Tea Tree

The Source

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is an aromatic shrub belonging to the Myrtaceae botanical family, with needle like leaves, similar to cypress, and cessile pale flowers. The seeds are so small that 40,000 could be placed on a teaspoon. In the wild the species is unique to Australia and native to Northern New South Wales.

Tea Tree oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the plant. The oil is a pale yellowy-green or water-white mobile liquid with a warm fresh, spicy-camphoraceous odour. The aroma of the oil is warm, spicy, medicinal and aromatic. It is occasionally used to scent spicy colognes and aftershaves. It blends well with lavender, rosemary and clove oils.

Many studies have been carried out on Tea Tree oil to investigate its antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial activity. It can be a useful antiseptic for cleaning minor cuts and grazes, insect bites. Its antiseptic properties may also help maintain healthy skin, hair and feet.

The History

The indigenous Bundjalung people of eastern Australia use "tea trees" by inhaling the oils from crushed leaves for easy breathing. They also sprinkle leaves on wounds. Tea tree leaves are also soaked to make an infusion used as an oral and topical antiseptic.

Tea Tree oil was named by Captain James Cook when he reached Australia on the HMS Endeavour in the 1770s. Cook gave it the name “Tea Tree” because he was served tea made from the leaves.

In the 1920s Dr. Arthur Penfold, an Australian government chemist demonstrated that 100% pure Tea Tree oil was more than ten times stronger than phenol, the traditionally used antiseptic of the time. It quickly became Australia’s household antiseptic and was the cornerstone of its soldiers’ first aid kits during World War II.

The Science

• Tea tree oil contains over 100 components but its primary active ingredient, terpinen-4-ol, is responsible for most of the antimicrobial activity.
• Tea Tree oil is defined by international standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type"), which specifies levels of 15 components which are needed to define the oil as true Tea Tree oil.