Tea Tree Essetial Oil

Latin (Botanical) Name: Melaleuca alternifolia

Plant Family: Myrtaceae

Common Extraction Method: Steam distillation

Typically Used Plant Part: Leaves

Color: Very light yellow

Aromatic Characteristic: Medicinal fresh, woody, earthy and herbaceous fragrance.

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Tea tree oil is one of the most well-known and loved essential oils in the world. Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree native to Australia. It was first named by Captain Cook in 1770. It has been used as a traditional medicine by Aborigines for centuries. Locals first used it in the form of tea. They then crushed the tea tree leaf to extract the oil, sniffed the oil for colds and flu, and applied it directly to the skin for healing purposes.

Evergreen tree, inhabits wet lowland areas, is about 3-8 meters tall. The Australian tea tree has papery white bark, dark green needle-like leaves and colorful flowers.

It is one of the most loved essential oils in the beauty industry today. Tea tree essential oil has more than 92 components. With this feature, it is used for many health benefits.

KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Terpinene-4-ol
Gamma-Terpinene
alpha-Terpinene
Terpinolene
8 Cineole
alpha-Terpineol
p-Cymeme
alpha-Pinene

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BENEFITS

It shows anti-inflammatory characteristic:

It helps reduce discomfort caused by pain and swelling [1].

It shows antimicrobial, antiseptic and antifungal characteristics:

Studies show that tea tree oil contains a number of compounds, including Terpinene-4-ol, which helps kill some bacteria, viruses, and fungi [1] [2] [3] [4]. Terpinene-4-ol also helps increase the activity of white blood cells, thereby fighting germs and other foreign invaders [5]. With its germ-fighting property, tea tree oil helps to treat bacterial skin conditions, prevent infection, reduce itching, and promote healing. Helps to treat and disinfect minor cuts and scrapes.

Tea tree oil has been shown to help get rid of nail fungus when used alone or in combination with other natural remedies [6] [7].

Tea tree oil helps to destroy lice [8].

Tea tree oil is a great all-purpose cleaner that also sterilizes surfaces with its antimicrobial, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

It helps reduce acne:

Studies have shown that tea tree oil helps reduce the amount and severity of acne [9] [10] [11].

Insect repellent:

Studies have shown that tea tree oil helps to kill or repel insects [12] [13]. In some cases, it is as effective or more effective than standard insecticides or repellents.

It also helps to reduce itching, redness and swelling caused by insect bites [14].

It is a natural deodorant:

The antibacterial effects of tea tree oil can help control underarm odor associated with perspiration. Actually, it's not sweat that smells. When secretions from sweat glands combine with bacteria on the skin, a foul odor is produced. The bacteria-fighting properties of tea tree oil make it an ideal natural alternative to commercial deodorants and antiperspirants. With this feature, it helps to remove bad odors.

Fights tooth decay and bad breath:

Research shows that tea tree oil can help fight germs that cause tooth decay and bad breath [15].

WARNINGS

IT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL, DIRECT APPLICATION MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying topically. You can do a patch test before using the oil if you want to make sure it doesn't irritate your skin.
FOR EXTERNAL USE, NON-DRINKABLE.
Avoid contact with eyes, in case of contact rinse with plenty of water.
Do not use the product if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
It is recommended that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people using medication should consult their doctor before using tea tree oil.

ACADEMIC STUDIES

[1] C. F. Carson, K. A. Hammer, T. V. Riley (2006). Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 Jan; 19(1): 50–62.

[2] Raman, A., U. Weir, and S. F. Bloomfield. 1995. Antimicrobial effects of tea-tree oil and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 21:242-245

[3] Cox, S. D., C. M. Mann, J. L. Markham, H. C. Bell, J. E. Gustafson, J. R. Warmington, and S. G. Wyllie. 2000. The mode of antimicrobial action of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). J. Appl. Microbiol. 88:170-175.

[4] Hammer, K. A., C. F. Carson, and T. V. Riley. 2003. Antifungal activity of the components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. J. Appl. Microbiol. 95:853-860.

[5] S. S. Budhiraja, M.. E Cullum, S. S. Sioutis, L. Evangelista, S.. T Habanova (1999). Biological activity of Melaleuca alternifola (Tea Tree) oil component, terpinen-4-ol, in human myelocytic cell line HL-60. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Sep;22(7):447-53.

[6] T. A. Syed, Z. A. Qureshi, S. M. Ali, S. Ahmad, S. A. Ahmad (1999). Treatment of toenail onychomycosis with 2% butenafine and 5% Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil in cream. Trop Med Int Health. 1999 Apr;4(4):284-7.

[7] D. S. Buck, D. M. Nidorf, J. G. Addino (1994). Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole. J Fam Pract. 1994 Jun;38(6):601-5.

[8] E. Campli, S. Bartolomeo, P. D. Pizzi, M. Giulio, R. Grande, A. Nostro, L. Cellini (2012). Activity of tea tree oil and nerolidol alone or in combination against Pediculus capitis (head lice) and its eggs. Parasitol Res, DOI 10.1007/s00436-012-3045-0

[9] H. K. Malhi, J. Tu, T. V. Riley, S. P. Kumarasinghe, K. A. Hammer (2017). Tea tree oil gel for mild to moderate acne; a 12 week uncontrolled, open-label phase II pilot study. Australas J Dermatol. 2017 Aug;58(3):205-210.

[10] S. Enshaieh, A. Jooya, A. H. Siadat, F. Iraji (2007). The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Jan-Feb 2007;73(1):22-5.

[11] P. Sinha, S. Srivastava, N. Mishra, N. P. Yadav (2014). New Perspectives on Antiacne Plant Drugs: Contribution to Modern Therapeutics. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 301304.

[12] V. Klauck, R. Pazinato, L. M. Stefani, R. C. Santos, R..A. Vaucher, M. D. Baldissera, R. Raffin, A. Boligon, M. Athayde, D. Baretta, G. Machado, A. S. DA Silva (2014). Insecticidal and repellent effects of tea tree and andiroba oils on flies associated with livestock. Med Vet Entomol. 2014 Aug;28 Suppl 1:33-9.

[13] T. F. Adams, C. Wongchai, A. Chaidee, W. Pfeiffer (2016). "Singing in the Tube"--audiovisual assay of plant oil repellent activity against mosquitoes (Culex pipiens). Parasitol Res. 2016 Jan;115(1):225-39.

[14] K. J. Koh, A. L. Pearce, G. Marshman, J. J. Finlay-Jones, P. H. Hart (2002). Tea tree oil reduces histamine-induced skin inflammation. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Dec;147(6):1212-7.

[15] D. Chandrdas, H. L. Jayakumar, M. Chandra, L. Katodia, A. Sreedevi (2014). Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of garlic, tea tree oil, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, and ultraviolet sanitizing device in the decontamination of toothbrush. Indian J Dent. 2014 Oct-Dec; 5(4): 183–189.