Tea Tree Oil: Medicine Chest in a Bottle?
May 1, 1998
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.
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