Melaleuca Tea tree oil
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Image:Teatreeoil.jpg Tea tree oil is a yellowish green-tinged essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil is claimed to have beneficial cosmetic and medical properties (including antiseptic and antifungal action).
The term "tea tree oil" is somewhat of a misnomer since Melaleuca alternifolia is a paperbark rather than a tea tree (genus Leptospermum). Tea tree oil should also not be confused with tea oil, the sweetish seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.
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[edit] History and extraction
Indigenous Australians have used oil extracted from the tree's needles for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years. Currently, tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves. Of the over 98 compounds contained in the oil, terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial actions.
Although tea tree oil is normally extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia commercially, it can also be extracted from Melaleuca dissitiflora and Melaleuca linariifolia. Tea tree oil is defined by international standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type"), which specifies levels of 14 components which are needed to define the oil as "tea tree oil."
[edit] Medicinal Use
Tea tree oil has been recognized as a potent antiseptic in Australia anecdotally for much longer than there has been scientific evidence. However, recent studies support a role for tea tree oil in skin care and treatment of various ailments.
Tea tree oil is a known antifungal agent, effective in vitro against multiple dermatophytes found on the skin.<ref>Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W (1996). "Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro". Skin Pharmacol. 9 (6): 388-94. PMID 9055360.</ref> In vivo, shampoo with 5% tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for dandruff due to Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of the condition.<ref>Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS (2002). "Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo". J Am Acad Dermatol. 47 (6): 852-5. PMID 12451368.</ref>
Effectiveness of topical tea tree oil preparations for Candidiasis is supported by their ability to kill Candida in vitro.<ref>Hammer K, Carson C, Riley T (1998). "In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida spp.". J Antimicrob Chemother 42 (5): 591-5. PMID 9848442.</ref>
In the treatment of moderate acne, topical application of 5% tea tree oil has shown an effect comparable to 5% benzoyl peroxide with less risk of adverse drug reaction, albeit with slower onset of action.<ref>Bassett I, Pannowitz D, Barnetson R (1990). "A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne.". Med J Aust 153 (8): 455-8. PMID 2145499.</ref>
Tea tree oil is also effective for treating bug bites, boils and minor wounds.[citation needed] It may cause less of a stinging sensation than some other antiseptics.[citation needed]
[edit] Safety
Tea tree oil is used almost exclusively externally. A patch test is advisable before using items containing tea tree oil because in high concentrations tea tree oil can cause irritation and some individuals may experience hypersensitivity since it can be allergenic.
Tea tree oil is toxic if ingested, even if taken in moderate doses. The oil should never be taken by mouth, as even small amounts could be dangerous. <ref>Hammer K, Carson C, Riley T, Nielsen J (2006). "A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil.". Food Chem Toxicol 44 (5): 616-25. PMID 16243420.</ref> [1] Data on oral tea tree oil toxicity in humans are sparse aside from several anecdotal reports of toxic effects following oral ingestion <ref>Del Beccaro M (1995). "Melaleuca oil poisoning in a 17-month-old.". Vet Hum Toxicol 37 (6): 557-8. PMID 8588296.</ref><ref>Jacobs M, Hornfeldt C (1994). "Melaleuca oil poisoning.". J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 32 (4): 461-4. PMID 8057407.</ref><ref>Morris M, Donoghue A, Markowitz J, Osterhoudt K (2003). "Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy.". Pediatr Emerg Care 19 (3): 169-71. PMID 12813303.</ref>. Symptoms may include ataxia, dizziness, nausea and disorientation. Coma may result from higher doses. The use of tea tree oil in oral products like toothpaste is considered safe as long as the tea tree oil is not ingested and it is not accessible to small children.
According to a July 4, 2006 article [2] in the Washington Post, "A preliminary finding presented at the Endocrine Society's conference last month . . . suggests that shampoos, soaps and body lotions containing . . . tea tree oils -- commonly added for their aromas and marketing cachet -- may cause hormonal imbalances, and breast growth in young boys." The article also notes that "Steven Dentali, vice president of scientific and technical affairs for the American Herbal Products Association, a trade group, said it's premature to worry, given the paucity of clinical evidence and many questions that the lab work left unanswered."
[edit] Reference
<references />
[edit] External links
- Tea Tree Oil Research Group, University of Western Australia.
- HerbMed
- Extensive Tea Tree Oil Resources
- Tea Tree Oil medical information at Mayoclinic
- Focused (less commercial) Melaleuca Oil Page with Quality Resources
| Antifungals (D01 and J02) edit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics: | Griseofulvin, Hitachimycin, Natamycin, Nystatin | |
| Topical Azoles: | Clotrimazole, Econazole, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole, Oxiconazole, Sertaconazole, Sulconazole, Tioconazole | |
| Other topicals: | Ciclopirox, Ethylparaben, Flucytosine, Salicylic acid, Selenium sulfide, Terbinafine, Tolnaftate | |
| For systemic use: | Amphotericin B, Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, Terbinafine, Voriconazole | |
| Other: | Posaconazole, Thiabendazole, Tea tree oil | |
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