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.

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