years as holistic cure-all. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, numerous laboratory studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil works to dissolve, break up and treat congestion when inhaled as a steam.
Uses
Tea tree oil has been dubbed the "cure-all" of herbal remedies, and it is particularly good for breaking up congestion of the common cold or flu. In addition to being a powerful expectorant, tea tree oil helps to cure congestion by eliminating the source of the problem--infections. Taken in steam form, it can help to heal bacterial infections, viral infections and mircrobial infections.
Directions
To treat congestion with tea tree oil, boil a pot of water on the stove, then place two drops of tea tree oil into the pot. Cover the pot and your head with a towel, and breathe the vapors for five minutes twice a day. Continue the therapy for up to five days. If the remedy does not appear to be working after five days, see your physician. In addition, you may get relief from your congestion by placing two drops of tea tree oil into a steam vaporizer at night. This method can be used as a treatment of an acute case of congestion and as a preventative against infections that could cause congestion.
Synonyms
According to the Medline Plus website, tea tree oil is available under several names, including Australian tea tree oil, cymene, malaleuca, breathaway, Malaleuca Altemifolia, Cheel, malaleuca oil, malaleucae, teebaum, terpenin, terpenin 4-OL, terpeninol-4, ti tree, TTO, Bogaskin, Burnaid, Tebodant, Oleum malaleucae, oil of malaleuca and Malaleuca Alternifolia Hydrogel (for burns). All of these formulas are made up of tea tree oil, although some of the formulations are ailment-specific, so read the label of any formulation before using for your congestion.
Prevention
You can take tea tree oil as a preventative against colds, flu, sinus infections and other conditions which may cause congestion. Gargling daily with a solution of two drops of tea tree oil to 8 ounces of warm water may help to prevent a build-up of mucous in your throat and helps to ward off throat infections. Add two drops of tea tree oil to your vaporizer at night to help disinfect the air and prevent congestive illnesses caused by fungus or bacteria.
Precautions
Never take tea tree oil orally. A toxic substance when taken orally, tea tree oil can cause severe blistering or contact dermatitis, as well as reduced immune system function, diarrhea, stomach pain, sleepiness, lethargy, mouth ulcers, confusion, dementia, nausea or coma. It has also been shown to interact with other anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal drugs, so speak to your physician before using tea tree oil if you are currently on medication.
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