Tea Tree Oil: Medicine Chest in a Bottle?
Unless your patients have been vacationing on the planet Mars, there is little doubt that they have heard something of the wonderful antiseptic, antifungal, healing properties of tea tree oil.
The extract from the small tree that is indigenous to the swamps of the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia, can be found in everything from bars of soap, to sunscreens, deodorants, and moisturizing lotions. The pure oil itself has been called "first aid in a bottle."
The September 1997 issue of Vegetarian Times listed the oil among its "Twelve Herbs that Experts Couldn't Live Without." The magazine consulted 15 of the world's leading botanical experts who listed tea tree oil for its "powerful antiseptic properties," and promoted it as "good for everything from athlete's foot to earache and gum inflammation." However, the article does caution against ingesting the oil.
According to Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, world tea tree oil supply is now at 300 tons a year, with demand increasing in line with production.
The article notes that "tea tree oil is a proven antiseptic," and advises potential producers that products at 5% concentration or higher are useful for therapeutic purposes such as antiseptic, antifungal, and acne treatments, and the oil can be incorporated into a wide range of cosmetics at lower concentrations (1-5%).
One of the most rapidly growing markets for tea tree oil is the skin care market, particularly in products for problem skin, the article continues.
The August 1997 issue of Better Nutrition claims that tea tree oil's antibacterial properties make it a natural deodorant, body cleanser, and shampoo, and its antifungal properties make it a natural first-aid product. Tea tree oil has been used in the treatment of scalp conditions, skin conditions, vaginal yeast infections, nail fungus, and hemorrhoids, the article claims.
It does, however, warn its readers that, although tea tree oil is non-irritating, it may sometimes dry the skin, and it cautions its readers to look for shampoos, soaps, and gels that have been blended with moisturizing oils.
Physicians should be aware that, although most of the articles warn readers the oil should not be taken orally, many of them still favorably mention products like throat lozenges, toothpaste, and lip balms containing tea tree oil.
The Better Nutrition article states that, although the oil is nontoxic, it could have poisonous effects in certain individuals, particularly children and infants.
References
1. Cates ND. Tea tree oil: Australian for skin health. Better Nutrition 1997;59:50-54.
2. Carson CF, Riley TV. Antimicrobial activity of the major components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. J Appl Bacteriol 1995;78:264-269.
3. Anonymous. Essential evaluation: Taking a closer look at natural oil. Manufacturing Chemist 1993;64:20.
4. Soderberg TA, Johansson A, Gref R. Toxic effects of some conifer resin acids and tea tree oil on human epithelial and fibroblast cells. Toxicology 1996;107:99-109.
5. Carson CF, Riley TV. Antimicrobial activity of the major components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. J Appl Bacteriol 1995;78:264-269.
6. Bassett IB. A comparative study of tea tree oil versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust 1990;153:455-458.
7. Buck D, et al. Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole. J Fam Pract 1994;38:601-605.
8. Tong MM, Altman PM, Barnetson RS. Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis. Aust J Dermatol 1992;33:145-149.
9. Blackwell AL. Tea tree oil and anaerobic (bacterial) vaginosis. Lancet 1991;337:300.
10. Neuwirth R. Are natural toothpastes effective? Am Health 1994;13:46.
11. Carson CF, Cookson BD, Farrelly HD, et al. Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. J Antimicrob Chemother 1995;35:4221-4424.
12. Weil A. Natural Health, Natural Medicine. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.; 1995.
13. Selvaag E, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis in an aroma therapist with multiple sensitizations to essential oils. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33:354-55.
14. De Groot AC, Weyland JW. Systemic contact dermatitis from tea tree oil. Contact Dermatitis 1992;27: 279-280.
15. Knight TE, Hausen BM. Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;3:423-427.
16. Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. Susceptibility of transient and commensal skin flora to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). Aust J Infect Control 1996;24:186-189.
17. Faoagali J, et al. Does tea tree oil have a place in the topical treatment of burns? Burns 1997;23:349-351.
18. Seawright A. Comment: Tea tree oil poisoning. Med J Aust 1993;159:830-831.
19. Willan D, et al. Toxicity of Melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Bet Hum Toxicol 1994;36:139-142.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content