The Big Three

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THE BIG THREETEA TREE OIL, NEEM OIL, AND OREGANO OIL

 

These 3 oils are so powerful and comprehensive in their actions that they deserve a bit more treatment.

 

TEA TREE OIL (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree and packed with the active ingredient terpinen-4-ol, tea tree oil is highly prized for its versatility.

 

Used by Australian aborigines for centuries, tea tree oil began attracting wider attention when the 18th-century explorer Capt. James Cook discovered the lush Melaleuca groves in New South Wales.

Australian medical journals have documented tea tree oil's antiseptic and antibacterial properties since the late 1920s, and the pungent oil was standard issue for all Australian military first-aid kits until the 1930s, when synthetic antibiotics began to eclipse this natural healer. Today, with many "supergerms" resisting even the strongest antibiotics, tea tree oil's popularity is again on the rise. (Plant oils are believed to suffocate bacteria, which is why they don't become resistant.)

Tea Tree Oil is used for disinfecting minor cuts, abrasions and burns.

Gargling twice daily with a few drops in warm water relieves sore throats. Rubbed on the nose and forehead, it alleviates head congestion. A few drops on the chest and back helps to break up a phlegmy cough.

Tea Tree Oil is known as an effective acne fighter as well.It has been shown to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide in treating acne, with less drying, stinging and redness.

Tea tree oil's antifungual properties also are well-documented. It is used to treat Candida albicans, the common yeast infection.

Tea tree oil is popular in a wide variety of commercial first-aid and beauty products. The undiluted essential oil may also be used to make your own preparations. Before treating yourself, rub a small amount on your inner arm to be sure you're not allergic.

 

 

 

NEEM OIL(Azadiracta indica)

 

Packed with the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihistamine, antiseptic, spermicidal and immune-system stimulating components nimbin and nimbidin, neem is said to do everything from repelling insects to preventing pregnancy. India's neem tree is practically a first-aid kit in itself.

 

Neem oil is found primarily in topical health and beauty products. It's strong scent is often masked by more pleasant oils. It is added to toothpaste and mouthwash, because it is thought to prevent cavities and gingivitis. In creams (containing at least 25 percent neem oil), neem oil is used to combat vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases. In soaps and shampoos, it kills lice, ringworm and scabies; mixed with equal parts vegetable oil and water, it makes a healing soak for athlete's foot; undiluted, it repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and flies. The oil also contains fatty acids, which build collagen, promote wound healing and maintain skin's elasticity.

Although other parts of the neem tree can be safely consumed (tea is regularly made from the leaves and bark), it's best not to ingest the oil--long-term use has been linked with liver dysfunction.

 

 

OREGANO OIL (Origanum vulgare)

A highly aromatic member of the mint family found only in the Mediterranean, wild mountain oregano is regarded as a potent remedy for skin and fungal conditions, chronic pain, insect bites, even the harshest of colds. Its powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, antiparasitical, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal properties are attributed to the active ingredient carvacrol.

This oil is very potent! 1 drop of oil is usually applied to the affected area

Oregano oil also makes a good topical analgesic. According to a study done by the Anadolu University in Turkey and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, topical applications of oregano oil worked better than ibuprofen and nearly as well as morphine for controlling chronic pain. Rubbed into the chest, oregano oil breaks up mucous during a cold.

Oregano oil is also used for treating yeast infections. When applying oregano oil to sensitive areas, like the vagina or face, dilute 1 to 2 drops in a teaspoon of olive oil first.

While many herbal companies tout oregano oil's internal use, other herbalists say it's best used topically. It contains harsh phenols, which are potentially damaging to the liver and kidneys when taken at high doses for long periods of time.

Used wisely, however, tea tree, neem and oregano oils can become indispensable to your first-aid kit.

 

 

 

 

 

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public".

 

Theodore Roosevelt