Tea tree oil
by Sharon Crawford
March 2008
Description
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a multi-purpose herb that traces its roots to the Aboriginal people of Australia. For thousands of years, they used the leaves as an antiseptic and antifungal by crushing the leaves and making a mudpack. However, the plant didn't receive the name "tea tree" until 1770, when the name was given by the British explorer Captain James Cook and his crew. Although Cook's crew first used the leaves for tea, they later mixed them with spruce leaves as a beer. The plant's medicinal properties remained a secret with the Australian aboriginal people until the early 1920s when Sydney, Australia chemist, Dr. Arthur Penfold, researched its antiseptic properties. In 1929, along with F.R. Morrison, Penfold published "Australian Tea Trees of Economic Value." This started a flurry of research into tea tree oil. The Australian government considered tea tree oil a World War II essential for their armed forces' first aid kits. After the war, increased use of pharmaceutical antibiotics decreased tea tree oil's appeal everywhere except in Australia. Tea tree oil started to regain its popularity in 1960, with a recharge in its research around the world. Today, Melaleuca alternifolia is also grown in California.
Properties of tea tree oil
Tea tree oil's properties are contained in the oils of its leaves. The oil is steam distilled from the leaves and then tested for chemical properties, which can number between 50 and 100. This may explain tea tree oil's many beneficial uses. The main active components are terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene and other turpenes. Its aroma is one of a healthy pleasant disinfectant.
General use
Antibacterial
The most promising new function of tea tree oil is to counter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also called the hospital super bug. In United States and European hospitals, MRSA grew from under 3% in the 1980s to 40% in the late 1990s. This super bug attacks people who have wounds, such as post-operative infections , and a depressed immune system. MRSA resists conventional antibiotics, except Vancomycin. A Thursday Plantation in vitro study, at East London University, comparing Vancomycin and tea tree oil, shows the latter as a powerful alternative. This study corroborated the University of Western Australia study by Thomas Riley and Christine Carson. Because the spread of MRSA occurs mainly by hands, one London hospital uses tea tree oil soap for staff and patient hygiene. The first study using real patients with MRSA, is currently in progress at The John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle New South Wales. The undertaking looks at tea tree oil as a topical alternative.
Tea tree oil works as an expectorant when inhaled or taken internally and has a soothing effect; therefore, it can be used for throat and chest infections, and clearing up mucus. It is also effective against earaches, cystitis, and gingivitis. Inhaling steaming hot water with 5 drops of tea tree essential oil added can not only soothe coughing and plugged noses, but doing so at the start of the infection might stop it from spreading. For sore throats, gargle with 6 drops of tea tree oil in a glass of warm water.
Antiseptic
Tea tree essential oil is an excellent natural antiseptic for skin infections. The oil immediately penetrates outer skin layers and mixes with body oils to treat such conditions as insect bites, cuts, burns, acne, infected wounds, bruises, boils, scabies, lice, chillblains, diaper rash , hives, poison ivy and oak, prickly heat , and sunburn .
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia , in 1990, outlined the results of using 5% tea tree oil gel versus 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion for acne. The 124 participants showed improvement with both treatments. Benzoyl peroxide worked better with non-inflamed acne while the tea tree gel caused only 44% of side effects such as dryness and red skin compared to benzoyl peroxide's 79%.
The simplest methods to treat acne with tea tree oil are to wash the face with soap containing tea tree essential oil or swab pure tea tree oil on the acne twice daily. (Too high a percentage or direct application of essential oil could cause irritation and blistering.) To prevent blistering from sunburns, apply tea tree oil cream.
Anti-inflammatory
Tea tree oil has pain-numbing properties and can be used topically for sprains, arthritis, bunions, bursitis, eczema, gout, carpal tunnel syndrome , and hemorrhoids. It is best to use products containing essential tea tree oil, since the pure essential oil would be irritating to sensitive areas.
A study at the Flinders University of Adelaide is currently researching tea tree oil's affects on various inflammations in the body. The goal is to discover if the essential oil reduces the inflammation besides killing the microorganisms causing it.
For relief from pain caused by the various arthritic afflictions (rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis, etc.), combine 18 drops of tea tree oil with 1/8 cup of almond oil. Put in a dark bottle and shake before applying it topically two to four times a day as a massage oil. Can also be used to massage the wrists for carpal tunnel syndrome. Or add a dozen drops of tea tree oil to your bath water and soak in it.
Anti-fungal
Tea tree oil is an excellent antifungal and can be employed to treat Candida albicans, athlete's foot , jock itch , ringworm, thrush, and onychomycosis (nail infections).
A study published in the Journal of Family Practice in 1994 compared the treatment of onychomycosis with a pharmaceutical clotrimazole solution at 1% to tea tree oil at 100% on 117 patients. After six months, the two groups had similar results, with the culture from the clotrimazole group showing 11% infection and that of the tea tree oil group, 18%.
For ringworm and nail infections, besides applying a tea tree gel, cream, or essential oil, disinfect the bath water and your laundry by adding a few drops of tea tree essential oil to the tub and washing machine.
Preventative
Tea tree oil can boost suppressed immune systems and help those with chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome . Surgeons in Australian hospitals treat patients in these situations with tea tree oil before surgery.
To increase the power of your immune system, add several drops of tea tree oil to your bath; have weekly massages with tea tree oil and add a few drops of the oil to your vaporizer and inhale.
Personal hygiene
To fight plaque, brush with toothpaste containing tea tree oil or add some to your regular toothpaste, and add a few drops of tea tree oil to your mouthwash. The latter helps both teeth and gums. For sore gums, also swab a few drops of the oil on the sore area.
Household cleaning
Tea tree oil's natural solvent properties make it an excellent biodegradable cleaning product. It can be used for washing cotton diapers, as a deodorizer, disinfectant, to remove mold and to treat houseplants for molds, fungus, and parasitic infections .
Animal care
Because pets also suffer many of the same diseases as humans, tea tree oil can also be used as treatment for such diseases as arthritis, fleas, bad breath , gum disease , abscesses, dermatitis, lice, parasites, ringworm, rashes and sprains. Dogs, in particular, are susceptible to mange, a hard-to-eliminate skin disorder causing hair loss and itching. To treat mange, wash your dog or cat using a mild soap and water, then clip or shave excess hair. Soak a cotton puff with tea tree oil and saturate on specific areas twice daily until mange disappears. For overall application, mix 1 teaspoon tea tree oil with 1/3 cup of water, place in a plant mister and spray the mange areas.
When using tea tree oil for animals, always dilute it as full strength can cause such reactions as muscle tremors and poor coordination. Also keep the oil away from the eyes.
Precautions
It is wise to check with your health care practitioner when using tea tree oil internally. Some people might be allergic to the cineole in tea tree oil, although studies show that the 1,8-cineole part improves the skin's absorption of the oil. Dr. Ian Southwell, Research Scientist at the New South Wales Department of Australia suggests the allergies could be from alcoholic tea tree oil substances. In 1998-99, skin sensitivity studies conducted at the University of Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research showed that only three out of 219 volunteers had an allergic reaction to only one or two tea tree oil ingredients. Patch test before applying to the affected external area. Pure tree oil is also contraindicated for babies, young children, pregnant women, and some pets.
Australian Standard No. AS 2782-1985 requires tea tree oil contain a minimum of terpinen-4-ol over 30% and cineole content of 15%. Tea tree oil is not to be used for daily hygiene, and is toxic to the liver and kidneys in high or chronic doses. High doses can also be irritating to the skin and provoke an allergic reaction in some people.
Further Reading
For Your Information
Books
Ali, Dr. Elivs, Dr. George Grant, and Ken Vegotsky. The Tea Tree Oil Bible. AGES Publications, Inc. 1999
Murry, Michael. The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima Publishing, 1995
Rothenberg, Mikel A., and Charles F. Chapman. Barron's Dictionary of Medical terms, third edition. Barron's Education Series, Inc. New York, 1994.
Periodicals
Ti-tree Oil and Chickenpox. Aromatherapy Quarterly Summer 1986, p. 12.
Other
"Antimicrobial activity of Tea Tree Oil." http://www.pharminfo.com/pubs/msb/teaoil240.html.
Australian Tea Tree Oil--Product Safety and recent progress in Research and Development. Courtesy of Robert Riedl, Technical Manager, Regional Affairs, from his lecture in London, England, September, 1999, Thursday Plantation Laboratories Limited, New South Wales, Australia.
The Tea Tree Oil Information Site. http://www.teatree.co.uk.
Thursday Plantation. http://www.thursdayplantation.com.
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group, 2001.
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