Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Plant Family Myrtaceae
Synonyms
Melaleuca linariifolia var. Alternifolia Maid.&Bet.
Origin
This species of the Melaleuca family is natiue to Australia. Tea tree has been used for thousands of years by the Australian Aborigines, who crush the leaves and use them to treat infected wounds and skin problems During Second World War, it was included in first-aid kits to treat infections.
Extraction Method
Steam distillation of the leaves and twigs of the tree. It is necessary up to 500-700 kg of fresh leaves and twigs of the tree to obtain 1 kg of essential oil.

Nature of the Oil
A colourless or pale yellow liquid, tea tree oil has astrong, spicy, freshcamphoraceous smell. The odour effect is cooling and head-clearing.

Perfumery Note – Top. The aroma lasts up to 24 hours.

Main Constituents
Melaleuca terpinen-4-ol type

Terpinen-4-ol 30.0 – 48.0%
gamma-Terpinene 10.0 – 28.0%
1,8-Cineole tr – 15.0%
alpha-Terpinene 5.0 – 13.0%
alpha-Terpineol 1.5 – 8.0%
p-Cymene 0.5 – 8.0%
alpha-Pinene 1.0  – 6.0%
Terpinolene 1.5 – 5.0%
Sabinene tr -3.5%
(+)-Aromadendrene tr -3.0%
sigma-Cadinene tr – 3.0%
Viridiflorol tr – 1.0%

Properties

Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, fungicidal, parasiticidal, immunostimulant.

Therapeutic Properties
Tea tree is a stimulating and tonifying oil used primarily for its germicidal properties. It is highly antiseptic and can combat many different kinds of bacterial infection, including streptococcal and staphylococcal types, and has also been shown to have significant anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. In addition, it has the ability to stimulate the immune response and actually works more effectively when there are signs of infection present.

Tea tree oil is used to treat many kinds of respiratory tract infections. It is extremely useful in helping throw off colds and flu, and works particularly well in a steam inhalation.

Another important area of action for tea tree oil is the genito-urinary tract. It is effective for both acute and chronic cystitis and has become one of the main treatments for many genital infections, including thrush, non-specific urethritis (NSU), genital herpes, genital warts, pruritis and trichomonas. Due to its low toxicity, it can safely be used in high concentration in baths and can be applied in pessaries.

As an excellent anti-fungal, tea can be applied locally to treat such conditions as athlete’s foot and ringworm. It is widely used in lotions to treat acne and is also a mild analgesic, bringing relief of pain as well as combating infection in ailments such as corns, callouses, whitlows, boils, wounds, cuts and burns. To disinfect a cut or soothe insect stings and bites, apply tea tree neat – it will not even sting.

Tea tree can be mixed with water and alcohol and used as a mouthwash to treat bad breath, mouth ulcers and gum infections. Many cases of warts and verrucae have been eliminated by the use of tea tree oil – try dabbing it on neat on a daily basis. Tea tree is also effective in the treatment of cold sores and other types of herpes.

Aromatherapeutic Uses
Acne, athlete‘s foot, abscesses, cold sores, dandruff, ring worm, warts, burns, wounds, insect bites and stings, respiratory ailments, colds and flu, trush, cystitis.

Psychological Profile
Although tea tree will work effectively for a wide range of first-aid and acute ailments, it is most appropriate if you are prone to complaints that are lingering and slow to heal. You may also have the feeling that you are never quite reaching your full potential, and that you are somehow disadvantaged and held back by circumstances beyond your control. Using tea tree will help you to realize that you can have an effect on your life and that you can take at least the next step towards a more fulfilling, happy and purposeful existence.

Blends Well With
Essential oils of Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavender, Marjoram, Pine, Rosemary, Thyme.

Our safety advice
Because of its alpha-Pinene and sigma-3-Carene content we recommend that oxidation of Scots pine oil is avoided by storage in a dark, airtight container in a refrigerator.

Cautions
There are many reports of minor skin reactions coused by tea tree. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with adultareted and modified versions of the oil and this mayexplain why it does not always live up to its benign reputation.Caution should be exercised if the oil is usedneat or in high concentration. Formal skin tests carried out on human involved 1 per cent dilutions of the oil. The potencial irrtant or sensitising effects of regular applications at higher levels is still unknown.

Other varieties
There are two other types of Melaleuca that share the strongly antiseptic and stimulating properties of tea tree. Niaouli (M. viridiflora), also native to Australia, is primarily used in the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, asthma and catarrh. It can also be used in steam inhalations for treating acute infections such as colds, flu, rhinitis and sinusitis. Cajuput (M. leucodendron) is native to Indonesia and the Philippines and is used in the same way as niaouli in the treatment of respiratory conditions.

References
1. C. Wildwood “The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy”, Vermont, Healing Arts Press, 1996
2. R. Tisserand, R. Young, E. M Williamson “Essential Oil Safety. A Guide for Health Care Professionals”, Churchill Livingstone ELSEVIER, 2014
3. S. Curtis “Essential Oils”, AURUM, London, 1996
4. R. Balz “The Healing Power of Essential Oils”, LOTUS LIGHT SHANGRI-LA, Twin Lakes, 1996
5. Л.ГДудченко, Г.П.Потебня, Н.А.Кривенко «Ароматерапия и аромамасаж», «Максимум», Киев, 1999