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Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor and a color that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colorless and clear. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil, the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis (beverage tea) or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.

Tea tree oil is toxic when taken by mouth, but is widely used in low concentrations in cosmetics and skin washes. Tea tree oil has been claimed to be useful for treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Although it shows some promise as an antimicrobial, there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness for many of these claimed uses. Its use as a treatment for head lice in children has been recommended against.

History and extraction

The commercial tea tree oil industry originated in the 1920s when Arthur Penfold, an Australian, investigated the business potential of a number of native extracted oils; he reported that tea tree oil had promise as it exhibited powerful antiseptic properties.

Although tea tree oil normally is extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia commercially, it can also be extracted from Melaleuca dissitiflora and Melaleuca linariifolia.

Composition and characteristics

Tea tree oil is defined by the International Standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type"), which specifies levels of 15 components which are needed to define the oil as "tea tree oil."

Among over 98 compounds contained in the oil, terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial activity.

The oil has been described as having a fresh, camphor-like smell.

Medical use

In vitro studies show that tea tree oil is capable of killing MRSA in a laboratory setting. Studies have shown that it demonstrated similar rates of eradication when compared to treatment with mupirocin. A 2005 review stated that there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine use for this purpose in a clinical setting. An 2008 article from the American Cancer Society says that studies have found some promise of a possible role for the topical application of tea tree oil as an antiseptic, but that "despite years of use, available clinical evidence does not support the effectiveness of tea tree oil for treating skin problems and infections in humans". A 2012 review by the NIH rates Tea tree oil as "possibly effective" for three applications, saying that "a 5% tea tree oil gel appears to be as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide" for treating mild to moderate acne and that "a 10% tea tree oil cream works about as well as tolnaftate 1% cream" in treating symptoms of athlete's foot, although being less effective than clotrimazole or terbinafine.

Despite claims from proponents, there is insufficient evidence for it to be rated for other applications, including treatment of lice, cold sores, eczema, yeast infections and ringworm. There is no evidence it helps the immune system and it is poisonous when taken internally. A 2012 review of head lice treatment recommended against the use of tea tree oil for children because it could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, because of contraindications, and because of a lack of knowledge about the oil's safety and effectiveness.

Safety

According to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children."

A 2008 EU scientific committee report into the safety of tea tree oil stated in its conclusion that some oil constituents may be absorbed by the skin, leading to "considerable systemic exposure". They further state that the oil is a skin sensitizer, and that "neat tea tree oil and certain formulations at concentrations of 5% or more can induce skin and eye irritation".

Some people can experience allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to dermal contact with tea tree oil. Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and/or air.

In vitro testing of tea tree oil shows that it contains chemicals which are weakly estrogenic causing particular concern for use with children. However in tests, the chemicals which show this effect failed to show absorption into the skin, and evidence of a hormonal effect is therefore considered implausible by an EU scientific committee.

In dogs and cats, death or transient signs of toxicity (lasting 2 to 3 days), such as depression, weakness, incoordination and muscle tremors, have been reported after external application at high doses.

In rats the LD50 is 1.9-2.4 ml/kg.

Undiluted tea tree oil can cause some hearing loss when used in the ears of non-human animals; however, a 2% concentration has not been shown to have any lasting effect. It is not known whether the same is true for humans.

See also

• Cajuput oil – derived from Melaleuca leucadendra

References

1. ^ SCCP/1155/08 Scientific Committee on Consumer Products SCCP OPINION ON Tea tree oil- European Union Commission Health and Consumer Union protection director general- adopted 18th plenary of 16 December 2008
2. "Directory of Essential Oils for Aromatherapy: Tea-Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)". Holistics Online.
3. ^ "Tea Tree Oil". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved September 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
4. ^ "Tea tree oil". Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health. 27 July 2012.
5. ^ Eisenhower, Christine; Farrington, Elizabeth Anne (2012). "Advancements in the Treatment of Head Lice in Pediatrics". Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 26 (6): 451–61, quiz 462–4. doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2012.05.004. PMID 23099312.
6. Carson, C. F.; Hammer, K. A.; Riley, T. V. (2006). "Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: A Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 19 (1): 50–62. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006. PMC 1360273. PMID 16418522.
7. Hart, P.H.; Brand, C.; Carson, C.F.; Riley, T.V.; Prager, R.H.; Finlay-Jones, J.J. (2000). "Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes". Inflammation Research. 49 (11): 619–26. doi:10.1007/s000110050639. PMID 11131302.
8. Billee Sharp (18 September 2013). Lemons and Lavender: The Eco Guide to Better Homekeeping. Cleis Press. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-1-936740-11-6.
9. Bradley, Suzanne F (January 2011). "MRSA colonisation (eradicating colonisation in people without active/invasive infection)". Clinical Evidence. PMID 21477403.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
10. Flaxman, D; Griffiths, P (2005). "Is tea tree oil effective at eradicating MRSA colonization? A review". British journal of community nursing. 10 (3): 123–6. PMID 15824699.
11. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/113.html
12. Jacobi, Tillmann (22 September 2011). "The Basics – The management of head lice". GP: 38. All in all, the evidence for alternative treatments, such as tea tree oil and neem seed oil, remains weak.
13. "Tea Tree Oil". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
14. Hammer, K; Carson, C; Riley, T; Nielsen, J (2006). "A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 44 (5): 616–25. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2005.09.001. PMID 16243420.
15. Aberer, W (2008 Jan). "Contact allergy and medicinal herbs". Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG. 6 (1): 15–24. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06425.x. PMID 17919303. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "Tea Tree Oil and Dogs, Tea Tree Oil and Cats". Petpoisonhelpline.com. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
17. "Tea Tree Oil Toxicity". Veterinarywatch. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
18. Villar, D (1994 Apr). "Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats". Veterinary and human toxicology. 36 (2): 139–42. PMID 8197716. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
19. Clinical Microbiological Reviews: Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties-C. F. Carson,1 K. A. Hammer,1 and T. V. Riley

External links

• "The Marshall Centre: Tea Tree Oil"., research group at the University of Western Australia
• "Tea Tree Oil". at the American Cancer Society

• Essential oils
• Antiseptics
• Antifungals
• Skin care
• Acne treatments
• Dermatologic drugs
• Traditional medicine
• Non-timber forest products