TEA TREE OIL Aromatherapy Essential “Oil of the Month”
Category : Essential Oil Info , Oil of the Month , Tea Tree Oil
Australian Tea Tree
Botanical Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
A Native to Australia is the Tea Tree. There are over 300 species belonging to the Myrtle family and are also known as paperbarks and honey myrtles. Tea Tree has a papery bark and white to creamish bottlebrush-like flowers up to 5cm long, flowering in October to November. They are farmed in regions of the North Coast of New South Wales and on the Atherton Tableland in Queensland.
The leaves are steam distilled, harvested in the warmer months with very high Australian standards and code of practice producing a high quality, consistent product that is compliant with international standards.
Tea Tree lakes stained by the leaves dropping into the water have a dark appearance but are said to be great for the skin to heal wounds and revitalise.
New uses for Tea Tree Oil are being considered and these include insect pest control in sheep and cattle industries.
Main Constituents of Essential Oil: Terpinen-4-ol, y-terpinene, a-terpinene, Terpinolene, a-terpineol, a-pinene, p-cymene, 1,8-cinole
There is up to 15 constituents in Tee Tree oil but the main ones are Terpinen-4-ol with approximately 41.33% in Tea Tree Oil and has shown to have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal effects as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. There are also reports of antitumor effects by apoptosis (cell death). Although more research is needed, Terpinen-4-ol is an important constituent of Tea Tree Oil.
Y-terpinene 20% in Tea Tree Oil along with a-terpinene 10% in Tea Tree Oil has strong antioxidant activity. A-terpinene also is said to contribute to the antitumor properties of Tea Tree Oil. Terpinolene contributes to the antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant properties also improving sleep quality. Terpinolene only makes up 3 – 4% of Tea Tree Oil but is found in Cannabis Oil at 20%.
Although Tea Tree Oil is low skin irritant (always dilute Essential Oils) it is poisonous if swallowed so keeping it away from the mouth area is recommended.
Tea Tree Oil has a green woody, medicinal scent and is known as a middle note being Australia’s SUMMER SNOW!
Kid Safe: yes
Shop – Try Our Australian Tea Tree Oil
You must be logged in to post a comment.