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Oil Spotlight: Tea Tree

So, I must admit until this past year, I really didn’t know the depth to which essential oils can impact and improve our lives. Yeah, I knew a few names. And sure, I’ve used a few products that have contained an essential oil or two, but I had no clue what I was missing out on until I started researching the TONS of oils,,. When you get to know all of the amazing things you can do and treat using just what comes from nature, you definitely start to question the need for the drawer full of store-bought products and treatments cluttering up your home.

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Articles of Interest

As Synthetics Slide, Natural Tea Tree Oil Revives

The tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) is native to Australia and indigenous to the swamps along the coast on either side of Ballina. Oil distilled from the leaves is in increasing demand around the world as a natural fungicide, antibiotic and healing agent that can penetrate the skin and mucous membranes without causing irritation.

Efficacy and safety of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil for human health—A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Leaves of the Australian tea tree plant Melaleuca alternifolia were used traditionally by First Nations Australians for treating wounds, burns, and insect bites. Tea tree oil, the essential oil steam-distilled from M. alternifolia, is well-known for its medicinal properties, the evidence for most applications however is limited.

Essential Oils – Digging Deeper Tea Tree Oil

Continued innovative research by scientists is finding more uses for tea tree oil. As we continue to research tea tree oil, we will have a greater understanding of how best to incorporate this ingredient into new products.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne, According to Dermatologists

It's basically the holy grail.

Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties

Many complementary and alternative medicines have enjoyed increased popularity in recent decades. Efforts to validate their use have seen their putative therapeutic properties come under increasing scrutiny in vitro and, in some cases, in vivo. One such product is tea tree oil (TTO), the volatile essential oil derived mainly from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia. Employed largely for its antimicrobial properties, TTO is incorporated as the active ingredient in many topical formulations used to treat cutaneous infections. It is widely available over the counter in Australia, Europe, and North America and is marketed as a remedy for various ailments.

Tea tree oil - just a fad?

What is the big deal about tea tree oil? It’s in everything! Why is this essential oil so prevalent in health care? When compared to standard antibiotics and antiseptics, Melaleuca oil displays unique characteristics. In contrast to iodine and hydrogen peroxide, two commonly accepted antiseptics, tea tree oil does not harm human tissue. It also kills germs upon application and prevents their growth for days afterward. As an alternative to traditional antibiotics, tea tree oil’s complex chemical composition makes it extremely difficult for germs to develop resistance to it. Traditional antibiotics possess more simple chemical structures to which germs can easily develop immunity.

Tea tree oil faces ban over health fear

Tea tree oil, the increasingly popular remedy for everything from spots to insect bites and vapour rubs, is under threat of being banned by the European Union. The EU has said that even small amounts of the undiluted oil could be unsafe and unstable after clinical trials found users risked rashes and allergies.

Tea Tree Oil: An Antibacterial Agent That Banishes Bacteria

Tea tree oil is an essential oil extract from the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia, or tea tree, plant (not to be confused with tea plants whose leaves make green and black tea). It's primarily known and used for its anti-microbial and anti-septic properties, which help in germ-fighting and bacteria-killing.

Tea Tree Oil: Remedy and Poison

Tea tree oil has been used as a "natural" remedy for a long time, especially for skin afflictions. There is very little scientific evidence that tea tree oil is effective for most skin conditions. It is poisonous if swallowed, so it should not be used in or around the mouth.

The Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Hair, According to a Dermatologist

Tea tree oil can seemingly do it all — it's found its way into everything from cleaning products to pimple patches to anti-fungal nail treatments. The essential oil is no stranger to the hair-care aisle, either, with brands adding the ingredient to all manor of scalp-targeting product.

What Tea Tree Oil Can and Can’t Do for Your Skin

Tea tree oil is one of those mythical products rumored to treat basically everything. Depending on who you ask, this essential oil is miraculous and able to target issues from acne to dandruff to even cold sores. On the one hand, you might love the idea that a single product might be able to fix a variety of your skin concerns. On the other, if your medicine cabinet is a graveyard of defective beauty purchases, you might want to avoid the disappointment of yet another “super-product” that doesn’t do much.

What You Need to Know About Tea Tree Oil, It's Common Uses, and How We Use It

Tea tree oil is used for its powerful antiseptic properties. It can be applied topically to treat acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, and other skin conditions. Tea tree oil also has antibacterial qualities that make it useful in treating sore throats or respiratory infections like bronchitis. Tea tree oil is a volatile aromatic essential oil with many therapeutic properties including antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses; anti-inflammatory activity; analgesic (pain relief) activity.

Why Tea Tree Oil Is Still Beloved by Dermatologists

Yes, tea tree oil has been around forever, but there's a reason the ingredient remains a skin-care staple.

Resources

7 Ways to Use Tea Tree oil at Home

Tea tree oil contains terpinene-4-ol and terpinene-4-ol acetate as its main components. Terpinene-4-ol is a phenolic compound which has been isolated from the leaves of the tea tree plant. Terpinene-4-ol acetate is a form of terpinene-4-ol that is obtained by acetylation of terpinene-4-ol. Both these components have antimicrobial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that can be used for many different ailments. It has been used in traditional and modern medicine for centuries, but it has recently become more popular as an effective treatment for many skin conditions.