According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 million Americans carry some form of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which may cause warts to form on a person's hands, feet or genitals. Warts are not normally painful, but they are unsightly and embarrassing. One way you can get rid of warts is with tea tree oil, which is made from the melaleuca tree of Australia. Tea tree oil is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, and it helps your body battle the virus that causes warts. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist before beginning any home treatment for warts.
Wash and dry your hands and the area around the wart.
Apply one drop of pure, undiluted tea tree oil to the wart and put a bandage over it. You may also apply the tea tree oil to the pad of the bandage if that is easier.
Leave the bandage on overnight or for at least eight hours.
Remove the bandage and wash the area. You may either keep the bandage off during the day and put a fresh one on at night, or you can put a fresh bandage with tea tree oil on right away.
Repeat steps one through four every day until the wart falls off or disappears. This will probably take between one to four weeks.
Tip
Tea tree oil may be found in natural food stores, some pharmacies and online. It is usually sold in a small glass bottle, about half an ounce to two ounces in size.
Tea tree oil may also be used in a similar fashion to treat cuts, scrapes and other wounds.
Warning
Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, do not apply undiluted tea tree oil to the genital region because tea tree oil may burn or sting sensitive skin.
Do not take tea tree oil internally.
References
Writer Bio
Heidi Almond worked in the natural foods industry for more than seven years before becoming a full-time freelancer in 2010. She has been published in "Mother Earth News," "Legacy" magazine and in several local publications in Duluth, Minn. In 2002 Almond graduated cum laude from an environmental liberal arts college with a concentration in writing.