Updated 29 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Myrtales
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Genus: Melaleuca
- Part used: Leaves
- Country of origin: Australia, South Africa
Precautions for use
Tea tree oil is flexible and very well tolerated.
It can be used by the whole family, except pregnant women and children under 3 months of age.
All routes of application are permitted, although the dermal route should be diluted if applied to large areas due to skin irritating compounds.
Be aware of its cortisone effect.
Other precautions
Warning:
- People with epilepsy should seek medical advice before use (risk of epilepsy at high doses).
Cutaneous use:
- Tea tree essential oil is irritating to the skin and should be diluted in vegetable oil (20% essential oil with 80% vegetable oil) before application to the skin.
- This essential oil carries a risk of contact dermatitis. Test before regular use.
- Keep tea tree essential oil away from light as oxidation of paracimene can cause skin irritation.
Ingestion:
- If taken orally, do not overdose with tea tree essential oil. Overdosage may cause temporary confusion and loss of motor coordination.
Allergenic components:
Tea tree essential oil contains very few allergenic biochemicals.
- limonene (≤ 2%)
- linalool (≤ 1%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Antiviral
- Immunostimulant
- Antiprotozoal, antiparasitic
But also these secondary properties:
- Phlebotonic
- Cicatrizant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Radioprotector
- Cardiac tonic
- Anti-asthenic
- Venous decongestant.
- Hyperthermic
Indications
- Dental abscess
- Sore throat
- Gingivitis
- Stomatitis
- Toothache
- Nail mycosis
- Wounds
- Radiotherapy burns
- Scabies
- Herpes
- Shingles
- Bronchitis
- Angina
- Sinusitis
- Rhinitis
- Otitis
- Laryngitis
- Pharyngitis
- Cold
- Flu
- Psoriasis
- Lice
- Intestinal worms
- Dandruff
- Wart
- Cystitis
- Urethritis
- Leucorrhoea
- Vaginitis
- Salpingitis
- Acne
- Eczema
- Intestinal parasites: roundworm, lamblia
- Lymphatic oedema
- Varicose veins
- Heavy legs
- Haemorrhoids
Directions for use/usual dosage
- Pimples, wounds, acne: apply locally with a cotton-wool swab if necessary.
- Bacterial and parasitic infections: orally diluted in a vegetable oil, 2 drops 3 times daily, alone or mixed with other essential oils.
- Fungal infections of the skin, vagina, nails or other skin infections: local compresses diluted in a vegetable oil on the affected area.
- Radiotherapy: 1 drop of pure tea tree essential oil and 1 drop of pure niaouli essential oil on the area to be irradiated, 1 to 2 hours before and 1 to 2 hours after.