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Page 42
| without milk) to ease diarrhea. It is also a traditional Cantonese remedy for hangovers. Green tea is especially rich in fluoride, so it can help combat any tendency for tooth decay. It is also useful to soothe insect bites: apply either damp green tea leaves or an infused green tea bag directly onto the affected area. Green tea is also reputed to have antiviral activity (Gutman and Ryu 1966), so it can be helpful to drink 4 or 5 cups a day when suffering from colds or influenza. |
| Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) |
| Extracts from the Australian tea tree were originally used by the Aborigines as a wound remedy. By the Second World War it was a regular component in field dressing kits among Australian troops. The plant was first studied in Europe in the 1920s when French researchers found that tea tree oil, collected by steam distillation, was a more effective antiseptic than phenol and had impressive antibiotic properties. In the past few years a thriving tea tree industry has grown up, which has led to a number of highly adulterated oils appearing on the market. True tea tree oil is one of the few oils that does not usually irritate mucous membranes and it can be used undiluted on the skin. |
| Parts used: Essential oil. |
| Actions: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, diaphoretic, expectorant. |
| Uses: Tea tree is ideal externally for any sort of infection. Both the oil and cream are widely available and can be used as a wound dressing or to treat fungal problems like yeast infections or athlete's foot. The herb is also a useful expectorant and is sometimes found in over-the-counter cough lozenges. It can also be used on a tampon to treat vaginal yeast infections (see p.88). |
| Tea tree is helpful for acne and other minor skin problems; make a lotion by adding 40 drops of tea tree oil to 1/2 cup of rosewater and 1/2 cup of distilled witch hazel. Store in a dark glass bottle and shake well before use. Apply with a cotton swab three or four times a day. |
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