Īpplication of tea tree oil to the skin can cause an allergic reaction. Tea tree oil should not be used in or around the mouth. It should be kept away from pets and children. It may cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. Tea tree oil is highly toxic when ingested. It is not recommended for treating head lice in children because its effectiveness and safety has not been established and it could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Tea tree oil is not recommended for treating nail fungus as it is not effective. The CHMP say tea tree oil products should not be used on people under 12 years of age. Īccording to the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency, traditional usage suggests that tea tree oil is a plausible treatment for "small superficial wounds, insect bites and small boils", that it may help reduce itching in minor cases of athlete's foot, and help with mild inflammation of the mouth lining.
A 2015 Cochrane systematic review for acne complementary therapies, found a low-quality single trial showed benefit compared to placebo. Tea tree oil has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in the belief it treats acne, nail fungus, or athlete's foot, with little evidence to support these uses.
It is poisonous if consumed by mouth, and unsafe to use on children.
Tea tree oil is neither a patented product nor an approved drug in the United States, although it is approved as a complementary medicine for aromatherapy in Australia. However, there is not enough evidence to support any of these claims due to the limited amount of research conducted on the topic. Tea tree oil is claimed as useful for treating dandruff, acne, lice, herpes, insect bites, scabies, and skin fungal or bacterial infections. Īs a traditional medicine, it is typically used as a topical medication in low concentrations for the treatment of skin conditions, but there is little evidence of efficacy. As of 2017 the global tea tree oil market was valued at US$39 million.
The oil comprises many constituent chemicals and its composition changes if it is exposed to air and oxidizes.Ĭommercial use of tea tree oil began in the 1920s, pioneered by the entrepreneur Arthur Penfold. It is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, native to southeast Queensland and the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear. Tea tree plantation, Coraki, New South Wales