| Tea Tree Oil |
Article Index for Tea Tree |
Website Links For Tea Tree |
Information AboutTea Tree Oil |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TEA TREE OIL | |
| essential oils | |
| antiseptics | |
| antifungals | |
| skin care | |
|
Tea tree oil or '''melaleuca oil''' is a clear to very pale golden color Essential Oil with a fresh Camphoraceous Odour . It is taken from the Leaves of the '' Melaleuca Alternifolia '' which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales , Australia . The oil is believed to have beneficial Cosmetic and Medical properties (including Antiseptic and Antifungal action). 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 sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant '' Camellia Sinensis '' or the tea oil plant '' Camellia Oleifera ''. HISTORY AND EXTRACTION ]] Indigenous Australians have used oil extracted from the tree's needles for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years. Currently, tea tree oil is obtained by steam Distillation of the leaves. Among over 98 Compounds contained in the oil, Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial actions. Although tea tree oil is normally extracted from '' Melaleuca Alternifolia '' commercially, it can also be extracted from '' Melaleuca Dissitiflora '' and '' Melaleuca Linariifolia .'' Tea tree oil is defined by international standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of ''Melaleuca'', Terpinen-4-ol type"), which specifies levels of 14 components which are needed to define the oil as "tea tree oil." MEDICINAL USE Tea tree oil has been recognized as a potent Antiseptic in Australia anecdotally for much longer than there has been scientific evidence. However, recent studies support a role for tea tree oil in skin care and treatment of various ailments. Tea tree oil is a known Antifungal agent, effective '' In Vitro '' against multiple Dermatophyte s found on the skin.1 '' In Vivo '', shampoo with 5% tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for Dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia Furfur , the most common cause of the condition.2 Tea Tree Oil is used in medically used cosmetic products also. Some references are there to suggest its role as antiviral. Effectiveness of topical tea tree oil preparations for Candidiasis is supported by their ability to kill Candida ''in vitro.''3 In the treatment of moderate Acne , topical application of 5% tea tree oil has shown an effect comparable to 5% Benzoyl Peroxide , albeit with slower onset of action.4 Tea tree oil is also effective for treating insect bites, boils and minor wounds. 5 It has also been known to help soothe sunburns, poison ivy, ear infections, and bee stings. 6 Diluted solutions of tea tree oil are sold as remedies which claim to treat bacterial and fungal infection in pet fish. Pets: Skin problems, wounds, insect bites and stings, and ringworm can all be treated with tea tree oil or products made with tea tree oil. There are some cases where pure tea tree oil placed on the skin of the animal can cause irritation (recovering quickly after discontinuing). Therefore, test the treatment first by applying only to a small area of the animal's skin. 7 Toothpastes and mouthwashes containing tea tree oil are shown to be effective for a number of oral problems. Some of these include, halitosis (bad breath), gum disease, and canker sores. 8 9 10 There is some limited research that has shown that tea tree oil may have anti-viral activity, especially with the Herpes virus (cold sores, chicken pox and shingles blisters, warts, etc.) 11 SAFETY Melaleuca oil is used almost exclusively externally. Data on oral use of tea tree oil in humans in large quantities is sparse aside from several anecdotal reports of side effects following oral ingestion 12. Symptoms may include Ataxia and Drowsiness . A relatively small number of people report an allergic reaction to tea tree oil which could consist of a minor skin irritation. In a study of 725 consecutive patients, patients were patch tested with undiluted, 1 % and 0.1 % Tea Tree Oil. For pure undiluted tea tea oil, less than 6% of the patients observed positive reactions of skin irritation. |
|
|