At Meluka Australia, we’re passionate about showcasing the health benefits of Australia’s native botanical species, such as the Melaleuca alternifolia, colloquially known as Australian tea tree. In our previous blog, we discussed the health benefits of eating organic foods. This week, we’ll delve into essential oils and how they promote natural health.
History of the Use of Essential Oils
Ancient Egypt was the birthplace of essential oils. The Egyptians cultivated plants to extract their oils and used them in cosmetics, medicine and for religious purposes. Although we can only speculate, it’s believed that essential oils were produced in Egypt by a type of solvent extraction method known as enfleurage, which uses animal fat. Archeologists have also found distillation pots that date back to 3,500 BC.
During this time, China and India also explored aromatic plants and herbs, which went on to become an essential component of the Indian Ayurveda medical system. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems, and it’s one of India’s traditional health care systems to this day.
The advantages of essential oils became conventional wisdom in other cultures. One of the most famous physicians from Ancient Greece, Hippocrates, was a firm believer in treating patients holistically; this included using a wide range of medicinal plants to restore a person’s health. Known as the father of medicine, Hippocrates categorised every food and herb based on their fundamental quality. He recommended his patients to rub rosemary on their heads to stimulate hair growth, use a mint leaf compress to alleviate headaches and to inhale boiled oregano to ease anxiety.
The Ancient Romans adopted Hippocrates’s practices and believed maintaining proper hygiene promoted physical and mental health. They were fond of taking aromatic baths to soothe one’s nerves. Furthermore, they developed “Roman gardens,” where vegetable patches are kept separate from herb patches. Beyond aesthetics, this separation holds practical significance because it supports herb development, inhibits weed growth and repels pests.
Present-day, many people around the world use natural medicine for health, healing and practical household uses as a replacement to the harmful chemicals found in most cleaning products.
How essential oils can improve your overall health
Natural healing remedies are gaining wider interest today. People are downloading meditation apps, and some corporations are providing their employees with on-site yoga classes. Holistic de-stressing is only the tip of the alternative healing iceberg. Even though people pick and choose their tonics, the one that’s gaining mainstream acceptance the fastest is aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is the gentle, ancient art of fragrance, marked by the use of all-natural, essential oils. These oils are extracted from flowers, barks, leaves, fruits, seeds and the roots of plants and trees. They’re generally extracted through distillation, which separates the oil and water-based compounds. Why are they called essential oils? Because you’re left with the “essential” core, which is the undiluted chemistry of nature’s curatives. These oils are highly concentrated since they compact a plant’s healing properties into a single oil.
Each essential oil boasts exclusive compounds and chemicals that offer healing and therapeutic benefits. When we inhale them, they provide pleasant triggers to our brains, which can have a positive effect on our emotions. They can clear your mind, aid in concentration and lift your mood if you’re feeling angry.
Do you know why fragrance is one of the most popular healing modalities? Scent is appealing because what smells good typically feels good. Moreover, aromatherapy is non-invasive and can provide significant healing when used as a companion to traditional medication. Although these oils shouldn’t replace a doctor’s visit, they can treat flu symptoms and muscle pain, thanks to their anti-inflammatory, decongestant and immune-stimulant properties. Diffusers are the most popular method for essential oil delivery. Other ways to use them include combining them with a carrier oil to create massage oil or adding droplets to an aromatherapy necklace.
Now, before you say this is all wishful thinking, remember that essential oils have served as the go-to remedies of healers throughout human history. Think about it this way: pharmacology began outdoors using nature’s bounty, which became our modern-day pharmaceutical industry.
Why is tea tree oil so popular?
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil distilled from the leaves of the native Australian plant, Melaleuca alternifolia. Its popularity has increased in other countries as an alternative and complementary treatment in recent years, thanks to its 92 different compounds. The Bundjalung Aboriginal people from the coast of New South Wales applied Melaleuca leaves directly to their skin for a cooling effect.
One of the most prominent compounds found in tea tree oil is terpinen-4-ol, which has been proven to kill certain bacteria, fungi and viruses. Additionally, it also increases the activity of white blood cells, which helps combat germs and other foreign invaders. Today, you’ll most commonly find tea tree oil in topical medicines, cosmetics and household products.
Here are some of the uses and benefits of this versatile oil:
Wound dressing: Place a few drops of tea tree oil onto a fresh wound to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Homemade mouthwash: Tea tree oil can be diluted with water to create a chemical-free mouthwash that helps fight dental plaque.
Dandruff remedy: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil into your shampoo to reduce dandruff.
Reduce acne: Gels containing tea tree oil can prevent acne breakouts and reduce scarring.
Household cleaner: By mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with water and white vinegar, you can create an all-purpose, antimicrobial household cleaner.
Taste the sweet benefits of tea tree with Meluka Australia’s Native Honey Infused with Tea Tree
Meluka Australia’s Native Honey Infused with Tea Tree is a raw, single-origin and multi-active tea tree honey produced by bees foraging from the pristine healing grounds of Australia’s Bungawalbin Valley. Post-harvest, our honey is infused with an organic tea tree extract that we sustainably produce from the leaves of ancient mother trees. It’s rich in antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and comes in two strengths, TTF24 and TTF32.
Extracted via a different distillation method to traditional tea tree oil, our tea tree extract is ethically wildcrafted from the leaves of our forest mother trees, and it’s aqueous (water-based). Consume our medicinal honey directly from the spoon as needed, or apply it topically to burns, wounds and other skin conditions.
See what the buzz is about
Don’t take our word for it; discover our range of tea tree and honey derived products, produced in the unspoiled healing grounds of the Bungawalbin Valley in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia.
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Yours, the Meluka family
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