What really amazes me is that I had an infection that was SO BAD that it took my entire fingernail as a casualty (a new one is growing underneath – cool and so gross simultaneously), but one single treatment of this natural remedy killed the infection in mere hours (after weeks of suffering & searing hot pain.) I keep this on hand at all times now!
Photo credit: John Tann
My Infected Finger Story:
Since sometime last winter, I have been battling a sucky immune system. My gut bacteria are valiantly attempting to guard their posts and keep me somewhat healthy. Nonetheless, the stress, poor eating, and the round of antibiotics I chose to take (to my dismay) for my infected lymph nodes have made their job rather difficult indeed.
My healthy gut bacteria is tired and struggling, as evidenced by infection after infection that I’ve been warding off in the last six months. Poor, poor gut bacteria (sadface).
I had a nasty throat infection, when I got altogether too lazy with my natural remedy and didn’t hit it hard enough. It came back as a nasty infection in my lymph nodes (Holy PAINFUL, batman.) Then I took antibiotics. Subsequently, I have felt the beginnings of the following ailments over the last 3-4 months: mastitis, repeated lady-part infections, more sore throats, and then a nastily infected finger by late spring, just under the cuticle and fingernail.
(See, now even you feel sorry for my poor gut bacteria, don’t you?)
I have been able to ward off most of these issues by downing jars of Bubbie’s sauerkraut (for the amazing probiotics) like there’s no tomorrow (my body told me to eat a whole jar in 48 hours – so I did…), taking the high-quality probiotic capsules I bought when I had antibiotics, eating plain high-fat yogurt, and taking colloidal silver in my water here and there. (I think the sauerkraut made the most difference, to be honest. I would eat about a cup of the stuff on top of my burger patty at dinner whenever I felt the least bit of anything starting.)
The infected finger was an annoyance at first. I was in the middle of a terribly stressful family crisis, and basically ignored it for a few weeks. By the time I paid attention, it was hot, red, and swollen. Oh, and super sore. Oops. My bad.
I saw that ignoring it and waiting for it to go away on its own wasn’t going to work (just like with my whining toddler. Huh.)
So, I started trying some natural remedies. My mom was bugging me to soak it in salt water, so I did. Many times. For at least half an hour at a time (an eternity when there’s a toddler running around wreaking quinoa-dumping havoc. ahem).
But alas – the infection was too deep, and the salt water was not enough. The infection got worse. I should also mention that I had been using polysporin (antibiotic OTC ointment) since the beginning because I had been too stressed out and busy to even think about figuring out the natural remedy angle. Well, the polysporin was a total fail. I even bought a brand new tube to make sure it wasn’t expired. I wanted it to hurry up and work, and kept at it faithfully. But… nada. I also tried a really cheap brand of tea tree oil mixed with lemon (the blend is for cleaning, I guess?).
The infection got worse – more swollen, more red, more sore. The cuticle was starting to lift up off the nail and funky things were happening. The nail was starting to crack and disintegrate. I was beginning to worry that I’d end up with a round of major antibiotics if the infection started to spread.
Finally, we were packing up one of the last spots in the house for our move, I found my stash of essential oil bottles. My stinker children had taken them and hidden them behind a dresser like a little treasure stash. I had been wondering where they went!
I stared down that bottle of melaleuca (tea tree oil) with my Stern Mother Face. I told it that if it was not going to heal my finger, I’d be very, very disappointed in it. I’d also be super annoyed at having to go to the doctor because ain’t nobody got time for that in the middle of a move, yo.
I tipped it upside down, let two drops fall out onto the infected area, slapped a bandaid on that sucker, and went to bed.
You know the climax of this story already, don’t you? Yes, it was pretty miraculous the next morning. We celebrated with a feast (haha – I wish!) and much rejoicing. The burning pain had been reduced to tenderness, the swelling was down, and the redness was much reduced.
Another few doses (I did it a second time, then again that night, and once more the next day for good measure) later, I was well on my way to 100% in just over 24 hours.
So, now it’s a month later, and I have only one small problem: my fingernail is falling off. I have to trim it and stuff. Ew.
Like, seriously, peeps. It’s so gross. And because I love you, I took a picture. On the windowsill of the coffee shop where I sit, writing this. Here you are:
What really amazes me is that I had an infection that was SO BAD that it took my entire fingernail as a casualty (a new one is growing underneath – cool and so gross simultaneously), but a couple of drops of high-quality melaleuca oil killed the infection in mere hours (after weeks of suffering).
I’ve seen some good results from using EO’s since I was first introduced to them last fall. But nothing like this. I am absolutely in love with melaleuca, and I vow to never be without it again, henceforth forevermore, amen.
This is the oil I now recommend for both purity and a great price.
So, What is Melaleuca, Exactly?
More commonly known as “Tea Tree,” Melaleuca essential oil has over 92 different compounds and limitless applications. The leaves of the Melaleuca tree were used by the Aborigines of Australia for centuries. They would crush the leaves and inhale the oil to promote clear breathing and apply the leaves directly to the skin to help with recovery.
Melaleuca is best known for its purifying properties as well as:
-Analgesic
-Antibacterial
-Antifungal
-Anti-infectious
-Antioxidant
-Antiparasitic
-Antiseptic
-Antiviral
-Decongestant
-Immune Stimulant
-Tissue Regenerative
… just to name a few.
Tea Tree Oil vs. Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs?
Today, modern science has begun to investigate the effectiveness of this oil against many different types of pathogens and microbes, including resistant strains of MRSA and super bugs. This research is validating the use of this extraordinary natural oil for personal and medicinal consumption.
- Arthur de Ramon Penfold (1890 – 1980), an Australian chemist, studied tea tree leaves, and discovered their antiseptic properties. Subsequently, tea tree oil became a standard treatment in Australia, for the prevention and treatment of wound infections.
- During World War II, the Australian government classified tea tree oil as an essential commodity, and exempted producers from military service.”
I also learned that bacterial infections (often from hospital stays) actually kill more people each year than AIDs, breast cancer and auto accidents combined! Yikes! More and more of these bacteria are becoming resistant to almost every antibiotic out there.
Quality essential oils offer a natural alternative (really the original solution) to fighting bacteria (and viruses). While oils have been around for thousands of years, it’s really only been since the 1930s that medical researchers have discovered their antimicrobial effects.
French physician Dr. Jean Valnet, author of The Practice of Aromatherapy, wrote: “Infectious microbes do not appear to become accustomed to the essential oils as they do to the many forms of treatment using antibiotics.” In other words, because essential oils are made up of such complex chemical constituents, many Super Germs (or antibiotic resistant bacteria) find it harder to build a resistance.
I also learned the following, which I thought was interesting since I had used a cheap bottle of tea tree oil that I bought at a health store, and it did absolutely nothing for my infection.
“Now, remember, because of the lack of essential oil industry regulation, anyone can stamp “pure” on their essential oil bottles but there’s no one regulating that. There may be oil in the bottle but it may be part mineral oil, part melaleuca, etc. Make sure you are using a high quality oil that adheres to these standards:
-proper variety of the plant (for example, Eucalyptus has many variations – some varieties are even poisonous so variety matters)
-grown without herbicides or pesticides
-grown in their indigenous location – plants/fruits flourish best where they’re meant to be grown
-third party testing of all oils
-bottled with care – not diluted down with above mentioned mineral oil”
Have you ever used tea tree oil in your home? Do you agree that quality makes a difference?
Related posts here at Red+Honey:
– Using Natural Remedies to Beat Bacterial Infections: 5 Important Things You Should Know
– Avoiding Antibiotics in Favour of a Natural Remedy? Read this Cautionary Tale First
– 50 Uses for Essential Oils (Plus the First Three Things I Tried)
Geraldine Radovanovich
Thanks for your blog. I tried some Tea tree I have. So far not working. I appreciate you sharing the problems you had with your sore throat and not hitting it hard with natural stuff. The end of June and week of July I suddenly developed a sore throat. After a couple of days the glands of my neck started to swell. To be fair I usually start with Olive leaf and Echinacea but I had also started feeling more tired than usual. So on July 2 I had an online consult with a PA and MD who told me to get to the Urgent care, which I did. They sent me to ED for a CT scan and it suggested a Peri Tonsillar abscess. So they sent me to a bigger hospital in the next city. On July 4th the surgeon operated and declared Strep bacteria Necrotizing Fasciitis related to the Peri tonsillar abscess. Three weeks in Hospital and a second surgery on the neck on the 8th, cleared it out. Thank God for the Surgeon and all the staff involved in saving my neck and my life basically. I felt bad about not pushing more of my natural stuff but sometimes you just have To take a good antibiotic. The ED gave me IV antibiotic which probably helped to stop the spread. I knew early on it was potentially Strep Throat and also knew because I am a former Nurse that it could affect other organs and that was why I got to the Drs early, I have cured Tonsillitis in the past with Cleavers Tea and tincture. Nothing worked this time. The Antibiotics have decimated my gut bacteria. Im finding that Slippery Elm has also helped. The wound is still healing and needs some work. So back to the Echinacea. We can only do so much to help ourselves.
Beth
Thanks for sharing your story! It sounds like you listened to your intuition and knew when it was time to seek outside medical help. I’m glad you did! It’s so important to not make our natural remedies our gods, and to do what our bodies need. xo
Les
Hello Beth
Did you use this tea tree oil straight out of the bottle? I don’t know much about essential oils, but I’ve read about mixing and diluting with carrier oils?
Beth
Hi Les, When I experienced this, I wasn’t as informed as I am now on essential oil safety. I did use it neat (the term for undiluted EO’s), but if I could do it all over again I’d dilute. I’d make it a strong mix, but I’d dilute. (I have to say, though, that in an emergency case like this, if the diluted version didn’t work within 12 hours or so, I’d be going ahead with undiluted. I figure it’s the lesser evil if I’m looking at antibiotics.) (This isn’t medical advice, though, and I’m not a doctor.)
Adrienne
Just had to say THANK YOU. My finger thanks you. I was fighting a bad one and it started coming back. This seems to be helping. Will of course call the doc if I need to but had enough ABX as a kid. My MD is thankful I don’t ask for them all the time!
Hope you are well!
Beth
Adrienne – YAY!! I’m so glad that it’s working for you too! I love TTO – awesome stuff. Thanks for commenting – we totally need to bring commenting back to its heyday on blogs. It feels so much more like a community. xo
Genie Harden
well i’m typing with only my right hand now. thank you for the post. i was so worried about my infected wounds that i completely forgot that i had treated my goats with tea tree oil when they were all sharing a staff infection. i bought a brand called desert essence, which seemed to be the least injurious to apply directly to the skin. i also made a disinfectant for the milking parlor out of vinegar, a little dish soap, and a little tea tree oil. I spray it on the animals’ bedding every morning (then kick them out of the barn for the day.)
So since I started this post I soaked my hands in a bowl of hot water with a little crushed garlic, dish soap, and tea tree oil. I couldn’t believe how much better my hands looked after a 20 minute soak. I put a drop of the Dessert Essence tea tree oil on each cut (4 in all, all infected, one GROSS) and put on bandaids, which I was out of and that’s why everything got infected in the first place. Maybe I’ll remember to let you know how it turns out by tomorrow morning.
Helpmyfinger
Hi how is your nail growing back/healing? I have had (self diagnosed Paronychia) on two fingers for months. I don’t want to take antibiotics as I know it is harmful to my overall body, and rather not unnecessary introduce pharmaceutical things unless I have to. Thank you!
Beth
This was several years ago, but yes the nail grew back! Took a month or two, but it was good as new!
Janie
Beth,
Just want to say thanks so much for saving me a trip to the doc! I cut my cuticle a bit too close earlier this week and it was getting infected pretty quickly– agree with other posters, very painful! I had been slathering neosporin on it and trying to keep the area clean but nothing was working. I read your post about 24 hours ago and immediately put on some tea tree that I have had around the house for my boys to use for athletes foot. (also successful) The bottle I had was a bit old so I purchased a new bottle yesterday when I was out and after one application of the oil from the new bottle, my finger is completely fine. No more pain, redness or swelling. I did keep a bandaid on the finger and dropped some additional tea tree on the pad of the bandaid after putting a couple of drops non-diluted straight onto the infected area. I am wondering if essential oils lose potency over time? Anyway, thank you!!!
Monica Ranson
My Rheumatoid Arthritis started in two fingers on my right hand and one finger in my left hand. The right side of my body was constantly aching and fatigue was so severe. I was put on Naprosyn and after some time i didn’t feel any different, so i started on a natural treatment from RICH HERBS FOUNDATION, their RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FORMULA effectively reversed my Rheumatoid Arthritis condition. The swellings, stiffness, fatigue/tiredness and joint/muscle pains has subsided. Visit http://www.richherbsfoundation.com. I feel better overall. I made an appointment with a rheumatologist, after examining me, she told me I did not have Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Johe
Thank you thank you thank you!
Loads of advice online to cure my infected nail/cuticle said to soak it… I’m sure that the moist environment was making it worse. One application of tea tree oil and the pain subsided, three applications later and it cleared up completely!
Not only did the oil treat the infection but I also think it dried out the area stopping it from thriving.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Jessie E Stephens
John how did you apply the tea tree oil? I put some full strength on my cuticle skin and immediately broke out in a severe rash. I’d really appreciate a detailed how to.
Sincerely
Jessie
Julie
Jessie Tea tree oil can cause burns if applied to skin @ full strength. I learned that the hard way! My navel is permanently scarred from doing exactly that, trying to kill a yeast skin infection there. Always dilute in a carrier oil for direct use on skin.
Yoshie
As an addendum to my earlier post, sure wish I had tried tea tree & Epsom Salt for my initial problem BEFORE reluctantly going to a doctor for an antibiotic. [The top shelf of my medicine cabinet is full of essential oils!]
Yoshie
Hello Beth:
You really went through something! However, glad you’re healed and that you shared. I’m taking a strong antibiotic for a bacterial infection that I tried to treat for about 5 months (I abhor the mis-use of antibiotics – and don’t like Western medicine). I gave in. A few days after starting the antibiotics, I cut my index finger on a knife while washing dishes. After the blood flow stopped, I applied Neosporin with a band aid. Now a few days later, I noticed a reddish darkness around part of the nail bed. ?FLESH EATING BACTERIA?! (smile-but serious consideration) In looking for a DIY soak, that’s how I found you! I’m now typing with my left hand and soaking my right index finger in a warmed solution of Epsom Salts and M. Tea Tree Oil. After an hour of soaking & re-heating of the solution, it looks better-just blood under skin?
Parisa
Hi, i cut my middle finger around a week ago in a semi circular shaped cut. Due to the covid panic, I chose not to go to ER and get stitches. Instead I am using antibacterial powder and daily dressing to keep the area clean. While the skin seems to have reattached, albeit with a nasty dark scar, there’s redness around the fingertip since day 3 of the injury. No other pain or sign of infection. It’s been 5 days and the redness is still there, didn’t spread or get darker. But google has led me to panicking and here I a. Did you get your cut checked? Hope it is healed already 🙂
Beth
Hi Parisa, I wrote this post a few years back, so there’s nothing new to report. 🙂 The tea tree oil took care of the infection within hours, and my finger healed from there. It had gotten so bad that my fingernail fell off and grew back, but the redness/pain/swelling of the infection disappeared with the TTO. I hope you’re also on the road to healing!
Thomas
Great post! Have nice day ! 🙂 zyvvk
jerry
antiseptic cream is more than enough for an infected cuticle.
I’m astounded how quickly you all self medicate with antibiotics.
jerry
your body will naturally clear this up with ease if you have a normal immune system.
Antibiotics are far overused especially by Americans. In the UK a doctor must prescribe them and will only do as a last resort.
Most of the older antibiotics have no affect now as bugs have become resistant because of overuse.
Antibiotics are really bad for you and should only be used with a full blown bacterial infection as the nature of them means they destroy your own healthy cells
Halee
I wanted to thank you for posting this article! I have an infected cuticle and the pain and throbbing were so bad this past weekend that I almost went to urgent care for antibiotics. Then I read your article and realized I already had some Teatree oil in my cabinet. I did salt water soaks with warm water three times a day and then put Teatree oil on with gauze and medical tape. As of this writing two days later, the pain is gone and I only have a Band-Aid on my finger. I will remember this amazing treatment! Again, many thanks.
R&H Assistant
I’m so glad to hear it was helpful to you! <3
TJ Moore
When my son kept coming home from the sitter with lice, I found a natural treatment online that included tea tree oil as a repellant. No crazy chemicals and my baby never got lice again! Now I have an infection at the edge of my nail and will apply this.