The Healing Properties of Tea Tree Essential Oil

Belonging to the same family of plants as the eucalyptus tree, the Melaleuca alternifolia or tea tree, was discovered in the 1770s by Captain James Cook when he witnessed native Australians brewing tea from its leaves. Growing 20 feet high, the tree resembles a shrub. The tree's leaves are collected twice a year and distilled to expel the oil.

The active ingredients of Melaleuca alternifolia (or Tea Tree) oil are terpinen and cineole. Terpinen is the ingredient responsible for the healing properties. Cineole contributes the disinfectant properties. In large amounts, cineole is caustic to human tissue. In order to obtain the best results from using tea tree oil, the percentage of terpinen must be between 35 and 60 percent, and the percentage of cineole must be below ten percent to ensure skin safety during usage.

In 1920, Dr. A. Penfold tested the oil's properties for the first time. He discovered that Melaleuca oil was 12 times more potent than the accepted antiseptic at the time, carbolic acid. Dr. Penfold's research prompted further testing in the following decades, contributing to its increasing use by the public. Australian physicians were astounded by the oil's ease in sterilizing wounds and preventing infections resulting from surgery. In the late 1940s, the introduction of antibiotics such as penicillin caused a drop in the use of tea tree oil. However, in 1980, growth in immunity to antibiotics and improved tea tree harvesting procedures created a new demand for this amazing substance.

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.

Due to its potent healing and antiseptic properties, the oil has many varied uses.  It is most effective in treating skin diseases and respiratory illnesses. Some skin conditions showing marked improvement after applications of tea tree oil are acne, dandruff, burns, cold sores, warts and cuts. Recent research at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia indicates that tea tree oil eliminates the onset of infections in first and second degree burns while rapidly healing skin tissue and preventing scarring.

Tea tree oil is also effective as an additional treatment for colds, bronchitis, whooping cough and pneumonia. Adding it to a vapourizer and inhaling the fumes helps to kill germs that infect the sinuses and lungs. Similar to eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil also opens clogged respiratory passages.

Household cleaning solutions based on the therapeutic-grade Tea Tree oil provide a healthy alternative to products containing harmful and very toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde (suspected of causing cancer and birth defects), ammonia and phenol (which irritate the respiratory tract), to name just two. Tea tree oil is an excellent insect repellent and can be used to repel ticks and soothe sunburns by reducing inflammation. Applying the oil to insect bites reduces swelling and disinfects the area.

It can also be utilized to reduce the spread of infection in hospitals. Besides sterilizing surgical instruments, washing with soap containing the oil reduces the chances of cross contamination. Soaps made from the oil are 60 times stronger in killing bacteria when compared to other disinfectant soaps. Tea Tree oil soap, unlike the antibacterial commercial soaps available, will not cause bacteria to mutate and become a resistant strain of bacteria. In Australia, dental patients are often instructed to apply tea tree oil to infected teeth a few days before dental work occurs to prevent post-operative infections.

Sports medicine physicians, chiropractors and massage therapists can capitalize on the healing properties of this useful oil in the treatment of sports and work-related injuries as well as sore muscles. Applied to physical injuries, it sanitizes the area, reduces the level of swelling and acts as an anaesthetic. Its deep penetrating action soothes sore muscles and loosens them up, making this oil an essential tool in massage therapy.

Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions. US labeling for essential oils is governed by the Perfume Act, allowing labels to say "100%"pure essential oil" and by law contain only 5% of any grade oils.

You can find Young Living therapeutic-grade Tea Tree (Melaleuca) essential oil and Tea Tree/Melaleuca and Geranium bar soap at my website:
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