Medical Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil

Medical Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil
Other Common Names: Manuka, Melaleuca alternifolia

Range: Australia - New South Wales, Queensland; East Indies.

Haitat: Swamps by the coast. Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun.

In 1770, on an expedition to Australia, the renowned world explorer
Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy wrote in his ship's log
how the local tribes brewed a spicy tea from the leaves of a unique
"paper-barked" tree. He gave the tree the name "Tea Tree". The
aborigines used the leaves extensively. Stories are told of animals
seeking out, and rolling and soaking in the oil-containing amber waters
underneath the trees. The aborigines would crush the leaves for
application to the skin and cover the concoction with a mud pack. They
also brewed the leaves into a beneficial spicy tea. In 1920 Dr. A. R.
Penefold, a government chemist in Sydney, Australia, was credited for
beginning the human clinical research and documentation of the many
benefits associated with Tea Tree Oil. His results were far beyond
expectations. Tea Tree Oil became so valued by the Australian
government that, during World War II, those who worked in the
processing of this oil were granted exemption from military service to
ensure sufficient supply of this precious oil, which was provided to
both Australian and British soldiers.

Although there are over 300 species of trees in the Melaleuca
family, only Melaleuca Alternifolia produces the quality of Tea Tree
Oil suitable for therapeutic use. Because of the difficulty of
eradicating Tea Trees for farming, farmers once believed the valuable
trees to be a nuisance. However in the past decade, the precious oil of
this tree has gained international respect as people have realized it's
broad range of uses. Today, several commercial plantations, with trees
numbering into the millions, have quite literally taken root. They
anticipate tremendous demand for this precious oil in the years ahead,
as more and more people find out about the unprecedented power of this
essential oil.

Tea tree, and in particular its essential oil, is one of the most
important natural antiseptics and it merits a place in every medicine
chest. It is useful for treating stings, burns, wounds and skin
infections of all kinds.

An essential oil obtained from the leaves and twigs is strongly
antiseptic, diaphoretic and expectorant. It stimulates the immune
system and is effective against a broad range of bacterial and fungal
infections. Internally, it is used in the treatment of chronic and some
acute infections, notably cystitis, glandular fever and chronic fatigue
syndrome. It is used externally in the treatment of thrush, vaginal
infections, acne, athlete's foot, verrucas, warts, insect bites, cold
sores and nits. It is applied neat to verrucas, warts and nits, but is
diluted with a carrier oil such as almond for other uses.

The oil is non-irritant. A report says that high quality oils
contain about 40% terpinen-4-ol, which is well tolerated by the skin
and 5% cineol which is irritant. However, in poor quality oils the
levels of cineol can exceed 10% and in some cases up to 65%.

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Antiseptic'.

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves. It is strongly
germicidal and is also used in dentistry, deodorants, soaps,
mouthwashes etc.