Tea Tree Oil & the Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are painful swellings located outside or inside the anus. Gastroenterology.com reports that 10 million Americans currently suffer from hemorrhoids of varying degrees, some of which are serious enough to warrant surgery. Tea tree essential oil is a natural treatment option.

History

• Tea tree oil originates in New South Wales and Queensland, both in Australia, where aboriginal peoples have used it for thousands of years to heal wounds and prevent infection.

Features

• Tea tree oil is extracted from the narrow pointed leaves and twigs of the melaleuca alternifolia via steam distillation. High quality tea tree oil has a higher than 30 percent terpinen content.

Benefits

• Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It can be applied in a variety of manners to ease the pain and symptoms associated with hemorrhoids.

Types

• Tea tree oil can be added to a sitz bath, taken as a suppository, added to topical creams or used in a cold compress.

Warnings

• Undiluted tea tree oil may cause stinging and burning when applied to broken skin, and never ingest tea tree oil orally.