Medicinal Uses of Tea Tree Oil Plant

An Australian Tea Tree Oil plant Melaleuca alternefolia a tree with thick foliage of green leaves giving a light fragrance when walked under them. If a leaf is rubbed a very rich aroma can be felt similar to that of eucalyptus leaves. The extracts and oils were used by aboriginal tribes for traditional use of medicine. It is believed that it has got antiseptic value and the active material used is the oil obtained from the leaves which is an essential oil.

It appears that Captain Cook in 1770 found the tree when he first landed in Australia and named this plant as ‘Tea tree’ since he found that the aboriginal tribes brewed the leaves of the tree and used as a substitute for tea. He also found that they were using the tree oil in various folk medicines.

Slowly the scientists took interest to find its use in many diseases. There was no scientific data in scientific and medical journals since the work done on this plant is scanty. However laboratory trials proved that it has got wide diversified actions on many ailments. The oil is a powerful antiseptic, antiviral and anti fungal. Because of its powerful actions it is incorporated in several preparations like creams, ointments, lotions, soaps and shampoos.

Uses of the tea tree oil:

• It is used in the treatment of infected wounds.
• It is used in the treatment of acne. An Australian study showed that the tea tree oil at a concentration of 5% with 5% Benzyl benzoate as a lotion gave encouraging results in curing acne in 124 people.
• It is powerful in killing head lice. Therefore it is used as a shampoo for getting rid of the head lice.
• Controls itchiness of the scalp and dandruff.
• It is very useful in curing athlete’s foot.
• Useful in mouth ulcers and bad breath of the mouth.
• Used in sore throats.
• Found useful in nappy rash.
• Inhalation of the vapors of the oil is found useful in respiratory infections, cold and flu.
• It can be used to treat fungal infections of the toe nails.

It can safely be used for external use, however for internal use it should be diluted very much as it is toxic in higher concentrations. It may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, redness and irritation of the skin. Pregnant women and women who are breast feeding should not use this oil.

The tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves by distillation and preserved in drums cooled by liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -1960 C to preserve it long periods up to 10 years without loosing its medicinal properties.

Once thought that this plant is more a nuisance as it grows wild, now the farmers are fascinated and growing because of its value as a medicinal plant.

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