Tea Tree Rocks

My niece, Bigmouth (okay, maybe that's a bit harsh . . . how about Eewok? She is cute and cuddly and around the same height) had a breakout of mesculum on her arm. 

My sister-in-law (she's Luke's wife, so I'm not sure what to call her, as Jedi were celibate . . . can't call her Amidala because of the Oedipal connotations . . . how about Organa, Princess Leia's last name?) had a dermatologist laser them off, but when they came back, he recommended tea tree oil. 

"But it's not easy to find," he said hesitantly. 

"No worries," Organa said dryly. "My sister-in-law definitely has it."

And so I do. 

Tea tree oil can be used for practically anything. Cuts, acne, arthritis, asthma, athlete's foot, blisters, chicken pox, bug bites, canker sores, cold sores, dandruff, oily hair, itchy scalp, ear infections, eczema, nail fungus, warts, plaque, ringworm, and chapped lips are but a few examples of conditions that can be treated with this stuff. 

In the buggy seasons, I always have Desert Essence Relief Spray in house. It nixes the itching practically immediately. My father uses it in the summer months for his feet, which tend to get red and inflamed in the heat. He is leery of any of the products I buy, so the fact that he has embraced this spray shows its effectiveness. If a non-liquid is preferred, there is Jason Tea Tree Soothing Gel.

Tea tree oil is great for acne. I like it because in my case, basic salicylic acid washes seems to lose their potency; my skin merely adapts. Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash has a lot of kick, so be sure to follow with a good moisturizer. Like Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Oil Control Lotion. It really moisturizes and leaves no oily residue - and contains tea tree oil.

Dandruff can be tackled with a product like J.R. Ligett's Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo Tea Tree and Hemp Formula. The J.R. Liggett shampoos are awesome as they come in bar form, making them easy to transport (no need to check luggage), and they don't strip the hair of natural oils, so for some, conditioning isn't necessary. (The Jojoba and Peppermint also worked on my dandruff-y scalp). 

 If one prefers a liquid option, try Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo, or Beauty Without Cruelty Rosemary Mint and Tea Tree Shampoo. The matching conditioners for these two are also highly rated.

As for tooth care, I've become attached to the Desert Essence Tea Tree Dental Floss, also available in tape. 

And these are just a few tea tree products available.