Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a yellow- or green-tinged essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour. 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 cosmetic and medical properties (including antiseptic and antifungal action).

Note that the term "tea tree oil" is somewhat of a misnomer, since Melaleuca alternifolia is a paperbark rather than a tea tree (genus Leptospermum). Tea tree oil should also not be confused with tea oil, the sweetish seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.

Contents [hide]
1 History and extraction
2 Usage
3 Safety
4 External links



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History and extraction
Australian Aborigines have 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.

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Usage
Preliminary scientific research (mainly in vitro) supports claims for various health benefits. Inhaled, tea tree oil is said to make breathing easier by "breaking up congestion". It supposedly can alleviate a sore throat and minimize the symptoms of cold, flu and systemic fungal infections. It seems effective against candidiasis and other vaginal infections and for hemorrhoids. As a bath additive it may control bacteria in spas and pools. For fungal nail infections, application is twice daily and relief or cure is typically seen in 3–4 months in contrast with the currently accepted medicine which requires costly prescriptions and is taken internally daily for up to a year. Tea tree oil also is used for athlete's foot, foul body odour, burning feet, etc. Massaging diluted tea tree oil into the affected area may alleviate the discomfort of sore muscles or joint injuries. It also reduces hypertrophic scarring. Tea tree oil has been found to kill Propionibacterium acnes; a main cause of acne vulgaris both in vitro and in vivo. Tea tree oil has thus been clinically tested for efficacy compared with benzoyl peroxide to prevent acne; and although it seemed somewhat less effective, it nevertherless had lower rates of irritation. Tea tree oil is extremely effective in healing blemishes caused by acne or herpes simplex virus.

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Safety
Tea tree oil is used almost exclusively externally. A patch test is advisable before using items containing tea tree oil, since it can be allergenic and cause skin irritation or rash.

Tea tree oil is toxic if ingested internally, and may result in dizziness, nausea and disorientation