“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” 
~ Etty Hillesum

April's Scent of the Month:

Tea Tree Oil

information provided by Dr. Mercola

Tea tree oil, which is also called melaleuca oil, is made from the leaves of the tea tree plant (Melaleuca alternifolia), a member of the myrtle tree family, which is native to Australia. The tea tree plant is valued by primitive Australian communities for its unique healing abilities, such as its anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. According to the University of Sydney, numerous aboriginal communities along the east coast of Australia have a long historical use of tea tree as an antiseptic for skin conditions. They simply crushed the tea tree leaves and applied it to cuts, burns, and infections.  often used as a home acne remedy too. No wonder tea tree oil is considered a "jack of all trades" among nature's herbal oils.

Tea tree oil's has become quite popular within the last few years, and it is now added to soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products. Tea tree oil has many uses around the home, too, such as a toothbrush cleaner, mold treatment, a laundry freshener, and a natural pest control. Small-scale clinical studies on tea tree oil also revealed Tea Tree Oil's potential for treating athlete's foot, dandruff, lice, gingivitis, and genital infections. 

In aromatherapy, tea tree oil is said to be helpful in alleviating chest and head congestion, stuffy nose, and other symptoms of colds and flu, especially when used in steam inhalation. Steam inhalation clears the congested nasal passages and kills bacteria. Adding an antiviral essential oil like Tea Tree Oil makes it that much more effective. Just add a few drops to a steaming bowl of hot (purified) water, cover your head with a towel, and breathe in the vapors for five to 10 minutes. Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your bathwater may also help stop a cold from developing.

You can purchase tea tree oil here, but if you have fresh tea tree leaves on hand, you can easily make your own!

1. Put the leaves in a pot and cover with water. Place a vegetable steamer in the pot over the top of the leaves and water.
2. Put a measuring cup inside the steamer. 
3. Place the lid on the pot upside down, so that the handle nub in the center is pointing toward the measuring cup.
4. Boil the water to steam the leaves. The water will condense and evaporate, and the condensation will slide toward the handle and into the measuring cup.
5. Put about four ice cubes on top of the upside down pot lid to hasten the steam condensation. 
6. Turn off the heat once all the ice has melted.
7. Take off the lid and pour the ice cube water into the sink, and then remove the glass measuring cup.
8. Pour the measuring cup contents into a separating funnel, but make sure the stopcock at the bottom of the funnel is closed. Close the top of the funnel and shake vigorously.
9. Invert the funnel and then open to release the pressure. The oil will float to the top of the water, effectively separating the two substances.
10. Put a glass bottle beneath the stopcock and release the water. Pour the oil into a tinted glass bottle.
11. Repeat the process up to three more times to pull more oil from the leaves.

Disclaimer:  If you have allergies to essential oil please do not try this activity.