Cracked heels develop due to a number of different problems. Tea tree oil contains a large amount of chemical components that make the oil effective for the treatment of cracked heels. Tea tree oil can be applied in a couple of different ways as a foot treatment, including the use in foot gel. Consult a qualified health care professional before using tea tree oil for the treatment of cracked heels.
Cracked Heels
According to the website ePodiatry, cracked heels are also known as heel fissures. Dry skin is the most common cause of cracked heels. Patricia Davis in "Aromatherapy: An A-Z," writes that cracked skin can also be caused by water exposure, weather extremes, outdoor working and some detergents. If you do not treat cracked skin, it can become painful and infected.
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil is extracted from the the leaves of the Australian tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia. According to Julia Lawless in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils," tea tree oil is pale yellow-green in color. Davis writes that tea tree oil is the most important of the Melaleuca essential oils because of the powerful properties that tea tree oil possesses.
Benefits
According to Davis, tea tree oil is active against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Lawless writes that tea tree oil is anti-infectious, antiseptic, bactericidal, fungicidal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory. Tea tree oil is used to treat many foot conditions, such as athlete's foot, verrucae and infected wounds, caused by cracked skin.
Application
Davis recommends that you apply undiluted tea tree oil on cracked heels that have become infected. However, if the cracked skin is uninfected, she writes that foot creams are an ideal way to apply tea tree oil. Foot gel that contains tea tree oil is also common due to the "cooling" properties of gel that help to calm inflamed, dry skin. Davis writes that many commercial applications contain tea tree oil and these are suitable for home use as long as they contain the right quantity of tea tree oil to be effective.
Cautions
In general, tea tree oil is non-sensitizing, non-toxic and non-irritating. According to Shirley and Len Price in "Aromatherapy for Health Professionals," tea tree oil has no known contra-indications and caused no irritation or sensitization at one per cent dilution in tests. However, be aware that it is possible for individuals to experience different reactions, depending on personal circumstances and health problems. Consult a health professional before using tea tree oil gel for the treatment of cracked heels.
References
- ePodiatry: Cracked Heels
- "Aromatherapy: An A-Z;" Patricia Davis; 1999
- "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils;" Julia Lawless; 1995
- "Aromatherapy for Health Professionals;" Shirley Price, Len Price; 2002
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