Essential Oils Profiles List / Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil
Melaleuca Oil, Paperbark Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia

Tea Tree Oil in Brief | Main Components
Groups using Tea Tree Oil
Major Growing Regions | Australian Tea Tree Oil
Cultivation of Melaleuca Alternifolia
Distillation and Production of Tea Tree Oil | How to Distill Tea Tree Oil
Toxicology | Safety with Tea Tree Oil
Therapeutic Uses for Tea Tree Oil | Treatments using Tree Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil GC / MS Data Profile | ISO International Standards for Tea Tree OIl

Also See | Articles about Tea Tree Oil |Tea Tree Oil Books| Resources | References
Suppliers of Tea Tree Oil | Raw leaf suppliers
Discuss Talk With Others

 

Tea tree oil is extracted from the twigs and leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia tree. Original used as a powerful 'antiseptic' by the oldest existing culture on the planet, the Aboriginal People of Australia. The plant has for many year been cultivate and produced in quantity to become a staple in medicine cabinets, cosmetics and tolieties around the world. The melaleuca alternifolia tree that produces tea tree oil is unique to Australia and in particular northern-eastern New South Wales. The plant has been cultivated in other part of Australia successfully including Queensland and Western Australia. Other species of Melaleuca grow throughout Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. There are some 50 varieties of Melaleuca genus known to exist, alternifolia being the most researched by far. Articles and Reports > Tea Tree Oil's Main Components 40% terpene alcohols (terpinen-4-ol), sesquiterpenes, 5% cineol

Groups Using Tea Tree Oil Aromatherapy, Therapeutics, Pharmaceuticals, Veterinary Major Growing Regions Australia Produces over 95% over the worlds Tea Tree Oil. Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) is harvested all year round in Australia. The oil is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia, every 12 - 18 months. The trees are rugged, recovering quickly from harvesting and can live for up to 10 years. 1. Australia - Jan to Dec ^ Essential Oils Crop Calendar ^ Essential Oil Producing Countries Cultivation of Melaleuca Alternifolia Tea Trees plants are shade tolerant and succeed in most soils with the exception of dry conditions. Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun. Prefers a soil that doesn't contain much nitrogen. This species is not very cold hardy,beusing used to the Australian sun, and is only likely to succeed outdoors in the very mildest parts of Northern Europe where temperatures do not dop past -7°c. The plant used to an extended warm climate, sub-tropical. The seed takes about 12 months to develop on the plant, the woody seed capsules from the stunning white flowers persist for 3 or more years. Any pruning is best done after the plants have flowered with the intention of maintaining a compact habit. The alternifolia hybridizes freely with other members of the Melaleuca genus. Toxicology Tea Tree Oil is non-irritant. Another report says that high quality oils contain about 40% terpinen-4-ol, which is well tolerated by the skin and 5% cineol which is an irritant. However, in poor quality oils the levels of cineol can exceed 10% and in some cases up to 65%, which may increase sensitivity. Tea Tree Oil is not safe to use on cats. Recommended Dosages and Quantities - Possiably one of the best guides around to learn more about theraputic essential oil safety in massage and aromatherapy is Robert Tisserands Essential Oils Safety Guide, in the back is a guide covering safety with most essential oils. disclaimer toxicology is a guide and consult a qualified medical practitioner on the dosage that is right for your. Therapeutic Uses Tea tree oil is one of the most powerful antiseptics available and merits a place in every medicine cabinet. It is useful for treating stings, burns, wounds and skin infections of all kinds. Anti-infective, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, antifungal. Usable on mucous membranes, mouth and gums, acne, cold sores, warts, verrucae, inflammation, herpes, genital area, general infections, chronic Candida-related vaginitis, infection with trichomonads. Shock and hysteria. Tea tree oil can be diluted with carrier oils and should be test on the skin for sensitivity. Information on theraputic uses are only a guide and you should consult a professional manuals of aromatherapy for more information. Tea Tree Oil Treatments and Articles > Distillation and Production Tea tree oil is extracted by stream distillation from the leaves of the tree. The industry tea tree oil bible Tea Tree: The Genus Melaleuca, contains a chapter on distillation and extraction of Tea Tree Oil. ^ Essential Oil Distillation and Extraction Resources ^ Distillation, CO2 Extraction Book Reviews International Standards for Tea Tree Oil The Australia Tea Tree Industry Associations (ATTIA) states on its website, "The Tea tree oil sold in clear glass bottles of greater than 15ml volume is not 100% tea tree oil". The also list current standards for Tea Tree Oil. See an example of an Australian tea tree oil data profile sheet. The international standard for Tea Tree Oil is avaliable to download here, ISO 4730:2004, Oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil). Other ISO essential oil standards can be found by searching "SO TC 54 oil-name " on the international standards for other essential oils page (half way down). Also See Essential Oils Profiles - A list of Over 170 Essential Oils Essential Oil Distillation ISO Essential Oil Standards Essential Oil Reports and Market Research Essential Oil Articles and Extracts Oilganic Essential Oil Crop Calendar Essential Oil Producing Countries Resources 1. Books and Reports - Excellent resources 2 . Articles - Published information on Essential Oils 3. Discuss - Essential Oil Community Forums 4. Buy Tea Tree oil - The Aroma Marketplace 5. The Tea Tree Oil Research Group - University of Western Australia References I highly recommend the references used below. They have been invaluable in compiling this definiation of Tea Tree oiland all the writers are experts in their fields. Oilganic has a comprehensive library of books and reports on essential oils. 1. Advanced Aromatherapy - The Science of Essential Oil Therapy, Kurt Schnaubelt, PH.D. 2. The World of Aromatherapy, edited by Jeanne Rose and Susan Earle 3. The 'Fact and Fiction' section on the Tea Tree Oil Research Group website at the University of Western Australia clarifies some properties of Tea Tree Oil : 5.The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment, Valerie Ann Worwood 6. Tea Tree Oil Book Reviews 7. The Tea Tree Oil Bible. Ali, Dr. Elivs, Dr. George Grant, and Ken Vegotsky. AGES Publications, Inc. 1999 8. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin. Murray MT and Pizorno JE. CA: Prima Publishing, 1991, p. 532. 9. The Complete Medicinal Herbal. Ody, P. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc.,1993, pp.142-143,144-145, 176-177. 10. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Huxley. A. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5   Disclaimer This information is just a guide and readers should consult their medical practitioner before using essential oils.

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