Tea tree oil is scientifically known as Melaleuca alternifolia. It is a plant that is native to Australia, and the oil is extracted by steam distilling the leaves of the tree. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries for its health benefits, as native Australians would crush the leaves for the oil, and make a poultice from them for treating wounds and infections. Today, tea tree oil is still used for its health benefits, which are now scientifically documented.
Antiviral Benefits
Herpes is an infection that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains is caused by a virus. Researchers at the University of Heidelberg in Germany report that the HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) is susceptible to treatment with tea tree oil. The report, published in the August 3, 2009 issue of "Phytotherapy Research," explains that tea tree oil, and other essential oils, such as eucalyptus, hold antiviral properties, and the compounds in the oils that hold these benefits are called monoterpenes. While other oils are antiviral, the combined monoterpenes in tea tree oil hold 10 times the antiviral selectivity than that of the others.
Antibacterial Benefits
One of the best known benefits of tea tree oil is the fact that it has antibacterial properties. Bacteria is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and other antibacterial agents, but tea tree oil shows promise where the others fail. MSRA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and the Mayo Clinic explains that it is a strain staphylococcus that is resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, which makes it extremely difficult to treat. This can be a real problem, as MSRA can be deadly. With tea tree oil there is good news. The November 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Infection Control" reports that tea tree oil is not only effective in topically treating MSRA bacteria, but it is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, has the ability to help with healing of chronic wounds and has virtually no side effects, except for minor contact dermatitis.
Antifungal Benefits
Many fungi can cause problems on the skin of both animals and humans, including ringworm and nail infections. One such fungus, called Trichophyton mentagrophytes, can cause infection in the region of the hair, scalp, skin and nails. According to the Toxic Black Mold Damage and Information Center, this type of fungus needs keratin to grow, which is what causes the infection in these particular regions. You may have heard tea tree oil being recommended to treat nail infections or ringworm, and the December 2006 "Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy" published a study that demonstrates just how effective it can be against such fungi. Tea tree oil is not only effective when applied topically; it is so potent that even the vapors can destroy a fungus. The study, performed at Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology in Tokyo, explains that Trichophyton mentagrophytes fungus was exposed to the vapors of various essential oils, including tea tree, and after only three hours the mycelia, which is the growing part of the fungus, was killed off, which eventually led to cellular death of the fungus. Tea tree oil is an effective natural remedy for ringworm and nail fungus.
References
- RMBarry Publications: Melaleuca oil research reeport
- National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus: Herpes simplex
- PubMed: Abstract: Phytotherapy Research: Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes
- Mayo Clinic: MSRA Infections
- PubMed: Abstract: American Journal of Infection Control: Staphylococcus aureus and wounds: a review of tea tree oil
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