Melaleuca alternifolia
(Tea tree)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Organisms inhibited by tea tree oil:
  
  Candida albicans
  Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  Propionibacterium acnes
  Staphylococcus aureus
  Streptococcus pyrogenes 
  Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Clinical Indications:

• Aphthous stomatitis
• Candidiasis, daily douche with 1 quart of water and 0.4 % concentration of the oil
• Acne
• Bromhidrosis
• Onychomycosis, in conjunction with debridement
• Pharyngitis
• Sinusitis
• Tinea pedis, massaged into the feet daily
• Trichomonas vaginalis

Contraindications:

• None known

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• Oil containing:
  
  1-terpinen-4-ol
  Gamma-terpinene
  1,8-cineol
  p-cymene

Toxicity:

• Extremely safe for topical antiseptic

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).