Tea Tree Facts

Tea tree is the common name given to the Melaleuca alternifolia plant that grows in the moist soil of wooded areas in Australia, according to Plants for a Future. The oil derived from distilling the leaves is used in a wide variety of applications, including home remedies and skin care products. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that make it effective at treating many conditions, although as with all herbal remedies, talk to a physician before using.

History

The aboriginal people of Australia were using the tea tree long before it was "discovered" and named by Captain James Cook in 1770, according to the Australian Tea Tree Oil website. Nearly 150 years later, in the 1920s and 1930s, a series of papers written by Arthur Penfold described the antibacterial properties of tea tree oil and popularized its use. During World War II, the oil was considered an essential part of the Australian soldier's inventory. Its world-wide popularity died off but was resurrected again during the 1960s, when interest in natural remedies came back into style.

Tea Tree Oil Uses

Tea tree oil is used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Its properties make it a useful tool in combating viral, bacterial and fungal infections. It can also be used to treat acne, cold sores and other skin conditions. When used in a bath or inhaled as a vapor, tea tree oil can help loosen up thick mucus and relieve cold symptoms. It is also added to shampoos to treat dandruff and deodorants to eliminate body odor.

How To Use

Tea tree oil is one of the few essential oils that can be safely applied directly to the skin. However, it is usually best to add a few drops to a carrier oil such as sweet almond or grapeseed oil, especially if you have sensitive skin. The oil can be added to a bath or a bowl of steaming hot water and inhaled. It may also be added to creams and lotions or used as massage oil. Although tea tree leaves were originally made into a tea, tea tree oil cannot be taken internally.

Evidence

In "Time-kill studies of tea tree oil on clinical isolates," performed by the Microbiology Department of St. Thomas' Hospital in London, England and published in the January, 2000 edition of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, a clone of tea tree oil was found to be useful at controlling MRSA organisms. "The Effectiveness and Safety of Australian Tea Tree Oil" pamphlet put out by the Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association cites additional studies performed by the University of Western Australia's Tea Tree Oil Research group indicating the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating fungal infections, including athlete's foot and ringworm and its use as an antibacterial agent.

Precautions

Tea tree oil should only be used topically. Ingesting the oil can lead to coma or death. Tea tree oil can cause allergic reaction or sensitization in some people. This risk increases when tea tree oil is used over an extended period of time. There is some preliminary evidence that excessive use of tea tree oil can cause breast growth in prepubescent males, according to Sloan-Kettering.