Overview

Tea tree oil springs from the leaves of the tea tree. The tea tree was named by sailors within the eighteenth-century who made tea that smelled like nutmeg from the leaves of the tree growing on the swampy southeast Australian coast. Do not confuse the tea tree with the unrelated common tea plant that's wont to make black and green teas.

Tea tree oil is used for acne, an infestation of the eyelashes with a type of mite (ocular demodicosis), toenail fungus (onychomycosis), and athlete's foot (Tinea pedis). It is also used for dandruff, lice, bad breath, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its other uses.

How does it work?

The chemicals in tea tree oil may kill fungus and, bacteria and reduce allergic skin reactions.

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

• Acne. Applying a 5% tea tree oil gel appears to be as effective as 5% peroxide (Oxy-5, Benzac AC, and others) for treating acne. Tea tree oil might work more slowly than peroxide but seems to be less irritating to facial skin. When applied twice a day for 45 days, tea tree oil reduces several acne symptoms, including acne severity. But tea tree oil could be less effective than another product prepared by fermenting a kind of cypress with the probiotic Lactobacillus.

• An infestation of the eyelashes with a type of mite (ocular demodicosis). early studies show that tea tree oil might cure this common eyelid infection and reduce the associated symptoms, including vision loss and eye inflammation.

• Toenail fungus (onychomycosis). Applying 100% tea tree oil solution to the skin twice daily for six months can cure fungal toenail infection in about 18% of individuals who try it. It also can improve nail appearance and symptoms in about 56% of patients after 3 months and 60% of patients after 6 months of treatment. It seems to be comparable to the twice-daily application of clotrimazole 1% solution (Fungoid, Lotrimin, Lotrimin AF). Lower concentrations of tea tree oil don't seem to be as effective. For example, there's some evidence that a 5% tea tree oil cream applied 3 times daily for two months has no benefit.

• Athlete's foot (Tinea pedis). application of a tenth tea tree oil cream works about also as tolnaftate 1% cream (Genaspor, Tinactin, Ting, and others) for relieving symptoms of athlete's foot , including scaling, inflammation, itching, and burning. However, the ten tea tree oil cream doesn't seem to cure the infection. However, applying a stronger tea tree oil solution (25% or 50%) appears to both relieve symptoms and clear up the infection in about half of the people who try it for 4 weeks. However, 25% or 50% of tea tree oil doesn't appear to be as effective for curing the infection as medications like clotrimazole or terbinafine.

Insufficient Evidence for

• Overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Early research suggests that tea tree oil may benefit people with bacterial vaginosis.

• Dandruff. Early research suggests that applying a 5% tea tree oil shampoo three minutes daily for four weeks reduces scalp lesions, scalp itchiness, and greasiness in people with dandruff.

• Tooth plaque. Results from research examining the consequences of tea tree oil on bacterial plaque are inconsistent. Some early research shows that brushing the teeth with a 2.5% tea tree oil gel twice daily for 8 weeks reduces gum bleeding but not plaque in people that have gingivitis caused by plaque. Also, employing a mouthwash containing tea tree oil after knowledgeable teeth cleaning doesn't seem to scale back plaque formation. However, rinsing with a selected product (Tebodont) containing tea tree oil and a chemical called xylitol seems to scale back plaque. Also, rinsing with another product that contains tea tree oil, clove, and holy basil seems to scale back plaque.

• Dry eye. Scrubbing the eyelid with a shampoo containing tea tree oil may reduce eye sensitivity and pain in people with dry eye after cataract surgery. These people are also using eye drops to reduce pain and swelling in the eyes.

• A mild form of gum disease (gingivitis). Results from research examining the consequences of tea tree oil on gingivitis are inconsistent. Some early research shows that brushing the teeth with a 2.5% tea tree oil gel twice daily for eight weeks reduces gum bleeding but doesn't improve overall gum health in people who have gingivitis caused by plaque. However, rinsing with a selected product (Tebodont) containing tea tree oil and a chemical called xylitol seems to scale back gum inflammation. Also, rinsing with another product that contains tea tree oil, clove, and holy basil seems to scale back gum inflammation.

• Bad breath. Early research shows that adding tea tree oil to an important oil mixture containing peppermint and lemon oils can reduce bad breath when used as a part of a 3-minute oral cleaning.

• Hemorrhoids. Some early research suggests that applying a gel containing tea tree oil, mucopolysaccharide , and methyl-sulfonyl-methane reduces symptoms of hemorrhoids, including pain, inflammation, and itching, in children.

• Cold sores (herpes labialis). Research thus far suggests that applying 6% tea tree oil gel five times daily doesn't improve cold sores.

• Male-pattern hair growth in women (hirsutism). Early research suggests that employing a spray containing lavender oil and tea tree oil twice daily for 3 months slightly reduces hair growth in some areas in women with hirsutism.

• Lice. Early research suggests that tea tree oil might repel lice. Also, applying a mixture of lavender and tea tree oil kills lice eggs and reduces the amount of live lice. It is unclear if the consequences are caused by the tea tree oil alone or the mixture of lavender and tea tree oil.

• A difficult to treat infection caused by bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics (MRSA). Evidence about the consequences of tea tree oil on MRSA infection is unclear. When compared to plain MRSA treatment alone, adding tea tree oil doesn't seem to enhance overall MRSA clearance or prevent infection. Also, using a tea tree oil solution when cleansing wounds does not seem to improve MRSA clearance. However, an early study suggests that employing a 4% tea tree oil nasal ointment plus a 5% tea tree oil body wash along side other standard treatments may need a small benefit. Tea tree oil doesn't seem to stop MRSA infection.

• Allergic skin reactions to nickel. Early research suggests that undiluted tea tree oil may reduce the world and redness skin reactions in people that are allergic to contact with nickel. Also, some early evidence suggests that applying diluted tea tree oil to the skin before nickel exposure reduces skin reactions in people allergic to nickel.

• Thrush. Because people with AIDS have a weak immune system, they sometimes come down with "opportunistic" infections such as thrush. There is some evidence that tea tree oil could be beneficial in patients with HIV/AIDS whose thrush doesn't answer usual antifungal medications like fluconazole. Swishing and expelling tea tree oil solution for 2-4 weeks seems to enhance symptoms. There is also early evidence that using tea tree oil as a part of an important oil mixture might improve oral comfort in cancer patients. However, adding 1 mL of tea tree oil to a typical conditioner treatment doesn't reduce infections and inflammation in people with dentures.

• A sexually transmitted infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomoniasis). Early research suggests that tea tree oil could also be beneficial for people with a kind of vaginal infection called trichomoniasis.

• Vaginal yeast infections. Early research suggests that tea tree oil could also be beneficial for people with a kind of vaginal infection called vaginal candidiasis.

• Water warts. Early research shows that applying a mixture of tea tree oil and iodine to the skin of youngsters for 30 days helps clear up skin bumps caused by a poxvirus better than simply tea tree oil or iodine alone.

• A skin condition that causes redness on the face (rosacea).

• Congestion.

• Cough.

• Ear infection (otitis media).

• Preventing infections in cuts, abrasions, burns, insect bites and stings, and boils.

• Ringworm (Tinea corporis).

• Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).

• Sore throat.

• Other conditions.

More evidence is required to rate tea tree oil for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth:

Tea tree oil is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Don't take tea tree oil by mouth. As a general rule never take undiluted essential oils orally thanks to the likelihood of great side effects. Taking tree tea oil orally has caused serious side effects, including confusion, inability to steer , unsteadiness, rash, and coma.

When applied to the skin:

Tea tree oil is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when put on the skin. It may cause skin irritation and swelling. In people with acne, it can sometimes cause skin dryness, itching, stinging, burning, and redness.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

Tea tree oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin. However, it is LIKELY UNSAFE if taken by mouth. Ingestion of tea tree oil can be toxic.

Children:

Tea tree oil is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Do not give tea tree oil by mouth. As a general rule never give undiluted essential oils by mouth due to the possibility of serious side effects. Tree tea oil orally has caused serious side effects, including confusion, inability to steer , unsteadiness, rash, and coma.

Tea tree oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin. It may cause skin irritation and swelling. In people with acne, it can sometimes cause skin dryness, itching, stinging, burning, and redness. However, applying products to the skin that contain tea tree oil along with lavender oil might not be safe for young boys who have not yet reached puberty. These products might have hormone effects that could disrupt the normal hormones in a boy's body. In some cases, this has resulted in boys developing abnormal breast growth called gynecomastia. The safety of those products, when employed by young girls, isn't known.

Dosing

The following doses are studied in scientific research:

ADULT

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

For acne: 5% tea tree oil gel applied daily.

For infestation of the eyelashes with a kind of mite (ocular demodicosis): Weekly scrubs of the eyelid using 50% tea tree oil along side daily scrubs of the eyelid with tea tree shampoo or 10% tea tree oil, applied once or twice per day for 3-5 minutes for up to six weeks.

For toenail fungus (onychomycosis): 100% tea tree oil solution applied twice daily for 6 months.

For tinea pedis (Tinea pedis): 25% or 50% tea tree oil solution applied twice daily for one month has been used. Also, 10% tea tree oil cream applied twice daily for one month has also been used.

CHILDREN

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

For acne: 5% tea tree oil gel applied daily.

For infestation of the eyelashes with a kind of mite (ocular demodicosis): Weekly scrubs of the eyelid using 50% tea tree oil and daily eyelid massages with 5% tea tree ointment has been used.