I have been using tea tree oil for some time now. I was mainly use it for minor break outs on my face. I recently started to wonder, "What else can tea tree oil be used for?" and "Exactly what is tea tree oil?" So I started doing some re-search, and here are some things that I have learned.

The name 'tea tree' probably originated from Captain Cook's description of the plant. He would use the leaves of the plant to make tea with in place of actual tea.

The oil (which is the part that we mostly use today) is from the leaves of the tea tree plant. They get the oil by steaming the leaves.

There are many ways to use tea tree oil.

For Health-
- Use a dab to treat acne. (Or, add 3 drops to your face wash for a full face detox.)
- An anti-fungal for treating Athlete’s Foot, eczema, various yeast infections, etc.
- An antiseptic to be used on cuts and burns.
- In the form of aromatherapy, tea tree oil is used to treat colds, persistent coughs, acne, toothaches, and sunburn.

For Cleaning-
- To create an all-purpose cleaner. (Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.)
- Control mold with a tea tree oil/water spray.
- To keep germs at bay, spray it on high chairs, car seats, and other high traffic spots.
- 15 drops in a quart of water can be an effective insect repellent. (You can also put it directly on insect bites or blisters.)

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little bit about tea tree oil and it's many uses. :-)