When I started college and moved further North to a cold, dry place, I noticed that I started getting a really flaky scalp. One of the colors I wear most is black, so it was really embarrassing to brush my hand through my hair and have flakes sprinkle on my shoulders. I’d never had this happen before and it seemed to get worse when I was stressed, so I went to my dermatologist. She simply told me to buy dandruff shampoo from the grocery store. Unfortunately, I hated the anti-dandruff shampoos available to me. They all smelled weird and had this gross gooey consistency. I was less than pleased.

After years of struggling with my scalp, I just so happened to come upon tea tree oil shampoo at my local health food store. The bottle claimed that it was a natural dandruff remedy, so I figured I’d have nothing to lose by giving it a try. Now I sing this shampoo’s praises from the hilltops! This stuff is awesome. And it really doesn’t matter which brand you go with. Not only has my scalp been dandruff and itch free, but the acne on my back and in my hairline has cleared up as well.

Raving about my discovery to a friend, she told me she also used tea tree oil for a number of other ailments. I’m usually really hesitant to believe in remedies like this, but I know from personal experience that it actually works, and it’s way better than anything else I’ve ever used.

Tea tree oil is wonderful for many different remedies because it is a natural antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-infection oil. I’m lucky that I stumbled upon it, but I wish someone had told me sooner. I’m only going to scratch the surface of some of its remedies, but I wanted to let y’all in on its greatness.

Here are some great uses of tea tree oil that you can use for your particular ailments:

Acne: I have friends who put organic tea tree oil straight on their acne with a `cotton swab or pad. My skin is too sensitive for this, however, so I purchase acne washes that already have tea tree oil in them. Usually, I go for the organic and natural brands (to me, that means having less ingredients that I don’t recognize in them).

Cold Sores: The best way to do this is to add pure tea tree oil straight to the cold sore. It drastically reduces the size and redness of them.

Dandruff: Like I’d said before, I buy shampoos with tea tree oil in them already, but you can also add four to five drops of pure oil to a tablespoon of almond oil and rub the mixture into your scalp. Let it sit for five to ten minutes and then rinse out in the shower.

Dry Patches Of Skin: Do the exact same mixture as said above for dandruff and put on particularly dry patches of skin.

Relief From The Flu: As we all know, flu season is extremely bad this season, so this is probably applicable to many of you. For some relief, take a bath and add ten drops of tea tree oil into it.

Insect Bites: Putting just one drop of the oil on a bite can help relieve itching.

Ticks: Put one or two drops onto a tick and then remove with tweezers. Gross, but it works.

Do you have any natural remedies that you like?

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