What Is It?
Tea tree oil is a natural oil that is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The leaves of the tea tree are steamed and then squeezed to produce light yellow oil that has a smell that is reminiscent of nutmeg.
History
Tea tree oil was initially discovered because of its wide use among the aborigine tribes. For thousands of years, these people had been accessing tea tree oil’s natural ability as an antibacterial, or disinfectant.
Once Great Britain got involved in Australia, there was an immediate demand for tea tree oil after researcher Arthur Penfold published the first reports of the oil’s antimicrobial activity, rating it 11 times more active than phenol.
Although the popularity of tea tree oil started to ebb after the advent of cheap antibiotics, there has not been any stalling in the research of this peculiar oil. In fact, the scientific community has recently confirmed that tea tree oil has tremendous medicinal benefits and for this reason, many people are returning to tea tree oil as an alternative to other, harsher Western medicines.
Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
This oil has been found to have unique compounds that make it a popular and completely natural agent for curing all three types of infectious organisms: fungus, bacteria, and virus. 
But even more importantly, it is known to effectively fight a number of bacteria that have evolved to be resistant to some antibiotics. Because of this, tea tree oil is gaining popularity rapidly within the acne treatment industry.
Now, more than ever, people find themselves struggling with stubborn acne that just doesn’t seem to go away despite all the severe prescription treatments they try. This is often due to the fact that our diets and lifestyle have exposed our bodies to so many toxins that have mutated and evolved to be resistant to our common remedies.
To combat these newer microbes that find their way into our pores and leave our skin looking less than its best, it is surprisingly best to return to the basics, or those disinfectants that have worked since before history began.
How Does It Work?
Tea tree oil naturally contains terpinene, cineole, pinene, and cymene, making it an innate combatant to many viruses, bacteria and fungi, so when applied topically, tea tree oil will automatically help your body fight against those things that can cause infections in our pores.
Because the body doesn’t have to work as hard to fight its own infections, you’ll find less dead white blood cell buildup, less redness and inflammation and more healthy pores.
Cons to Tea Tree Oil
Although you should be careful using tea tree oil around your eyes or mouth, this natural antiseptic has proven itself to have very few unsavory side effects.
Because of this, we can wholeheartedly recommend tea tree oil as a successful way to get rid of unsightly blemishes and help repair your skin.