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| Manuka Tea Tree |
What is Tea Tree?
The Tea Tree herb is scientifically known as Melaleuca alternifolia. Tea tree is a small tree or shrub that can grow up to seven meters tall. It has narrow, needle-like leaves that are soft and aromatic. The tree produces white or pale-yellow flowers arranged in spikes.
Tea tree is native to the coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It grows in swampy, waterlogged soils and is commonly found in wet, low-lying areas.
Tea tree oil is typically made through steam distillation of the Melaleuca’s potent leaves.
Primary Compounds in Tea Tree
Terpinenes: These make up the main active components responsible for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Limonene: Another compound contributing to its antimicrobial effects.
Terpineol: Known for its antiseptic properties.
Eucalyptol: Contributes to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Terpinolene: Adds to the antimicrobial activity.
P-cymene: An aromatic compound with antiseptic properties.
Other notable compounds include pinene, linalool, piperitol, cineole, and humulene.
Health Benefits
1. Antimicrobial Properties: Tea tree oil is renowned for its ability to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Tea tree oil can effectively battle superbugs like MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections. Tea Tree oil may also outperform the commonly used antiseptic chlorhexidine and even ethanol in the inhibition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria according to the studies.
2. Anti-inflammatory Effects: The compounds in tea tree oil can help reduce inflammation, making it useful for skin conditions like acne and eczema.
3. Antifungal Activity: Effective against a variety of fungal infections, including athlete's foot and nail fungus.
4. Antiseptic for Minor Cuts and Abrasions: Tea tree oil's antiseptic properties make it a popular choice for treating minor cuts and abrasions to prevent infection.
5. Skin Health: Helps in treating various skin issues, including acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
Several studies have tested tea tree with acne with success. And a 2022 study found that tea tree was effective as a treatment for blepharitis.
Traditional Uses of Tea Tree
Australia: Indigenous Australians have used tea tree oil for its antiseptic and healing properties for centuries, particularly for treating cuts, wounds, and skin infections.
Tea Tree oil has been used for centuries by Aboriginal peoples of Australia primarily in the New South Wales and Queensland regions where the Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is indigenous. The oil was used as a topical antiseptic for a variety of wounds and skin issues.
Pacific Islanders: Samoan and Maori indigenous peoples also used Tea tree from other Melaleuca species for its antiseptic properties.
Western Medicine: In contemporary natural medicine, tea tree oil is used globally in a variety of topical applications, including skincare products, shampoos, and disinfectants.
Research on Tea Tree Oil
Numerous studies have shown that Tea tree oil is significantly antibiotic and antifungal. Other research has found it useful against MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Studies have found it removes MRSA infections from the nasal region – matching the effectiveness of mupirocin nasal ointment treatment.
Researchers have found that tea tree oil inhibits many, many species of bacteria and fungi, including:
- Acinetobacter baumannii
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- Bacillus subtilis
- Enterococcus faecalis
- Micrococcus luteus
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Salmonella enterica
- Serratia marcescens
- Pseudomonas fluorescens (biofilm)
- Salmonella enterica (biofilm)
- Candida albicans
- Candida glabrata
- Candida krusei
- Candida tropicalis
Studies have also shown that a gel containing 3% tea tree oil has helped blepharitis. This eyelid condition often correlates with demodex mite infections. A review of 562 people in studies found some treatment successes, but also some uncertainty about complete recovery. A 2022 study that measured four human studies and 14 animal studies found that tea tree oil was successful in treating blepharitis.
Other research has found that tea tree oil has been shown to reduce histamine related inflammation, according to a study of 20 people.
Other studies have shown that tea tree oil can inhibit scabies infections, along with other parasitic skin infections.
A number of lab studies has found that tea tree oil reduces inflammation, along with anti-oxidation.
One study found that tea tree oil may significantly help combat neuroinflammation.
Australian research found that tea tree oil can be used to treat tungiasis. This is a tropical disease caused by sand flea penetration into the skin, often in the feet.
A number of studies have also shown that tea tree oil can combat acne.
Other research has found Tea tree is effective against toenail fungus (onychomycosis), athlete's feet (tinea pedis), external/oral candidiasis and dandruff – instigated by the overgrowth of Malassezia yeast species.
Comparing antimicrobial plant oils
The researchers – from Australia’s Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital – tested a number of extracts derived from plants, including Tea Tree oil, Lemongrass oil, and Eucalyptus oil – against several of the deadliest antibiotic-resistant superbugs. These included Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, VRE – vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and ESBL-producing Escherichia coli. The testing was carried out in a laboratory.
The researchers also tested the same bacteria strains against the two most popular antiseptic products used to disinfect hands, hospital equipment and bedsides – chlorhexidine and ethanol, commonly termed rubbing alcohol. The concentration of these were standard issue – 0.1% chlorhexidine and 70% ethanol. The researchers also tested olive oil – as olive oil is also used in some settings to repel bacteria.
The researchers measured what is referred to as the zone of inhibition. This is the distance to which a substance will repel the bacteria – preventing microbiological activity. A larger zone of inhibition relates to a stronger antiseptic/antibiotic agent.
The researchers found that the three most active plant oils – Lemongrass, Eucalyptus and Tea tree – had significantly large zones of inhibition. These were significantly greater than those resulting from the application of the 0.1% chlorhexidine and 70% ethanol, as well as the olive oil.
In fact, the 0.1% chlorhexidine and 70% ethanol showed “notably lower or no efficacy in regard to growth inhibition of strains” according to the researchers.
In particular, the research found that Lemongrass oil significantly inhibited gram-positive bacteria while Tea Tree significantly inhibited gram-negative bacteria.
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are gram-negative bacteria while Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species are gram-positive.
The researchers wrote in their conclusion:
“As proven in vitro, plant-derived antiseptic oils may represent a promising and affordable topical agent to support surgical treatment against multi-resistant and hospital-acquired infections.”
Be careful with Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree oil can irritate sensitive skin. Tea Tree oil is typically used externally (on the skin). Just a few drops into a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil before applying to the skin should be sufficient. Starting with one drop to 6 ounces of carrier oil and testing on the skin for sensitivity is a typical strategy. Then increasing by a drop at a time and testing again. Just 1 drop per ounce of carrier oil should be enough to exhibit significant effects as mentioned above.
Talk with your health professional if you have an injury or infection.
REFERENCES:
Abrha S, Tesfaye W, Thomas J. Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Tungiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Oct 26;105(5):1157-1162. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0427.
Rahman MA, Sultana A, Khan MF, Boonhok R, Afroz S. Tea tree oil, a vibrant source of neuroprotection via neuroinflammation inhibition: a critical insight into repurposing Melaleuca alternifolia by unfolding its characteristics. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2023 Jul 15;24(7):554-573. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B2300168.
Capasso L, Abbinante G, Coppola A, Salerno G, De Bernardo M. Recent Evidence of Tea Tree Oil Effectiveness in Blepharitis Treatment. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Jul 30;2022:9204251. doi: 10.1155/2022/9204251.
Hammer KA. Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: a review of efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2015 Feb;45(2):106-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2014.10.011.
Savla K, Le JT, Pucker AD. Tea tree oil for Demodex blepharitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Jun 20;6(6):CD013333. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013333.pub2.
Nascimento T, Gomes D, Simões R, da Graça Miguel M. Tea Tree Oil: Properties and theTherapeutic Approach to Acne-A Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jun 12;12(6):1264. doi: 10.3390/antiox12061264.
Warnke PH, Lott AJ, Sherry E, Wiltfang J, Podschun R. The ongoing battle against multi-resistant strains: in-vitro inhibition of hospital-acquired MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas, ESBL E. coli and Klebsiella species in the presence of plant-derived antiseptic oils. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2013 Jun;41(4):321-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2012.10.012.
Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 Jan;19(1):50-62.