Alchemist's note: Let's take a look at the Australian native Tea-Tree (melaleuca alternifolia) oil. The Bundjalung people of Eastern Australia use the native plant to treat coughs and colds. Tea-Tree belongs to the botanical family that includes Cajeput, Niaouli, Clove, Eucalyptus and Myrtle. This Myrtaceae family is known for their anti-infectious action and the Bundjalung people use Tea-Tree leaves on wounds, they soak them to make a tea-like concoction to treat sore throats or skin ailments and Tea-Tree is common in products such as head lice treatments and topical wound creams. The Tea-Tree essential oil is distilled from the leaves and reduces into a potent, powerful tool to add to your infectious illness toolbox. Just like with any medical application, please take great care when using Tea-Tree in your home as it is toxic if ingested in large amounts, and can cause skin irritation or hearing loss if used near the ear.
Tea Tree has a strong, medicinal, camphorous aroma. It contains almost 100 compounds known to have a positive effect on health and wellbeing. Studies support the decades of anecdotal traditional evidence attributing anti-inflammatory activity to tea tree oil. Tea-Tree oil has been shown in studies for decades including a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s comparing the antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil to disinfectants and researchers saw the same result from the natural product than they did from chemically manufactured products. Its place in history among indigenous Australians is also prominent, as hundreds of tribes across the nation have traditional medicine uses for the Melaleucas.
Common & Traditional Uses:
Antimicrobiol, antiseptic, antiviral, balsamic, bactericide, expectorant, fungicide, insecticide, stimulant.
Scientific Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Chemical Constituents: (a-pinene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-phellandrene, a-terpinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, a-terpineol.
History:
The earliest reported use of the tea tree plant that presumably exploited the antimicrobial property was the traditional use by the Bundjalung Aborigines of northern New South Wales. Crushed leaves of “tea trees” were inhaled to treat coughs and colds or were sprinkled on wounds, after which a poultice was applied. [Shemesh, A., and W. L. Mayo. 1991. Australian tea tree oil: a natural antiseptic and fungicidal agent. Aust. J. Pharm. 72:802-803.]