Tea Tree
Botanical Description & Habitat
Melaleuca alternifolia
Family
Myrtaceae
Description
Evergreen shrub with narrow leaves which give a distinctive aroma when crushed.
Its white flowers bloom in the summertime.
Habitat
Australia
Medicinal Parts
The leaves, from which the oil is distilled.
Historical Properties & Uses
The name Tea tree is said to derive from a botanist traveling with Captain Cook who, in his journal, described his voyage to Australia in 1770 where he brewed a tea from specimens of a type of Tea Tree.
Contrary to some reports, however, Tea tree was not used by early bush pioneers, nor was it handed on by aborigines (although they undoubtedly used it), but was the discovery of a New South Wales Government research scientist named Arthur Penfold who became the 'guru' of tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil is used to treat cuts, scratches, abrasions, burns, sunburn, prickly heat, insect bites, allergic and itching dermatoses, scalds, cosmetic rashes, anal and genital pruritus, herpes simplex lesions, athlete's foot, impetigo, furunculosis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, ringworm, decubitus and stasis ulcers, paronychia, thrush, tinea pedis, bromidrosis, lice infestation, pimples, pyorrhea, gingivitis, halitosis, bronchial and sinus congestion, trichomonal vaginitis, moniliasis and endocervicitis.
Method of Action
Tea Tree Oil has Excellent Antimicrobial Effects
Tea tree oil contains about 48 identified organic compounds, including terpines, cymenes, pinenes, terpinols, cineole, sesquiterpenes, viridiflorene, sequiterpene alcohols, which together account for the antibiotic, anesthetic, wound healing properties of Tea tree.
Observations in controlled settings validate claims the oil is capable of penetrating deeply into infected tissues and pus where it interacts in such a way as to cause the sloughing off of infected tissues, often resulting in healing without scars.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Comments
There is evidence combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the '-static' variety. How this finding applies to herbal antibiotics is not known.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Tea tree oil may be applied directly to affected areas without side effects. For external use only.
Preparation & Administration
Use as desired, a few drops at a time.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Belaiche, P. Treatment of vaginal infections of candida albicans with the essential oil of melaleuca alternifolia (cheel), Phytotherapy, 1985, 15, 13-15,
Belaiche, P. Treatment of skin infections with the essential oil of melaleuca alternifolia. erapy, 1985, 15.
Facts and Comparisons. The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Nov, 1997.
Guenther, E. Australian tea tree oils. Perfumery & Essential Oils Record. September, 1984, 642-644.
Humphrey, E. M. A new australian germicide. Medical Journal of Australia, 1, 417, 1930.
Lassak, E.V. & T. McCarthy. Australian Medicinal Plants. Metheuen, Australia. 1983. pp. 95-97.
The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Jan, 1991.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Pena, E.F. Melaleuca alternifolia oil: its use for trichomonal vaginitis and other vaginal infections. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 19(6), 793-795, 1962.
Penfold, A.R. & F.R. Morrison. Tea tree oils. E. Guenther, ed. The Essential Oils, Volume IV, D. Van Nostrand Co., New York, 1950.
Penfold, A.R. & F.R. Morrison. Some notes on the essential oil of M. alternifolia. The Australian Journal of Dentistry, Aug 1, 1930, 284-285.
Penfold, A.R. Some notes on the essential oil of melaleuca alternifolia. Australian Journal of Pharmacy, March 20, 1937, p. 274.
Swords, G. & G. Hunter. Composition of australian tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia). Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 26(3), 734-737, 1978.
Essential Oil
See Tea Tree Essence under Aromatherapy
Multimedia
Melaleuca alternifolia
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
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