Tea Tree

Melaleuca alternifolia

• Latin Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
• Other Names: Melaleuca oil, Australian tea tree oil
• Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia.
• Historically, the leaves were used as a substitute for tea, which is how tea tree oil got its name. The part used medicinally is the oil from the leaves.

Special Precautions of Tea Tree

• WARNING: Tea tree oil is toxic when taken internally, and should never be taken with food or drinks.
• Tea tree oil is a strong essential oil, and as such must be DILUTED before application, otherwise it can cause skin irritations.
• You should never take tea tree oil internally, as it is toxic.
• One study shows that tea tree oil may alter hormone levels. There have been three case reports of topical tea tree oil products causing unexplained breast enlargement in boys. People with hormone-sensitive cancers or pregnant or nursing women should avoid tea tree oil. For more information, read Lavender and Tea Tree Oils Linked to Breast Enlargement in Boys.
• Occasionally, people may have allergic reactions to tea tree oil, ranging from mild contact dermatitis to severe blisters and rashes.
• Undiluted tea tree oil may cause skin irritation, redness, blistering, and itching.
• Tea tree oil should not be taken internally, even in small quantities. It can cause impaired immune function, diarrhea, and potentially fatal central nervous system depression (excessive drowsiness, sleepiness, confusion, coma).
• The tea tree oil in commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes is generally considered to be acceptable because it is not swallowed. Avoid homemade tea tree oil mouthwashes.
• Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms of overdose: excessive drowsiness, sleepiness, poor coordination, diarrhea, vomiting.
• Don't use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Keep tea tree oil out of the reach of children and pets.
• Tea tree oil should not be confused with Chinese tea oil, cajeput oil, kanuka oil, manuka oil, ti tree oil, and niauouli oil.

The benefits of Tea tree oil are

Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area.

Tea tree oil contains consituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antiseptic and antifungal activity. The compound terpinen-4-ol is the most abundant and is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity.

People use tea tree oil for the following conditions:

• Acne
• Athlete's foot
• Dandruff
• Vaginitis
• Thrush
• Periodontal disease
• As an antiseptic
• Boils
• Lice
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Yeast infection

What is the Evidence for Tea Tree Oil?

• Athlete's Foot : A randomized controlled trial examined the use of 25% tea tree oil solution, 50% tea tree oil solution, or placebo in 158 people with athlete's foot. After twice daily applications for 4 weeks, the two tea tree oil solutions were found to be significantly more effective than placebo.
• Fungal Infection of the Toenails : A randomized, controlled trial published in the Journal of Family Practice looked at the twice-daily application of 100% tea tree oil or 1% clotrimazole solution (a topical antifungal medication) in 177 people with toenail fungal infection. After 6 months, the tea tree oil was found to be as effective as the topical antifungal, based on clinical assessment and toenail cultures.
• external/oral candidiasis.
• Acne : A single-blind randomized trial by the Department of Dermatology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia compared the effectiveness and tolerance of 5% tea tree oil gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion in 124 people with mild to moderate acne. People in both groups had a significant reduction in inflamed and non-inflammed acne lesions (open and closed comedones) over the three month period, although tea tree oil was less effective than benzoyl peroxide.Although the tea tree oil took longer to work initially, there were fewer side effects with tea tree oil. In the benzoyl peroxide group, 79 percent of people had side effects including itching, stinging, burning, and dryness. Researchers noted that there were far less side effects in the tea tree oil group.
• Dandruff : A single-blind study examined the use of 5% tea tree oil shampoo or placebo in 126 people with mild to moderate dandruff. After 4 weeks, the tea tree oil shampoo significantly reduced symptoms of dandruff.
• essential oils for hemorrhoids-treatment : lavender oil, tea tree oil, cypress oil, peppermint oil.
• Tea tree oil is a wonderful treatment for burns, as it penetrates deeply into every layer of the skin. It is the perfect treatment for sunburn, as it is 4 to 10 times more calming than aloe!
• It has also been shown to protect skin from radiation burns, a common side effect of cancer therapy.
• commonly used in massage oils, compresses, washes and salves to ward off infections, such as ear infections, herpes, chicken pox, shingles, candida, thrush and urinary tract infections
• Skin cancer : Tea tree oil is also touted as a possible preventative against certain types of skin cancers. The journal, Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology, reported tea tree oil's curative effects on patients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers or pre-cancerous lesions. Within 1 day of treatment tumor growth had slowed and tumor size had shrunk, and within 3 days tumors were almost invisible.
• mouth infections : tea tree oil is primarily used in products that heal gum infections and canker sores.
• Tea Tree significantly inhibit gram-negative bacteria.