Tea tree oil is a yellow- or green-tinged essential oil with a fresh amphoraceous odor. It is extracted from the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil is claimed to have beneficial cosmeticand medicalproperties (including antiseptic and antifungal action). Australian Aborigineshave used oil extracted from the tree's needles for hundreds of years. Currently, tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves. Of the over 100 compounds contained in the oil, terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial actions. The international standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type") specifies levels of 14 components of the oil.
Tea tree oil is most commonly found as a pure essential oil. It is also an ingredient in creams, ointments, lotions, soaps, and shampoos.Tea tree oil should not be confused with Chinese tea oil, cajeput oil, kanuka oil, manuka oil, ti tree oil, and niauouli oil.
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Specification of Tea-Tree Oil
Product Code
LJP/TTO
Name
Tea-Tree Oil
Botanical Name
Melaleuca Alternifolia
Obtain
By steam distillation from the leaves & twigs.
Appearance
Clear with a Yellow Tinge
The narrow-leafed paper bark Tea Tree MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA is one member of an extensive botanical family - the Myrtaceae. All plants belonging to this family are aromatic because they have glandular dots in their leaves which, when crushed, release essential oils of varying amounts and constituents. There are a large group of plants in Australia known collectively as TEA TREES. The fact that the same name is commonly used to describe a very diverse and wide spread botanical group of plants has led to some confusion. Also the fact that the essential oil derived from Melaleuca alternifloria has also been called Ti Tree oil, although Ti is the Maori name for the Cabbage tree (Cordyline Australis).
Aborigines used a number of tea trees in medicine for coughs, colds. The leaves were crushed and inhaled or soaked to make an infusion. Leaf washes were applied to pains, sores and burns.
Tea tree oil is an important component of any first aid kit. It can help with many minor conditions that commonly occur. Used topically for all skin ailments, cuts, burns, acne, cold sores, boils, warts, vaginal infections, ringworm, skin rashes, impetigo, herpes, corns, lice, insect bites, insect repellent and fungal infections. It has valuable properties for healing and preventing infection. Tea tree oil acts as a mild anesthetic when applied to painful areas and to soothe cuts and burns. It can help heal as well as reduce scarring. Tea tree oil can be used to deter fleas, insect bites and stings. (The FDA does not allow the use of the word "repellant" on any natural insect deterrents so I use the word "deter" instead.)
Tea tree oil contains at least 48 different organic compounds. The compounds work together to produce the healing abilities found in the oil. Research done in the 1950s and early 1960s found that tea tree oil is a germicide and fungicide with additional characteristics of dissolving pus and debris. Recent studies have found it effective for thrush, vaginal infections of Candida albicans, staph infections, athlete's foot, hair and scalp problems, mouth sores, muscle and joint pain, pain, and boils. Tea tree oil is a valuable antiseptic for skin infections. It is able to penetrate the epidermis to heal from within. Clinical studies have found that tea tree oil can heal quickly and with less scarring than other treatments. The oil is even effective against Staphylococcus aureus, which is often difficult to treat and is becoming resistant to antibiotic therapy. Tea tree oil has been found to be effective against many organisms including E. coli, Candida albicans, herpes virus, and many others.
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Benefits / Uses
Tea-tree oil may help in acne, blisters, burns, colds, dandruff, herpes, insect bites, rashes, warts, wounds, whooping cough, vaginitis, fever, flue and may be beneficial for respiratory and infectious diseases and aid in healing wounds and candida.
Safety Data
It is non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitization in some individuals.
