Tea Tree Essential Oil
THE PLANT
Family name: Myrtaceae - Myrtle FamilyBotanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betche) Cheel
Other names: Narrow-leaf paperbark; Tea-tree (Fr), Teebaum (Ge), Albero da té (It), Arbol de te (Sp)
Parts used: The leaves, twiglets
Extraction: Steam distillation of the leaves and twiglets from October through June. Tea tree was first distilled in 1924
Yield of essential oil: 1 kg oil yield from 60 kg of leaves and twigs (a very good yield)
Chance of adulteration in essential oils: Moderate, possibly with the addition of the valuable terpinene-4-ol in oils of low-quality commercial production.
INCI-name on cosmetic products: Melaleuca alternifolia
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Tea Tree is a small tree or shrub (smallest of the tea tree family), with needle-like leaves similar to cypress, with heads of sessile yellow of purplish flowers.
DISTRIBUTION
Tea Tree is native to Australia. Other varieties have been cultivated elsewhere, but M. alternifolia is produced mainly in New South Wales, Australia and in Indonesia.
HERBAL & FOLK TRADITION
The name Tea Tree derives from its local usage as a type of herbal tea, prepared from its leaves. Our present knowledge of the properties and uses of Tea Tree is based on a very long history of use by the aboriginal people of Australia to heal cuts, wounds and skin infections.
SENSORY
Appearance: A pale yellowy-green or water-white mobile liquid
Taste: Bitter, pungent, sweet
Aroma: Strong, medicinal, camphoraceous, balsamic and bittersweet.
Perfumery status: A head note of medium intensity and poor persistence (but hardly used as such)
FluFloRa Principle: Flo-note (Heart note)
AROMATHERAPY - HOME USE
Employed in soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, disinfectants, gargles, germicides and increasingly in aftershaves and spicy colognes.
Skin care: Abscess, acne, dermatitis, athlete´s foot, blisters, burns, cold sores, dandruff, herpes, insect/spider/scorpion/tick bites, oily skin, rashes (nappy rash), spots, verrucae, scabies, lice, warts, wounds (infected).
Respiratory system: Asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, sinusitis, tuberculosis, whooping cough.
Genito-urinary system: Thrush, vaginitis, cystitis, pruritis (extreme itching).
Immune system: Colds, fever, flu, shingles, infectious illnesses such as chickenpox.
BLENDS WELL WITH
It blends well with Lavandin, Lavender, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Oakmoss, Pine, Cananga, Geranium, Marjoram and spice oils especially clove and nutmeg.
OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION
Chakra: NA
Astrological sign: Taurus
Planet: Venus
Element: Fire
Quality: Yang
Dosha effect: VPK=
CHINESE MEDICINE FUNCTIONS AND INDICATIONS
Aroma energy: Pungent, sweet
Movement: Rising
Warmth: Neutral to cool
Meridian tropism: Lung, Heart, Stomach, Kidney
Five-Element affinity: Metal
Essential function: To tonify the Qi and Yin, clear empty heat and strengthen the Shen
SAFETY DATA
Safety summary: Non-toxic, non-irritant, skin sensitization (low risk) in hypersensitive individuals
Contraindications: None known
Maximum dermal use level: 15 %
Note! Old or oxidized oils should be avoided. Can cause skin reactions!
ALLERGENS
Limonene, Linalool
USED IN PRODUCTS
Itchy & Scratchy - Cosmetic skincare oil
RESOURCES
Aromatica vol 1. - Peter Holmes LAc, Mh
Essential Oil Safety - Tisserand and Young
The Energetics of Western Herbs - Peter Holmes
The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils - Julia Lawless
Ayurveda & Aromatherapy - Dr. Light Miller, ND and Dr. Bryan Miller, DC
Aromainfo Database - www.aroma-database.com
Tisserand Institute - Essential Oil Education