Tea Tree Oil

Historical : Used extensively by aborigines before Captain Cook used the name tea tree to refer to the leaves of a Leptospermum ( similar genus to Melaleuca ) from which he brewed a tea drink. It was referred to as spicy and refreshing. There are over three hundred varieties of tea tree throughout Australia, but only one has truly outstanding medicinal properties - Melaleuca Alternifolia. The key properties of this variety are a high terpinene-4-ol component and a low cineol component ( which is a skin irritant ). Much research has been done into the properties of tea tree, perhaps more than any other essential oil. It is now widely recognized by the scientific community as a powerful tool against a variety of infectious organisms. Mr. W. R. Penfold in 1930 found it to be 11 to 13 times stronger than carbolic ( carbolic acid or phenol, C6-H5-OH ) as a germicide.

Aromatherapy Properties : Strong antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, fungicidal properties. Used for a variety of skin complaints e.g.. athlete's foot, boils, herpes, ulcers, psoriasis, warts.

Essential oils that contain chamazulene are important in therapeutic applications because of its apparent radical scavenging activity. Interesting research supporting this activity was carried out by Rekka E.A. (1996), who investigated the role of chamazulene in vitro experiments using an iron(II)/ascorbate system to generate hydroxyl radicals inducing membrane lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes. It was seen that chamazulene was a potent hydroxyl radical scavenger and effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation.[xvi] The ability of chamazulene in radical scavenging is what is thought to responsible for its effectiveness in treating inflamed skin conditions.

Artemisia arborescens was shown to have weak antibacterial action except towards Clostridium sporogenes when tested with twenty-five test bacteria. [xvii]

Skin care applications may include: burns, sensitive skin, acne, keratosis, sunburn, inflammations & infections of the skin (Ikan, et al. (1993); Untested oil, avoid use on sensitive or damaged skin

For respiratory problems, inhalation could be beneficial for bronchitis, (asthmatic & catarrhal), coughs, sinus and chest congestion.

Practical uses: this author (SSH) has successfully used this oil in:

<ul >

<li >inflamed skin conditions including pre- and post-radiation treatments (as compress and water spray); sunburn (water spray)</li>

<li >topical treatment for inflamed and sensitive skin (5%) and for surgical scars (mixed 1:1 with Helichrysum italicum, 5% formulation in fractionated coconut oil;</li>

<li >inhalation for respiratory infections, and inflamed sinus (see below)</li>

<li >topical sinus treatment (5%) (mixed with tea tree, and peppermint 2:10:2).</li>

</ul>

Typical aromatherapy uses of A. arborescens include: anti-inflammative, antiallergenic(?(Penoel), antihistamine, anticatarrh, choleretic, mucolytic, (Sheppard Hanger, 1995)