Tea tree essential oil (melaleuca alternifolia) 1340

Antiseptic, Decongestant, Stimulating. Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow colour to nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor.

TEA TREE OIL AUSTRALIA, melaleuca alternifolia (1340)
Definition: Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow colour to nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor. An antiseptic in everyday use in the home and in footcare oils, gels and creams

Aroma: spicy, strong and pungent

The tea tree, also known as the paperbark tree is native to australia thriving in the marsy lowlands of western australia.  The steam distillation of the needle like leaves yields a clear oil or pale yellow oil with a medicinal camphorlike odour.    Do not use internally as oral toxicity is high.  A dose of 5-30ml is capable of being toxic. Keep away from children in bottles with childproof caps.

Properties: Antiseptic and cleansing. A very powerful natural antiseptic and anti-fungal oil found to be 11x as effective as phenol. Tea tree is commonly found in homes as part of a first aid and travel kit. Antiinflammatory, antiviral, bactericidal, antiparasitic, antifungal, decongestant, expectorant, immune stimulant and insecticidal.

Everyday uses: Skin infections including athletes foot, ringworm, corns, boils, wounds, insect bites.  Foot problems often accompany diabetes and treatment in appropriate cases is available on the NHS.  Gargle and mouthwash for oral infections. Emotional indications: anxiety, depression, panic, stresss. These indications often accompany undiagnosed illness.  Use of tea tree oil promotes a positive attitude and confidence.

Perfumery: not used but blends well with lavandin, lavender, clary sage, rosemary, ylang, geranium, marjoram, clove, nutmeg.

Botany: Melaleuca alternifolia
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia
Plant part: Leaf
Extraction: steam distilled
Sensitivity: Non skin irritant in diluted use
Dilution: RIFM limit: less than 1% dilution
Comment: Tea tree oil loses no efficacy by being diluted before use on the skin.
1 drop can be safely applied undiluted on a cotton bud to a fungal toenail or fingernail
EU sensitiser 19%: (4% limonene, 15% linalool)
Oral Toxicity: High.  Related to eucalyptus.
Phototoxicity: None
Pets: Tea tree oil should not be used on pets or around young children
Comment: The myrtaceae are very useful in everyday aromatherapy but have only been available since the discovery of australia.  Our livers are not well adapted to their use in our diet or application to the skin so care must be taken.

Chemistry: less than 10% 1-8 cineole, 45% terpinen-4-ol
Typical composition: Sesquiterpenes (balancing) 6%, other 1%, oxides (stimulating) 7%, monoterpenes (stimulating) 41%, alcohols 45% (stimulating)
Science:  Pubmed
Tea tree oil may combat melanoma

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Ref: 89
Shirley Price footcare range
Carrier:  Coconut oil has antifungal properties of its own
Hydrosol: available 7032
Tea tree hydrosol is antibacterial, antifunghal, antiseptic and antiviral.  It can assist with various infections including respiratory and fungal.  Useful in oral hygiene and as a gargle.  Beneficial for slin disorders such as acne.  
Barcodes 96013182 Pure Essential Oil 96013182 Organic Essential Oil
MSDS

Comment:  The antifungal activity of tea tree oil is well known.  Use of tea tree in a footcare routine can prevent a fungal toe or fingernail.  However if self care of the feet has been neglected for some time it will be necessary to visit your GP and a chiropodist as deep seated fungal infections or corns are unlikely to be completely cleared with natural treatments such as tea tree oil, gel or cream alone.

Robert Tisserands blog
Liz Fulcher's tea tree profile

Tea tree hydrosol is antibacterial, antifunghal, antiseptic and antiviral.  It can assist with various infections including respiratory and fungal.  Useful in oral hygiene and as a gargle.  Beneficial for skin disorders such as acne.   As with all hydrosols care must be taken to refrigerate and use current season hydrolats.

More information
 Podiatry (also known as chiropody) is the diagnosis and treatment by podiatrists (chiropodists) of diseases and other disorders of the feet. Podiatrists are highly skilled
health professionals who have been trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. Find a local chiropodist. 


Shirley Price Aromatherapy Care For (TM) 7drop recipes 

Condition: some 20% of people experience ringworm at some point in their lives, a fungal infection of the feet, nails and groin

Athletes foot (tinea pedis)

Care For Athletes foot footbath:  tea tree on its own (4 drops) or
4 drops of Tea tree oil Care For(TM) blend - (4 drops), thyme oil (2 drops) myrhh oil (1 drops)

Care For Tea tree foot Oil:  coconut oil 1oz(30ml) carrier,
Tea tree oil (4 drops), thyme oil (2 drops), myrhh oil (1 drop).  Apply morning and evening and thoroughly dry. 

Also available Tea Tree Cream and Tea Tree Gel for use after bath.

 Jock Itch (tinea cruris)

Athletes foot can spread to the groin where it is called Jock Itch.

Care For Jock itch Bath oil: spruce oil (2 drops), niaouli oil (2 drops), patchouli oil (2 drops), myrhh oil (1 drop) always dilute in a little milk before placing in the bath to prevent essential oil splashing in the eye.  Tea tree oil is not a good oil for use in the full bath but excellent in a footbath or diluted and applied directly to the affected area.

Care For Joch itch Oil:  coconut oil 1oz(30ml) carrier,
tea tree oil (4 drops), thyme oil (2 drops), myrhh oil (1 drop).  Apply morning and evening and thoroughly dry. 

 Also available Tea Tree Cream and Tea Tree Gel for use after bath.

More information on ringworm
NHS Choices
Funghi thrive in moist, dark warm places so keep the affected area both clean and dry.

Everyday Aromatherapy extract:

TEA TREE (Melaleuca alternifolia)/Myrtaceae

Originating in Australia, the tea tree has been used for its oil for centuries by the aborigines – the early settlers are reputed to have used he leaves to make ‘tea’. The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation. With its oxides, monoterpenes and alcohols totalling 93% of the mix this is a very stimulating oil which helps maintain a typically 'australian' positive attitude.

Tea Tree oil is a powerful antiseptic, with the advantage of being non-toxic, and its aroma is an effective insect repellent.  When used in gargles, mouthwashes, inhalations or vaporisers, it is a most effective bactericide, alleviating intestinal infections and bronchitis. Tea tree oil also gives relief to mouth ulcers, calms diarrhoea and relieves gastroenteritis. Tea tree oils 's antifungal properties are effective against athlete’s foot and nail bed infections. Relieves boils and rashes and encourages healing of open wounds. Used in sitz baths, douches, baths or application, essential oil of tea tree helps to clear vaginal thrush.

Dilute in coconut oil for antifungal use (1%) and keep the affected area clean and dry.  Tea Tea tree oil and Eucalyptus oil should not be used on pets as cat and dog livers are not adapted to eliminate the terpenes they contain and toxicosis can result. 
 http://www.shirleypriceessentia.com/files/ShirleyPriceEverydayGuide2011.pdf

Reading:  There are many everyday aromatherapy recipe books.  I recommend the books of Shirley Price, Robert Tisserand, Valerie Worwood and Roberta Wilson.  Where possible always consult a local qualified aromatherapist if you plan to use aromatherapy for your family's health and wellbeing.

Essentia