Information about Tea Tree Oil
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Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil)
Tea tree oil is an extraction from the Melaleuca tree. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil, the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant (drinking tea) Camellia sinensis or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.
The term "tea tree oil" is also somewhat of a misnomer since Melaleuca alternifolia is a paperbark rather than a tea tree (genus Leptospermum). 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).
History and extraction
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The indigenous Bundjalung people of eastern Australia use “tea trees” as a traditional medicine by inhaling the oils from the crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds. They also sprinkle leaves on wounds, after which a poultice is applied. In addition, tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion to treat sore throats or skin ailments.[1][2]
Use of the oil itself, as opposed to the unextracted plant material, did not become common practice until researcher, Arthur Penfold, published the first reports of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of M. alternifolia, tea tree oil was rated as 11 times more active than phenol.[3]
The commercial tea tree oil industry was born after the medicinal properties of the oil were first reported by Penfold in the 1920s. It was produced from natural bush stands of M. alternifolia that produced oil with the appropriate chemotype. The plant material was hand cut and often distilled on the spot in makeshift, mobile, wood-fired bush stills.
Production ebbed after World War II as demand for the oil declined, presumably due to the development of effective antibiotics and the waning image of natural products. Interest in the oil was rekindled in the 1970s as part of the general renaissance of interest in natural products. Commercial plantations were established in the 1970s and 1980s, which lead to mechanization and large-scale production of a consistent essential oil product.[4]
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 dermatophytes found on the skin.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8] Another study in 2007 5% strength gel was compared against a placebo, with statistically significant results.[9]
Tea tree oil is also effective for treating insect bites, boils and minor wounds.[10] It has also been known to help soothe sunburns, poison ivy, ear infections, and bee stings.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13][14][15]
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.)[16]
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.[17] 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 tree oil, less than 6% of the patients observed positive reactions of skin irritation. Only 1 of 725 patients observed a positive reaction of skin irritation with the 1% dilution. None of the 725 patients observed adverse reactions with the 0.1% dilution.[18]
A case study reported in a recent publication showed a possible association between repeated topical application of products containing lavender oil with prepubertal gynecomastia (abnormal breast development in young boys). The study involved just three individuals. All three cases included the use of lavender oil. In one of the three cases, a product was used that contained lavender oil as well as tea tree oil, and other ingredients. The prepubertal gynecomastia reversed after discontinuing use of products containing lavender oil. In the same paper, results from cell culture assays indicated that both essential oils exhibit weak estrogenic properties. Researchers indicated that other components in these products may also have contributed to the gynecomastia, but those components were not yet tested. Researchers also noted that estrogenic activities have also been reported for many other commonly used essential oils as well as foods such as almonds and peanuts.[19] Other articles have cast doubt as to the conclusions of the article and dismissed the study as having used "poor methodology".[20][21]
As with many antibiotics, if used in 4% concentrations or below it may activate stress reactions in bacteria which can cause them to become less sensitive to antibiotics in vitro.[22] Tea tree oil is not recommended for use in the ears.[23]
References
1. ^ Shemesh, A., and W. L. Mayo. 1991. "Australian tea tree oil: a natural antiseptic and fungicidal agent." Aust. J. Pharm. 72:802-803
2. ^ Low, T. 1990. Bush medicine. Harper Collins Publishers, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
3. ^ Penfold, A. R., and R. Grant. 1925. "The germicidal values of some Australian essential oils and their pure constituents, together with those for some essential oil isolates, and synthetics. Part III." J. R. Soc. New South Wales 59:346-349.
4. ^ Johns, M. R., J. E. Johns, and V. Rudolph. 1992. "Steam distillation of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil." J. Sci. Food Agric. 58:49-53
5. ^ Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W (1996). "Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro". Skin Pharmacol. 9 (6): 388-94. PMID 9055360.
6. ^ Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS (2002). "Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo". J Am Acad Dermatol. 47 (6): 852-5. PMID 12451368.
7. ^ Hammer K, Carson C, Riley T (1998). "In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida spp.". J Antimicrob Chemother 42 (5): 591-5. PMID 9848442.
8. ^ Bassett I, Pannowitz D, Barnetson R (1990). "A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne.". Med J Aust 153 (8): 455-8. PMID 2145499.
9. ^ [1]
10. ^ Clark, S. T. (1994). The Great Melaleuca Fact Book, 54.
11. ^ Clark, S. T. (1994). The Great Melaleuca Fact Book.
12. ^ Small, B.E.J. (1981). "Tea Tree Oil". Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
13. ^ Shemesh, A. and Mayo, W.L. (1991). "A Natural Antiseptic and Fungicide". International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
14. ^ Walsh, L.J. and Longstaff, J. (1987). "The Antimicrobial Effects of an Essential Oil on Selected Oral Pathogens". Periodontology 8: 11-15.
15. ^ Shapiro, S., Meier, A. and Guggenheim, B. (1994). "The Anti-microbial Activity of Essential Oils and Essential Oil Components Towards Oral Bacteria,"". Oral Microbiology Immunology 9:4: 202-208.
16. ^ Bishop, C.D. (1995). "Anti-viral Activity of the Essential Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia". Journal of Essential Oil Research: 641-644.
17. ^ Morris M, Donoghue A, Markowitz J, Osterhoudt K (2003). "Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy.". Pediatr Emerg Care 19 (3): 169-71. PMID 12813303.
18. ^ Lisi P, Melingi L, Pigatto P, Ayala F, Suppa F, Foti C, Angelini G (2000). "Prevalenza della sensibilizzazione all´olio essenziale di Melaleuca. Ann Ital Dermatol Allergol 54": 141-144.
19. ^ Henley D, Lipson N, Korach K, Bloch C (2007). "Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils". N Engl J Med 356 (5): 479-85. PMID 17267908.
20. ^ Cosmetics and Toiletries Magazine
21. ^ Essential Oils Not Linked to Breast Growth in Young Boys
22. ^ Tea tree oil can lead to antibiotic resistance
23. ^ eDrugDigest
2. ^ Low, T. 1990. Bush medicine. Harper Collins Publishers, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
3. ^ Penfold, A. R., and R. Grant. 1925. "The germicidal values of some Australian essential oils and their pure constituents, together with those for some essential oil isolates, and synthetics. Part III." J. R. Soc. New South Wales 59:346-349.
4. ^ Johns, M. R., J. E. Johns, and V. Rudolph. 1992. "Steam distillation of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil." J. Sci. Food Agric. 58:49-53
5. ^ Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W (1996). "Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro". Skin Pharmacol. 9 (6): 388-94. PMID 9055360.
6. ^ Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS (2002). "Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo". J Am Acad Dermatol. 47 (6): 852-5. PMID 12451368.
7. ^ Hammer K, Carson C, Riley T (1998). "In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida spp.". J Antimicrob Chemother 42 (5): 591-5. PMID 9848442.
8. ^ Bassett I, Pannowitz D, Barnetson R (1990). "A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne.". Med J Aust 153 (8): 455-8. PMID 2145499.
9. ^ [1]
10. ^ Clark, S. T. (1994). The Great Melaleuca Fact Book, 54.
11. ^ Clark, S. T. (1994). The Great Melaleuca Fact Book.
12. ^ Small, B.E.J. (1981). "Tea Tree Oil". Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
13. ^ Shemesh, A. and Mayo, W.L. (1991). "A Natural Antiseptic and Fungicide". International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
14. ^ Walsh, L.J. and Longstaff, J. (1987). "The Antimicrobial Effects of an Essential Oil on Selected Oral Pathogens". Periodontology 8: 11-15.
15. ^ Shapiro, S., Meier, A. and Guggenheim, B. (1994). "The Anti-microbial Activity of Essential Oils and Essential Oil Components Towards Oral Bacteria,"". Oral Microbiology Immunology 9:4: 202-208.
16. ^ Bishop, C.D. (1995). "Anti-viral Activity of the Essential Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia". Journal of Essential Oil Research: 641-644.
17. ^ Morris M, Donoghue A, Markowitz J, Osterhoudt K (2003). "Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy.". Pediatr Emerg Care 19 (3): 169-71. PMID 12813303.
18. ^ Lisi P, Melingi L, Pigatto P, Ayala F, Suppa F, Foti C, Angelini G (2000). "Prevalenza della sensibilizzazione all´olio essenziale di Melaleuca. Ann Ital Dermatol Allergol 54": 141-144.
19. ^ Henley D, Lipson N, Korach K, Bloch C (2007). "Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils". N Engl J Med 356 (5): 479-85. PMID 17267908.
20. ^ Cosmetics and Toiletries Magazine
21. ^ Essential Oils Not Linked to Breast Growth in Young Boys
22. ^ Tea tree oil can lead to antibiotic resistance
23. ^ eDrugDigest
External links
- HerbMed
- Tea Tree Oil as Acne Treatment
- Tea Tree Oil Research Group, University of Western Australia.
Acne-treating agents (D10) | |
|---|---|
| Topical agents | Azelaic acid • Benzoyl peroxide • Glycolic acid • Light therapy • Salicylic acid • Tea tree oil |
| Antibiotics | Clindamycin • Erythromycin • Sulfacetamide • Tetracyclines • Trimethoprim |
| Hormonal | Antiandrogens • Contraceptives |
| Retinoids | Adapalene • Isotretinoin • Tazarotene • Tretinoin |
Antifungals (D01 and J02) | |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Griseofulvin • polyene antimycotics (Natamycin, Nystatin) |
| Topical azoles | imidazoles (Bifonazole, Clomidazole, Clotrimazole, Econazole, Fenticonazole, Ketoconazole, Isoconazole, Miconazole, Oxiconazole, Sertaconazole, Sulconazole, Tioconazole) • triazoles (Fluconazole) • benzimidazole (Thiabendazole) |
| Other topicals | Ciclopirox • Ethylparaben • Flucytosine • Salicylic acid • Selenium sulfide • Tolnaftate • Undecylenic acid • allylamines (Amorolfine, Butenafine, Naftifine, Terbinafine) |
| For systemic use | Griseofulvin • allylamine (Terbinafine) • polyene antimycotic (Amphotericin B) • triazoles (Itraconazole, Posaconazole, Voriconazole) • echinocandins (Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, Micafungin) |
| Other | Tea tree oil |
Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It currently contains 236 species, all of which occur in Australia. About 230 species are endemic to Australia, the few remaining species occur in Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New
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Tea seed oil (also known as tea oil or camellia oil) is an edible, pale amber-green fixed oil with a sweet, herbal aroma. It is cold-pressed mainly from the seeds of Camellia oleifera but also from Camellia sinensis or Camellia japonica.
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Camellia sinensis
(L.) Kuntze
Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the plant species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea.
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(L.) Kuntze
Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the plant species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea.
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C. oleifera
Binomial name
Camellia oleifera
C.Abel
Camellia oleifera, which originated in China, is notable as an important source of edible oil (known as tea oil or camellia oil) obtained
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Binomial name
Camellia oleifera
C.Abel
Camellia oleifera, which originated in China, is notable as an important source of edible oil (known as tea oil or camellia oil) obtained
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Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It currently contains 236 species, all of which occur in Australia. About 230 species are endemic to Australia, the few remaining species occur in Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New
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Tea tree or Ti-tree is a popular name that has been applied to a number of different, unrelated plants:
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- Camellia sinensis (aka Thea sinensis), from which black, green, oolong and white tea are all obtained.
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Leptospermum
J.R.Forster & G.Forster
Species
About 80-86, including:
Leptospermum arachnoides
Leptospermum epacridoideum
Leptospermum grandiflorum
Leptospermum javanicum
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J.R.Forster & G.Forster
Species
About 80-86, including:
Leptospermum arachnoides
Leptospermum epacridoideum
Leptospermum grandiflorum
Leptospermum javanicum
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essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic plants. They are also known as volatile or ethereal
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Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora
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odor or odour (see spelling differences) is a volatilized chemical compound, generally at a very low concentration, which humans and other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors.
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leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat (laminar) and thin, to expose the cells containing chloroplast (chlorenchyma tissue, a type of parenchyma) to light over a broad area, and to allow light to penetrate
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Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It currently contains 236 species, all of which occur in Australia. About 230 species are endemic to Australia, the few remaining species occur in Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New
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New South Wales
Flag Coat of Arms
Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State
Motto(s): "Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites"
(Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine)
Other Australian states and territories
Capital Sydney
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Flag Coat of Arms
Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State
Motto(s): "Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites"
(Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine)
Other Australian states and territories
Capital Sydney
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Anthem
Advance Australia Fair [1]
Capital Canberra
Largest city Sydney
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Advance Australia Fair [1]
Capital Canberra
Largest city Sydney
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Cosmetics ( pronunciation: cosmetic ) are substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body.
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Medicine is the science and "" of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing.
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Antiseptics (Greek αντί, against, and σηπτικός, putrefactive) are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction.
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An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Such drugs are usually obtained by a doctor's prescription or purchased over-the-counter.
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Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. The term includes both the Torres Strait Islanders and the Aboriginal People, who together make up about 2.5% of Australia's population.
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The word tradition comes from the Latin word traditio which means "to hand down" or "to hand over." It is used in a number of ways in the English language:
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- Beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next, often orally.
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Medicine is the science and "" of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing.
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Acute nasopharyngitis
Classification & external resources
ICD-10 J 00.0
ICD-9 460
DiseasesDB 31088
MedlinePlus 000678
eMedicine med/2339
MeSH D003139 Acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza
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Classification & external resources
ICD-10 J 00.0
ICD-9 460
DiseasesDB 31088
MedlinePlus 000678
eMedicine med/2339
MeSH D003139 Acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza
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A poultice, also called cataplasm, is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body.
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infusion is water or oil in which plants with a desired flavour have been .
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Examples
- Herbs or other plants can be placed in boiling water for a few minutes, then discarded, and the water drunk as a beverage. A common example is tea.
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Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.]] In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs.
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An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria (antibacterial activity), fungi (antifungal activity), viruses (antiviral activity), or parasites (anti-parasitic activity).
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Phenol, also known under an older name of carbolic acid, is a toxic, colourless crystalline solid with a sweet tarry odor. Its chemical formula is C6H5
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Industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent, industrious"), is the segment of economy concerned with production of goods. Industry began in its present form during the 1800s, aided by technological advances, and it has continued to develop to this day.
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A chemotype (sometimes chemovar) is a chemically distinct entity in a plant or microorganism, with differences in the composition of the secondary metabolites. Minor genetic and epigenetic changes with little or no effect on morphology may produce large changes in the
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Distillation is a method of separating chemical substances based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation usually forms part of a larger chemical process, and is thus referred to as a unit operation.
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