Tea Tree Oil

[Deleted]

How many of you know about or use this wonder all oil,used for just about every conceivable skin problem or it's many other uses??

[palesa]

The magical tea tree oil. I use it regularly. If I have been out in the country for a walk with the dogs, I put a few drops in my bathwater to clean any scratches and to hopefully scare any little unwated blood suckers away.

[Deleted]

I've never heard of it. I'll have to see if it has a French name that I recognize.

[Deleted]

My dog has a sore,commonly known as a "hot spot" on his haunch,and although we clean it regularly,my husband is reluctant to put it on him (the dog). The label on this particular bottle says,"do not use on wounds or abrasions". I'm inclined to use it on the dog,what do you know about use on animals??

[palesa]

I have used it on my dogs before, normally diluted in a bit of cream or oil. My dogs have never been the same since .

Seriously, I would think no harm in adding a few drops to doggie bath water or applying directly to the wound, but I would dilute it first.

[happytraveller]

Yup, good stuff. Unfortunately not good enough to cure my seborrhoic ekzema though

[Deleted]

I was looking it up and it sounds a lot like Dettol, but of course when you look up Dettol, you see that it is completely different.

[spindrift]

I always keep a bottle in the house. I use it, diluted, for sore gums and even thrush.
I wouldn't dream of going to the East without it.

[Jazz]

Tea tree oil products are comman here, not only in the health food stores but everyday drugstores and sections of supermarkets. Shampoos, moisturizers, lip balm, direct to skin healing...Its very effective as a healing agent but I don't like its fragrance.

[bixaorellana]

Some useful information here, including the information that tea tree oil is also known as melaleuca oil, which should be a help in locating it in non-English speaking countries. Also, it warns against using it on animals because of the danger of their ingesting it. Its use has caused death in cats.

What I would put on the dog's sore is the Carmex that's sold in a little jar. The product is meant for cold sores, from which I've never suffered, but can attest that it's gently miraculous for things such as paper cuts, badly chapped knuckles, etc. I used it on an open cut Ginger had and which he was endlessly licking. He stopped licking it and it was healing well by the next day.

[spindrift]

It's such a good idea to spread news about the healing properties of Tea Tree Oil.

[Deleted]

Thanks Bixa,have held off putting it on Papi for now. I know a homeopathic veterinarian here and am going to ask her to advise. Many times,medications etc. that are all right for us monkeys are not all right for our canine and feline friends.Also,it is advisable to always read the list of ingredients,additives that are put in these products,sometimes the addition of one seemingly innocuous ingredient can be harmful,to anyone,be it human or otherwise. (The label on this particular bottle simply says,tea tree oil,but,in the tiny print,it lists a whole bunch of other ingredients,eucalyptus oil etc. )Especially in light of the fact that he licks this area often, Thanks for the Carmex hint.

I personally have used tea tree oil and products containing it for many years.
Like Jazz,I really do not like the smell of it though.

[palesa]

Oh dear, I shall have to stop using it on my doggies! Not that I use it liberally or often, but I have added to their bath water after a walk and used it on Luc when he had a little sore.

Oops!

[Deleted]

Palesa, I don't think a little in the bath water is harmful,I was talking more about applying directly to the wounded area in a more concentrated form. But,in any event, I will let y'all know what the vet says.

[joanne28]

Casimira,
What did your vet say?

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2010 15:33:15 GMT joanne28 said:

Casimira,
What did your vet say?

Jeez,sorry never got back in here...!!!!

NOT recommended for cats or dogs,maybe large dogs BUT ,even then, diluted with another neutral oil,i.e. almond oil,olive oil.
Reason being, can be toxic,as the essential oil in tea tree oil is very strong and animals have a tendency to lick,which is real dangerous for the animal to ingest orally.
In other words,I wouldn't use, just based on this information,why take any chance?

[cigalechanta]

I have toe fungus and the tea tree oil didn't help.

[auntieannie]

Cigalechanta... I know how to get rid of toe fungus naturally. will try and find the details for you. will create a new thread.

[gertie]

I always heard tea tree oil was very good for toe fungus, although one must avoid enclosed toe shoes as much as possible and apply the oil 2-3 times daily for several weeks to see improvement. I would suppose somewhat depends on where the problem lies. I had a little between my pinky toe and the next toe and it took perhaps two weeks. I've heard under a nail can take much longer no matter what remedy one chooses.

I was a bit resistant initially to tea tree oil because it always seems to me to sting, whereas other remedies such as alcohol on cuts never seems to sting to me, but have found it seems to help heal faster. Probably because oil hangs around longer, I should think.

[tod2]

Stumbled on this thread and wondered the outcome of Cigalechanta's problem?
I would think Tinaderm may also help as it does for athlete's foot.
Tea Tree is in so may products here including dog shampoos and toothpaste for us ;D

Lately I have been using another product from India in the form of soap, called NEEM. It also comes in oil and powder form - has anyone else heard of this 'disinfectant' product?

[bixaorellana]

I think neem twigs were an early form of toothbrush. They were chewed to separate the ends, then scrubbed over the teeth. The scrubbing cleaned the teeth and the antiseptic properties did the rest.

Okay ...... I wrote the above without checking. Now I'll go to Wikipedia to find out if I have egg on my face. I've written before about ECHO in Ft. Myers, Florida, which has many tropical trees on its grounds. I believe they're Christian missionaries, as well (not sure). They're main focus is finding low-tech, low-cost solutions for problems in poor tropical countries. Visiting their property is truly interesting -- water delivery systems made of bamboo, and lots of exotic plants labeled as to their uses.

Wikipedia article