Article
by
Cynthia Olsen
In
a
poll
conducted
by
Prevention
Magazine
and
reported
by
NBC
News,
one-third
of
Americans
use
herbal
medicines
and
spend
an
average
of
54
US
dollars
on
herbal
products,
adding
up
to
3.4
billion
dollars
worth
of
sales.
People
take
herbs
for
several
reasons.
Individuals
prefer
taking
natural
medicines
than
pharmaceutical
drugs
and
OTC
drugs
for
self
treatable
health
problems.
In
today's
societies,
natural
medicine
is
becoming
more
mainstream.
The
baby
boomers
now
make
up
a
large
portion
of
consumers
in
the
natural
products
industry.
Sales
of
herbs
in
the
United
States
market
alone
in
the
natural
health
food
stores
and
chain
stores
rose
over
20%
between
1994
and
1996,
and
continue
to
rise
in
popularity,
while
other
countries
in
the
world
are
following
suit.
In
a
poll
conducted
by
Prevention
Magazine
and
reported
by
NBC
News,
one-third
of
Americans
use
herbal
medicines
and
spend
an
average
of
54
US
dollars
on
herbal
products,
adding
up
to
3.4
billion
dollars
worth
of
sales.
People
take
herbs
for
several
reasons.
Individuals
prefer
taking
natural
medicines
than
pharmaceutical
drugs
and
OTC
drugs
for
self
treatable
health
problems.
Secondly,
the
herbs
are
consumed
to
maintain
wellness
and
increase
strength
and
elevate
immune
system
functions.
Thirdly,
herbs
are
taken
to
prevent
degenerative
diseases.
The
scientific
studies
and
implementation
of
these
herbs
is
timely,
due
to
the
fact
that
airborne
viruses
and
immune
deficiency
disorders
are
becoming
more
commonplace
in
our
societies
and
many
allopathic
medicines
do
not
seem
to
have
the
capacity
to
control,
let
alone
cure,
these
chronic
illnesses.
Melaleuca
alternifolia,
(tea
tree
oil)
has
become
increasingly
more
known
and
used
as
a
first
aid
remedy
for
a
number
of
skin
ailments.
The
scientific
research
in
Australia
and
in
the
U.S.
have
confirmed
the
efficacy
in
treating
bacterial
and
fungal
skin
infections
and
also
verifying
minimal
adverse
reactions.
To
quote
Dr
Paul
Belaiche,
Chief
of
Phytotherapy
Department
at
the
University
of
Paris,
France,
"The
essential
oil
of
Melaleuca
has
entered
the
team
of
major
essential
oils
and
emerges
as
an
antiseptic
and
antifungal
weapon
of
the
first
order
in
phyto-aromatherapy."
The
Discovery
of
Tea
Tree
Oil
In
1770,
Captain
James
Cook
of
the
British
Royal
Navy
disembarked
from
the
H.M.S.
Endeavor
at
Botany
Bay,
Australia
–
near
the
eventual
site
of
Sydney.
From
there,
he
travelled
north
through
the
coastal
regions
of
New
South
Wales,
where
he
came
upon
groves
of
trees
thick
with
sticky,
aromatic
leaves
that,
when
boiled,
rendered
a
spicy
tea.
The
early
explorers
could
not
have
known
that
150
years
later,
Melaleuca
alternifolia
(tea
tree)
as
it
was
called
by
Captain
Cook,
would
be
used
as
a
medicinal
agent
for
cuts,
burns,
bites,
and
a
host
of
skin
ailments.
In
1923,
Dr.
A.R.
Penfold,
curator
and
chemist
at
the
Government
Museum
of
Technology
and
Applied
Sciences
in
Sydney,
Australia,
conducted
a
study
of
the
leaves
of
the
tea
tree.
Dr
Penfold
discovered
their
essential
oils
to
be
thirteen
times
stronger
as
an
antiseptic
bactericide
than
carbolic
acid,
considered
the
universal
standard
in
the
early
1900s.
Dr
Penfold
noted
Melaleuca
alternifolia
is
quite
common,
and
exists
in
very
large
areas
in
the
North
Coast
district
of
New
South
Wales.
It
yields
1.8%
of
an
oil
of
pale
lemon
tint,
with
a
pleasant
terpenic
myristic
odour.
This
is
prepared
on
a
commercial
scale,
and
is
particularly
recommended
as
a
non-poisonous,
non
irritant
antiseptic
of
unusual
strength,
the
Rideal-Walker
coefficient
being
11.
The
oil
contains
50-60%
of
terpenes
(pinenes,
terpinene
and
cymene),
from
6-8%
of
cineole
(accounting
for
the
camphoraceous
odour)
and
an
alcohol
terpineol,
which
supplies
the
pleasant
nutmeg-like
odour,
also
small
amounts
of
sesquiterpenes
and
their
corresponding
alcohols.
The
valuable
antiseptic
properties
of
the
oil
and
its
spicy
flavouring
note
should
prove
useful
in
dentrifices
and
mouthwashes."1"
In
a
1972
study
done
on
various
foot
problems,
i.e.:
athletes
foot,
fungal
infections,
under-toenail
corns,
and
calluses,
Dr.
Walker
used
tea
tree
oil
in
three
different
formulas;
first
as
a
pure
oil;
second,
40%
oil
with
10%
isopropyl
alcohol
(which
allows
the
oil
to
be
water
miscible,
giving
it
another
name,
Melasol)
and
third,
8%
oil
with
lanolin
and
chlorophyll.
Sixty
patients
were
involved
in
the
study.
Forty
were
put
on
Melasol,
20
applied
the
ointment
and
8
used
the
pure
oil.
Treatments
varied
from
three
weeks
to
four
years.
Out
of
68
patients,
58
found
relief
from
their
foot
problems
over
a
period
of
six
years.
At
least
four
different
fungal
conditions
are
affiliated
with
athlete's
foot,
all
of
which
responded
well
using
tea
tree
oil.
"2"
Standard
treatments
from
fungal
infections
of
the
nails
(onychomycosis)
include
debridement
(removal
of
foreign
matter
and
dead
or
damaged
tissue),
topical
medication,
and
systemic
therapies.
This
study
assessed
the
efficacy
and
tolerability
of
topical
applications
of
1%
clotrimazole
solution
compared
with
that
of
100%
Melaleuca
alternifolia
(tea
tree)
oil
for
the
treatment
of
toenail
onychomycosis.
In
a
six
month
double-blind,
mutilcentre,
randomised,
controlled
trial
of
117
patients
with
distal
subungal
onychomycosis,
participants
received
twice-daily
applications
of
either
1%
clotrimazole
(CL)
solution
(topical
antifungal
drug),
or
100%
tea
tree
(TTO)
oil.
Debridement
and
clinical
assessment
were
performed
at
0,
1,
3
and
6
months;
cultures
obtained
at
0
and
6
months.
After
6
months,
the
two
groups
were
comparable
based
on
culture
cure
(CL=11%,
TTO=18%).
Three
months
later,
approximately
half
of
each
group
reported
continued
improvement
or
resolution.
It
was
concluded
that,
while
all
current
therapies
have
high
recurrence
rates,
the
use
of
a
topical
preparation
in
conjunction
with
debridement
is
an
appropriate
initial
treatment.
Topical
therapy,
including
the
above
two
preparations,
provides
improvement
in
nail
appearance
and
symptoms,
while
oral
therapy
has
the
disadvantage
of
high
cost
and
potentially
serious
adverse
effects.
This
study
reinforces
the
need
to
use
a
potent
(in
this
case
100%)
concentration
of
tea
tree
oil
to
produce
better
short-term
and
long-term
efficacy.
In
children
and
those
with
skin
sensitivity,
a
70%
solution
may
be
better
tolerated.
"3"
Hospital
patients
are
susceptible
to
contact
with
infectious
bacteria
that
can
be
easily
transmitted
through
hospital
staff
members.
One
such
common
bacteria
is
Staphylococcus
aureus.
The
bacteria
was
tested
for
antibiotic
resistance.
Tea
tree
oil
dilutions
of
0.2%
-
2.0%
were
added
to
the
cultures
of
the
bacteria,
and
growth
measured.
The
effective
tea
tree
dosage
to
inhabit
the
bacteria
was
0.25%;
0.5%
killed
the
bacteria.
There
were
few
side
effects
from
skin
irritation.
These
in-vitro
results
suggest
tea
tree
oil
may
be
useful
in
the
treatment
of
MRSA
carriage.
"4"
A
new
protocol
for
antimicrobial
testing
of
oils"
is
a
paper
about
the
bactericidal
testing
of
oil
distilled
from
the
tea
tree
(Melaleuca
alternifolia
and
M.
linariifolia)
for
FDA
recognition
of
tea
tree
oil
as
a
safe
and
effective
topical
ingredient.
It
would
be
the
first
natural
topical
antiseptic
so
recognised.
The
difficulty
in
testing
tea
tree
oil
is
that
the
pure
oil
is
not
water
soluble,
and
floats
to
the
top
of
the
bacterial
medium.
The
FDA's
proposed
method
for
testing
has
been
to
use
water
soluble
and/or
miscible
products
together
with
a
chemical
neutraliser.
In
this
test,
a
protocol
was
established
to
test
the
oil
in
non-water-soluble
form,
using
a
non-toxic
solvent.
Tea
tree
oil
demonstrated
the
FDA
required
bactericidal
3
log
kill
against
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa,
Staphylococcus
aureus,
and
Escherichia
coli.
These
three
organism
have
been
selected
by
the
FDA
because
of
their
prevalence
and
life-threatening
potential.
The
authors
have
petitioned
the
FDA
to
include
this
new
protocol
in
proposed
21
CFR
333.71
(d)
ii,
"Bactericidal
Assay
Procedures"
in
the
testing
monograph
for
First
Aid
Antiseptic
Drug
Products.
"5"
ISO
International
Standard
4730
ISO
Standard
4730
states
that
tea
tree
oil
should
be
extracted
from
the
Melaleuca
alternifolia,
Melaleuca
linafolia,
or
Melaleuca
dissitifolia
species
of
the
Myrtaceae
family.
Other
tea
tree
species,
including
Cajuput
(Melaleuca
cajuputi),
New
Zealand
Manuka
(Leptospermum
scoparium),
New
Zealand
Ti-Tree
(Cordyline
australis),
and
Kanuka
(Leptospermum
ericoides),
are
not
highly
regarded,
as
they
do
not
contain
the
same
anti-microbial
benefits,
nor
have
they
been
in
use
for
nearly
a
century
as
has
Melaleuca
alternifolia.
Precautions:
1. Avoid contact with eyes.
2.
Keep
out
of
the
reach
of
children.
3.
Do
not
take
internally
without
consulting
your
health
practitioner.
This
precaution
does
not
include
the
use
of
toothpaste,
mouthwash
(without
swallowing)
or
douche.
4.
Dilute
with
Extra
Virgin
Olive
Oil
before
use
on
baby's
skin
5.
Do
a
patch
test
before
using
on
sensitive
skin.
Extremely
sensitive
skin
may
need
dilutions
of
the
pure
oil.
Dilutions
of
1:250
are
still
bacteriostatic
against
pathogenic
streptococci
and
staphylococci,
typhus,
pneumococcus,
and
gonococcus.
6.
Store
separately
from
homeopathic
remedies.
7.
Pregnant
women
should
take
extra
precaution.
Patch
Test
Put
a
few
drops
of
tea
tree
oil
on
a
cotton
swab
and
apply
to
the
inside
of
the
arm.
If
you
have
an
adverse
reaction,
irritation
will
appear
on
the
skin
within
a
matter
of
minutes.
If
the
patch
test
doesn't
indicate
any
irritation
or
allergic
reaction,
you
may
use
a
few
drops
of
tea
tree
oil
directly
on
the
problem
area
of
the
skin
once
or
twice
a
day.
Storage
Always
keep
tea
tree
oil
in
amber-coloured
bottles
and
store
in
a
cool
dry
place.
The
oil
will
stay
potent
and
will
not
deteriorate
from
exposure
to
light,
air,
and
heat.
Do
not
store
in
plastic
bottles.
Cap
should
be
on
tight
to
avoid
oxidation
and
evaporation.
Do
not
store
or
use
tea
tree
oil
near
homeopathic
remedies,
as
it
may
contaminate
your
remedy.
Shelf
life
is
generally
two
to
three
years
if
properly
stored.
There
have
been
reports
of
tea
tree
oil
retaining
its
efficacy
after
being
stored
for
much
longer
periods
of
time;
however,
perhaps
due
to
stricter
guidelines
from
various
government
regulatory
bodies,
it
is
now
recommended
that
the
oil
be
stored
for
a
maximum
of
three
years.
Source
for
additional
information
Australian
Tea
Tree
Oil
Guide
third
edition,
revised,
1998
by
Cynthia
Olsen
Published
by
Kali
Press,
Pagosa
Springs,
Co
USA
ISBN
1-890941-01
References
1
Penfold,A.R.,
and
F.R.
Morrison.
"Some
Notes
on
the
Essential
Oil
of
Melaleuca
alternifolia."
Australian
Journal
of
Pharmacy,
March
30,
1930.
British
Medical
Journal,
1933.
2
M
Walker,
Foot
Problems,
Current
Podiatry,
April
1972.
3
D.S.
Buck,
D.
M.
Nidorf,
and
J.G.
Addino,
Treatment
of
Nail
Fungus:
A
Comparison
of
Two
Topical
Preparations.
Journal
of
Family
Practice,
June;
38(6):
601-5
1994.
4
Carson,
C.F.,
B.D.
Cookson,
H.D.
Farrelly,
and
T.V.
Riley.
"Susceptibility
of
methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus
aureus
to
the
essential
oil
of
Melaleuca
alternifolia."
Journal
of
Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy,
35:
421-424
1995.
5
Smith,
Martha
D.,
Patricia
L.
Navilliat.
A
new
protocol
for
antimicrobial
testing
of
oils."
Journal
of
Microbiological
Methods
28
(1997)
21-24