TEA TREE is the best re-discovery of the century.  It is a relatively safe oil to use on almost any condition.  Its "medicinal" properties make it a strong virus and bacteria fighter and therefore boosts the immune system.  TEA TREE has been tested extensively in Australia (its country of origin) for its effectiveness as a disinfectant against bacteria and has proved itself worthy.  Many books have been written on essential oils collectively but TEA TREE has earned books being written on just this one oil.  Many case histories back the claims made about the effectiveness of its properties from healing bleeding gums and bed sores to gangrenous sores.  The following interesting information was written about tea tree:

• TEA TREE was tested in Australia in 1980 in a solution of 4 parts oil to 1000 parts water against virulent organisms such as Staphylococcus Aureaus and Candida Albicans.  The results were measured at 7, 21 and 35 days.  No growth was detected for any organism, using TEA TREE for washing hands, the count using unwashed hands was 3000 bacteria per 50 cm skin.  After washing the hands in distilled water 2000 per 50 cm were measured.  Washing the hands in TEA TREE less than 3 bacteria per 50 cm skin was measured.  The effectiveness as a germicide is unimaginable.

In recent research, TEA TREE Oil was tested for use with several different fungal infections, including candida. TEA TREE Oil was tested on twenty-six strains of various skin organisms, 54 yeasts as well as twenty-two different other strains of fungi. TEA TREE Oil inhibited growth of all of the fungi.  

• --Study of Anti-fungal activity of Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential Oil, University of Leigzig, Germany 1996.

• --Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternafolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida albicans.  Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1998;42:591–5. 

A more generalized study was carried out by A. Shemesh and W. L. Mayo at San Juan Capistrano, California over a six-month period during 1991.  In this case, TEA TREE Oil was used in the forms of oil, cream or lozenges to treat a variety of different conditions including acne, monilia of the mouth and throat, monilia rashes, non-specific dermatitis, eczema, oral canker sores, pustules, herpes simplex, fungus of the fingernails, and Tinea cruris, pedis and barbae. 

The test group consisted of 18 men, 30 women and 2 children; of all these patients only one (with eczema) was resistant to the treatment.  All the other patients were cured or showed remarkable improvement in their presenting condition, Shemesh and Mayo concluded:  Tea tree oil offers a natural, less expensive, effective alternative to currently used drugs for the described conditions in this study.  It is safe, easily accessible and its side-effects profile is superior to most products currently prescribed for these medical problems. 

• A. Shemesh and W. L. Mayo, "Tea Tree Oil - natural antiseptic and fungicide", International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Dec. 1991), p.12

FUNGAL INFECTION OF SKIN AND  NAILS

Fungal infection of the skin & nails is one of the most difficult of all disorders to cure. A few of the medications on the market may be effective in eradicating nail fungus but have potential of causing significant toxicity, including liver damage.  Tea Tree and Oregano essential oils aids in eradicating primarily through topical application. These oils have a deep penetrating power, which aids in the destruction of nail fungus, since this fungus infects the root of the nail bed as well as the surface.

FOOT AND TOENAIL FUNGUS

In the book, "The Cure is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health" Dr. Cass Ingram, says:

"The feet harbor a variety of microbes. In fact, they are one of the most commonly infected external sites on the body.  Circulation in this area is poor, and this leads to sluggish local immunity.  A variety of microbes may find residence in the skin of the feet, particularly between the toes, where moisture is retained.  Foul odor is a dependable sign of poor health of the feet, as is the development of scaling or athlete’s foot.

Problem toenails may readily become infected, particularly by fungi, although bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, may also infect them.  Toenail infections are difficult to eradicate, because the infection beings deep within the nail bed, and the delivery of medicine to this region is difficult.

 It is a little known fact that poor health of the feet affects the health of the entire body.  Thus, for optimal health the feet must be kept clean and free of infection.  Wash the feet often and be sure to keep the toenails well manicured.  Clean any debris that might accumulate about the toenails or between the toes.  Rub oil of oregano once or twice daily over the nail beds, the soles and between the toes.  Don’t neglect the health of the feet; your body will pay a price as a result."

The fungus invades the deep nail bed of the fingernail and takes up residence, feeding off the rich supply of keratin. 

 A number of factors increase the likelihood for the development of fingernail fungus.  These factors include

Usually, it is thought that the infection arises from the outside environment, much like we might contract a cold or flu.  In fact, the organism may arise from within the body and infect the nail bed through the bloodstream.

Nail health is often neglected in children. Children usually fail to attend to good hygiene and their hand washing technique is usually poor, if they wash at all.  The fingernails are one of the dirtiest regions of children, microbially.  The underside of the nails often contain a reservoir of microbes, especially if the nails are long.  It is well known that parasitic infections in children are spread by poor hygiene; and entire day care center can become infected from one carrier.  The hands are the main mode of transmission, but it is the underside of the fingernails that house the parasitic cysts and eggs.  Dirty fingernails transmit infection, as microbes readily live under the nail bed.  In particular, parasites tend to reside under the nails, and from there they readily reintroduced into the body.  The fingernails must be kept neatly trimmed.  Wash the edges of the nail beds with a soap and oil of oregano solution.  If this is done regularly, the incidence of infectious disease in children will be curbed dramatically.

Be sure to educate children regarding the importance of hand washing.  Oil of oregano and/or Tea Tree essential oil helps reduce the risk for contracting microbial infections.  They can be used both on the body and on inanimate objects.  It may be added to soaps and body washes.  They are a universal antiseptic, and there is no limit to the versatility of its uses.  Infections spread like wildfires in public establishments, especially schools.  Instruct children to use the oils during hand washing to prevent the transmission of infection from child to child and also to prevent it from arriving at home.

PARONYCHIA

Paronychia is a type of infection of the tissues surround the nail and nail bed.  The skin directly surrounding the nail becomes infected.  As there is very little space between the skin and nail bed when the region becomes swollen and inflamed, the infection results in great pain and pressure.

Paronychia is often caused by Candida infection, although infections by staph and strep are other prominent causes.  The risk for infection is increased by poor hygiene and constant immersion of hands in water or soapy water.  Contact of the hands with toxic chemicals increases the risk.

Antibiotics are often prescribed for treating this condition.  However, the problem is that antibiotics only kill bacteria, and Candida albicans is immune to them.  Oil of oregano and Tea Tree essential oils are the ideal substance to use, since they are active against all of the organisms which cause paronychia, plus it aids in the relief of the pain, pressure, and swelling.

BENEFIT OF GOOD HYGIENE

A great many ailments are caused or worsened by poor hygiene including:

Acne. Bacteria can grow in the sebum that abounds in glands just underneath the skin. Scratching, rubbing, or pinching acne can introduce even more germs to the infected areas.

Aging. Decreased albumin levels are probably the major cause of accelerated aging and contribute to most of the dysfunction we see with increasing age. Decreased albumin levels will increase free cortisol which causes most of the damage.

Allergies and asthma. Many of the substances carried in the fingernails, including staph aureus and worm eggs, can trigger allergic reactions or asthma when we auto infect ourselves.

Alzheimer's. Immune system dysfunction seems to be the single most important reason we develop progressive dementia.

Athlete's foot. Our fingernails can pick up from our feet the fungi that cause athlete's foot, and then deposit it to other areas of skin, spreading the infection.

Arthritis. Infectious and rheumatoid arthritis can both be caused by invading organisms which can be kept out of the body with proper hygiene.

Candida. A common problem, especially for women, the fungi and yeast that cause candida can produce annoying to serious infections in the vagina, gastrointestinal tract, and elsewhere.

Colds and flus. Although we instinctively flinch when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes on us (or anywhere near us), most of the moisture expelled from the mouth during a cough or sneeze does not contain many germs. That's because cold viruses do not routinely "hang out" in the saliva pools which comprise most of the droplets shot from the mouth by coughing and sneezing. Instead, the viruses congregate in the nose, which has the temperature and other conditions they prefer. Not only do cold viruses favor the nasal environment (the nasal passages are more hospitable for cold viruses), they also have a better chance of getting into the body and its cells via the nose. Since we touch our noses many times during the day, the chance of carrying germs to and from the nose is great.

Diabetes. Recurrent infections are a problem that plagues diabetics. Stopping the infection autoinfection cycle will help many diabetics avoid needless infection and allow their bodies to concentrate on healing.

Measles. Although generally harmless when it strikes in childhood, measles can be a very serious disease for adults. It's very difficult to get people, especially children, not to scratch or touch themselves when infected, raising the likelihood of contagion. Excellent hygiene of the hands, especially the fingernails, may help to keep the disease contained.

Pneumonia. Often called the senior citizen's "best friend" because it leads to a relatively quick and painless death, pneumonia often strikes after or in conjunction with other respiratory ailments. This means that a cold or flu can prepare the way for pneumonia-the same cold and flu that can be prevented with impeccable hygiene.

Worms. Almost everyone plays host to these tiny invaders at some point in their life-and perhaps many times. Worm eggs are easily picked up by our fingernails when we touch various surfaces or other people, and then enter our body via the mouth, nose, or eyes when we touch ourselves. Worms can be draining and debilitating, damaging body tissue and robbing of us nutrients and energy. It's best to wash away worm eggs before they get inside and force us to employ stronger measures to get rid of them.

And that's not all. AIDS, chicken pox, circulatory problems, cystic fibrosis, dandruff, ear and eye infections, fat metabolism disturbances, herpes, multiple sclerosis, sex hormone imbalances, skin diseases of various kinds, and thyroid disorders can also be helped or avoided by good hygiene, which helps prevent germs from entering the body and keeps albumin levels up.

 Too Simple to Be True?

This sounds like a simple idea, perhaps too simple to be worthwhile. However, it is no more than an extension of the work of the great Austrian doctor, Ignaz Semmelweis, who created an incredible uproar in the medical community in the 1840s when he insisted that doctors wash their hands before examining women in the maternity ward. (The doctors often came right to the maternity ward from the morgue, where they had been dissecting cadavers, without stopping to wash their hands.) Pregnant women used to plead to be cared for by the midwives rather than doctors, because those who were cared for by the midwives (who did not cut up dead bodies) had a much higher survival rate. But the doctors refused to heed Dr. Semmelweis' plea. They were insulted by the very idea that they might be carrying germs to their patients and killing them. So they drove Dr. Sernmelweis out of the hospital and into the insane asylum, where he died.

 Yes, washing your hands sounds like a very simple solution to an incredibly complex set of problems, but the simplest ideas are often the best. Sometimes changing just one thing produces dramatic results.  And good hygiene works!

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Suggested Reading

The Cure is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health
By Dr. Cass Ingram
Paperback  156 pages  January 1997
A fungus feeding off dead and dying material! A fungus in your blood? Can this be true? When the fungus grows it produces toxins and this can cause many problems. The book is written like an engineering paper - intro, detail, conclusion. It is easy to read and understand, with enough detail, facts, and substantiation to be effective in winning you over to at least try the healing properties of oregano.
NOTE: Our Oregano is pure Oregano Oil, with no fillers added. It is therapeutic and from the first distillation. 

Tea Tree Oil - Nature's Miracle Healer
By Julia Lawless
$9.95 Paperback 122 pages 2001
Julia Lawless is a respected aromatherapy expert and is also the author of the Complete Illustrated guide to Aromatherapy and the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils.

As well as being a wonderful all round general healer, Tea Tree is an immune stimulant, with powerful anti-septic and anti-viral qualities.  Despite its remarkable strength it is always mild on the skin and is suitable for all age groups, including young children.

Tea Tree is the natural choice.  This book shows how you can use Tea Tree oil yourself for a wide range of fast, safe and effective natural health and beauty solutions including:  1) Spots and acne; skin cleansing; eczema; nappy rash 2) check infections; sore throats, mouth ulcers; colds and flu 3) sunburn; first aid for cuts and wounds; insect bites  4) fungal infections; healthy hair and scalp.  This little bible of natural first aid and healthcare includes an A-Z of conditions and treatments, showing how you can use Tea Tree Oil for yourself.