MELALEUCA (TEA-TREE) essential oil
AKA Cajeput, Tea Tree, Paperbark tree, manuka, tea-tree is good as any antibiotic, but without any of their adverse side effects
The Melaleuca tree is a common name used for a certain classification of tree that has a white spongy bark that is flexible and can easily flake off the trunk. The name tea tree is used for several plants, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, related to the myrtle. Other names for these trees are the paperbark tree, punk tree, or the white bottle brush tree. Similar subtropical trees from the eucalyptus family are evergreens with pointed leaves and white, red or green flowers. Aborigines of Australia often used the melaleuca tree bark for shields, canoes, roofing material and timber.
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 melaleuca (tea tree) oil had promise, as it exhibited powerful antiseptic properties. Tea tree oil was first extracted from Melaleuca alternifloria in Australia, and this species remains the most important commercially. Several other species are cultivated for their extracted oil in Tunisia, Egypt, Malaysia, Vietnam and the United States. Tea tree oil (TTO), or melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear.
Health benefits
• Antibacterial / Antimicrobial: colon, stomach, intestines, excretory system, urinary system, tuberculosis, highly effective for certain protozoa including malaria
• Balsamic (softens and reduces mucous): promotes absorption of nutrients from food, protection from diseases
• Cicatrisant: protects wounds from infection, heals scars from: boils, pox, acne
• Helps rupture cysts/pustules produced by detoxification processes showing measles and pox
• Expectorant/decongestant: Cough and cold, congestion, bronchitis (inhaled or topical)
• Hair Care: dandruff, hair loss
• Insecticide: mosquitoes, fleas, lice, flies, intestinal worms (round, tape and hook worms)
• Antiseptic: open wounds, boils, sores, cuts, insect bites and stings
• Stimulant: hormone secretions, blood circulation, immune system
• Sudorific: perspiration/sweating to remove toxins, moisten the skin, opens pores
• Fungicide: candida, dermatitis, athlete's foot
• Vermifuge: intestinal worms
• Stimulant: sudorific (causes sweating) and therefore detoxifies lymph system
• Skin: tonic, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, warts, acne, sunburn
• Carminative: especially removal of restrictions and gas formation
• Neuralgia (nerve pain): analgesic and cooling effects, relaxation of blood vessels (especially the IX cranial (glossopharyngeal) nerve), tooth pain, headache, joint pain, muscles, flu
• Anti-tumour: melanoma, mesothelioma
Warnings: Tea tree oil can be toxic when taken by mouth – causing confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, coma, unsteadiness, severe rashes, vomiting, diarrhoea, general weakness, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities - so MUST be well diluted if ingested. In rare cases skin sensitivity - so may need to be diluted when used topically (eg with coconut oil). Should always be kept away from pets and children.