The Medicinal Uses of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Who hasn’t heard of tea tree oil and all its purported medicinal uses?  It’s seemingly so common that we all should have some on hand.  And know how to use it.  And yes, it’s an item that I wish I had included in Armageddon Pharmacy.  I have finally accepted the fact that no matter how long I take to publish a book, as soon as it is out of my hands I will come across a topic I wish I had covered for that book.  It happens every single time.

My first question as I began researching was whether tea tree oil was the same creature as tea tree essential oil.  It appears they are the same.[1]  [2]  The second was whether there were any preparations for it besides the oil.  No, apparently not.  It’s all about the essential oil.  Which means you and I are probably not making our own.  If we want tea tree oil, we have to buy it.

HARVEST

If you are going to process your own tea tree oil, use only fresh leaves and twigs.[3] [4]

EFFECTIVE AGAINST

• Bacteria
• Gram-positive
• Mycobacterium avium ATCC 4676[12] 
• Staphylococcus[5]
• Staphylococcus aureus[6]
• Streptococcus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae[7]
• Streptococcus pyogenes[8]
• Gram-negative
• Escherichia coli[9] [10]
• Haemophilus influenzae[11]
• 
  
• Fungi[13]
• Candida albicans[14]
• Candida glabrata[15]
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae[16]
• Viruses
• Feline coronavirus (FCoVII)[17]
• Human coronavirus (HCoV-OC43)[18]

PREPARATIONS

Essential oil:  Fresh tea tree leaves and twigs are steam distilled to produce the essential oil. 

Athlete’s foot powder:  Combine ¼ cup arrowroot powder, ¼ cup baking soda, and 20-25 drops tea tree oil.  Place in a covered container.  Apply to dry, clean feet twice per day.[19]

USAGE

• Dental/oral
• Gingivitis
• 1 drop in 1 cup of water and swished in mouth for 30 seconds[20]
• Eyes
• Blepharitis
• 5% solution applied to eyelids and other areas twice daily for at least one month.  Use on eyelashes, forehead, eyebrows, and cheeks to eliminate the mites causing the condition.[21]
• Respiratory
• Common cold[22]
• Cough[23]
• Sore throat[24]
• Skin[25]
• Acne[26]
• 1-2 drops in 12 drops of carrier oil and dab on clean skin twice per day[27]
• Athlete’s foot[28] [29] [30]
• Bed bug bites
• Undiluted tea tree oil[31]
• Blisters[32]
• Burns, first and second degree
• Oil, 15 drops mixed in 2 tablespoons of water[33]
• Dandruff[34]
• Eczema[35]
• 8-9 drops per ounce of coconut or olive oil[36]
• Alternatively, the Mayo Clinic says not to use tea tree oil if suffering from eczema[37]
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• 3-4 drops in 2 tablespoons of coconut or olive oil and apply to affected areas with Q-tip or cotton ball[38]
• Insect bites[39]
• Lice[40]
• Toenail fungus[41] [42]
• Wounds[43]
• 15 drops in 2 tablespoons of water[44]
• Urogenital
• Vaginal itching
• Sitz bath in warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil for 15 minutes[45]
• Other
• Alternative to chlorhexidine[46]
• Insect repellent
• More effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes[47]

Caution:  Tea tree oil should never be taken internally.

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[1] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9228983/

[3] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 74.

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9228983/

[5] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 74.

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11548201/

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9569708/

[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[13] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 74.

[14] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15140856/

[15] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15140856/

[16] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15140856/

[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9228983/

[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9228983/

[19] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil#Treat-athletes-foot

[20] https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0040-1703999

[21] https://www.dovepress.com/demodex-blepharitis-clinical-perspectives-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTO#reft37

[22] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil

[23] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil

[24] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[25] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[26] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[27] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 363.

[28] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 74.

[29] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil#Treat-athletes-foot

[30] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[31] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 396.

[32] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 388.

[33] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 449.

[34] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[35] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20865268/

[36] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 371.

[37] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[38] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 379.

[39] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 74.

[40] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[41] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32912657/

[42] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246

[43] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23848210/

[44] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 506.

[45] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 316.

[46] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12553397/

[47] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26412058/