Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Tea tree (Organic tea tree)

A very gentle, broad-spectrum purifying agent, Tea tree essential oil is a must-have in aromatherapy. Tea tree essential oil is recommended to accompany infectious episodes, particularly to treat sore throat naturally. Tea tree essential oil is also the best-known treatment for blemished skin.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Suitable

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Appropriate

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Melaleuca alternifolia

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Tea tree essential oil is traditionally used for: abscess, boil, paronychia, acne, spots, sore throats, mouth ulcers, cold sores, herpes, toothache (cavities, abscesses), fungal infections

Health

Wellness

Beauty

Household use

Find out more

A versatile, well-tolerated****anti-infective, tea tree essential oil is an essential oil in any first aid kit. It relieves skin infections such as fungal infections, abscesses and boils, as well as mouth ulcers and gingivitis. It's also an ideal essential oil for fighting winter viruses and germs: sore throats, coughs, runny nosesetc.

Properties

Tea tree essential oil is recognised for its health properties:

  • Major broad-spectrum antibacterial : gram + (Staphylococcus), gram - (Escherichia coli, Colibacter proteus)

  • Highly effectiveantifungal , particularly against Candida albicans.

  • Antiviral and immunity support.

  • Radioprotective, it limits the appearance of burns and soothes sensations of overheating caused by radiotherapy sessions.

  • Pest repellent

  • Anti-inflammatory

Uses

Tea tree essential oil is traditionally used to improve the following conditions:

  • Oral infections : mouth ulcers, abscesses, gingivitis, cavities, periodontitis, etc.

  • ENT infections : colds, bronchitis, ear infection, sinusitis, sore throat, nasopharyngitis, laryngitis, etc.

  • Gynaecological or urinary tract infections : fungal infection, vaginitis, cystitis, urethritis, etc.

  • Skin infections : skin abscesses, boils, herpes, cold sores

  • Prevention of skin burns caused by radiotherapy

  • Parasitic infections:

    • Cutaneous : scabies, ringworm

    • Intestinal : amoebas, roundworms, intestinal worms

Synergies

Purifying and sanitising action : essential oils of Bay Laurel, Palmarosa, Holy Basil, Oregano, Clove and Savory.

In practice

Oral hygiene: As an ingredient in your oral hygiene preparation

Hand hygiene: As an ingredient in your hand-care preparation

Precautions

  • Not recommended during pregnancy or when breastfeeding, or for children under the age of 3.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with the eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present a risk of allergy for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment of the European Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): limonene.

  • As a general rule, always test your product in the crease of the elbow at least 48 hours before use.

  • For use as a cosmetic ingredient, please refer to the specific precautions.

  • We recommend storing this essential oil in a cool, dark place, ideally in the fridge.

Find out more

The tea treeowes its name to the navigator James Cook and his crew, who arrived in Australia and made a refreshing tea from the leaves of the tree. They also observed that the natives used the leaves to make poultices, which they applied to wounds to treat infections. In 1922, well before the arrival of the first synthetic antibiotics, chemist Arthur de Raman Penfold distilled tea tree leaves and confirmed the plant's incredible antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Bibliography

1

Formulation study of tea tree oil patches. Nat Prod Commun, 2009, 4(1), 133-7.1.

Minghetti P, Casiraghi A, Cilurzo F, Gambaro V, Montanari L.

2

The mode of antimicrobial action of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2001, 88(1), 170 - 175

S. D. Cox, C. M. Mann, J. L. Markham, H. C. Bell, J. E. Gustafson, J. R. Warmington and S. G. Wyllie

3

Effects of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil on Staphylococcus aureus in biofilms and stationary growth phase. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009, 33(4), 343-7.

Kwieciński J, Eick S, Wójcik K.

4

Antimicrobial activity of lavender, tea tree and lemon oils in cosmetic preservative systems Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2009, 107(6), 1903 - 1911

A. Kunicka-Styczyńska, M. Sikora and D. Kalemba

5

Comparison of the cidal activity of tea tree oil and terpinen-4-ol against clinical bacterial skin isolates and human fibroblast cells. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2008, 46(4), 428-33

Loughlin R, Gilmore BF, McCarron PA, Tunney MM.

6

In vitro antiviral activity of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2009, 49(6), 806-

Garozzo A, Timpanaro R, Bisignano B, Furneri PM, Bisignano G, Castro A.

7

Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils. Phytother Res. 2010, 24(5), 673-9.

Astani A, Reichling J, Schnitzler P

8

Antifungal activity of tea tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia against Trichophyton equinum: an in vivo assay. Phytomedicine. 2009, 16(11), 1056-8

Pisseri F, Bertoli A, Nardoni S, Pinto L, Pistelli L, Guidi G, Mancianti F.

9

Pharmacological and antimicrobial studies on different tea-tree oils (Melaleuca alternifolia, Leptospermum scoparium or Manuka and Kunzea ericoides or Kanuka), originating in Australia and New Zealand. Phytother Res. 2000, 14(8), 623-9.

Lis-Balchin M, Hart SL, Deans SG.

10

Tea tree oil reduces the swelling associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response. Inflamm Res. 2002, 51(5), 236-44.

Brand C, Grimbaldeston MA, Gamble JR, Drew J, Finlay-Jones JJ, Hart PH.

11

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris

12

"Les huiles essentielles pour la peau"

Hélène Berton p.36

13

"Cosmétiques naturels - Conseils et recettes plaisirs pour préserver sa santé au quotidien"

Tiphaine Chagnoux and Hélène Baron

14

'Mes petits cadeaux cosmétiques BIO'

Marie Bousquet and Christie Vanbremeersch

15

'La bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

16

90 DIY organic beauty recipes

Sophie Macheteau and Vanina Guet

17

'Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Pédiatrie'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris

18

'L'Aromathérapie exactement'

by P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

19

Aroma-News newsletters from the NARD association

20

"L'aromathérapie corps et âme" by André Bitsas - Editions Amyris

21

'Les meilleures recettes de beauté naturelle'

Rita Stiens

22

How to maintain your home

Angela Martin