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COST Typically £4 - £6 for 10ml but production does not meet demand - price expected to rise.

PLANT FAMILY NAME Myrtaceae

LATIN NAME Melaleuca Alternifolia Cheel

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

A small tree or shrub, with needle like leaves with heads of yellow or purplish flowers.

WHERE GROWN Native to Australia, other varieties have been cultivated elsewhere, but M. alternifolia is not produced outside Australia at the moment. It grows following water courses and thrives in swampy terrain.

EXTRACTION METHOD

The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and twigs & branches. The trees are cut to within 6 feet of the ground, and the leaves and branches are separated from the limbs. Usually new growth, takes between 18 & 24 months before it can be harvested.

CHARACTERISTICS

A volatile top note having a shelf life typically of around 18 months. It is a pale yellowy-green or water-white mobile liquid with a warm, fresh spicy-camphoraceous odour

BLENDS WELL WITH

It blends well with Lavandin, Lavender, Clary sage, Rosemary, Pine, Geranium, Marjoram, and spice oils, especially Clove. I feel that it does not blend well with floral oils.

SAFETY DATA

Non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitisation in some individuals. Safe to dab neat on the skin. However it is not recommended to apply old or badly stored tea tree to eczema or to traumatised skin. As with many oils, it is not recommended to use tea tree oil indefinitely to treat such conditions. It is better reserved for occasions when the condition has worsened and as a short-term treatment.

AROMATHERAPY USES

Acne, pyorrhea, gingivitis, athlete's foot, blisters, cold sores (maybe if caught early), some effect against dandruff (blended with your shampoo), insect bites, nappy rash, spots, veruccae, some effect against warts, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, sinusitis, Thrush (fungal creams are better), puritis. Colds, fever, flu & infectious illnesses. Acts against many fungi such as trichomonomas and also it has been reoprted to act against some viruses. However I have not been able to validate the scientific research about the oils anti viral action.

REMARKS

Tea tree oil quality can be identified by its unpleasant odour. A sweet smelling Teatree has usually been adulterated with Cineole, the main constituent of Eucalyptus oil, which is also produced locally.

For storage purposes Teatree should be treated like a Citrus oil as it is prone to oxidation upon exposure to air.

Tea tree oil has probably had more scientific and medical research undertaken on it than any other essential oil. There are now many clinical trials to be found. In 1995, it was found that the oil had a remarkably potent action against the MRSA strains of bacteria that have become resistant to conventional antibiotics. The oil is especially powerful when blended with other oils. Tea Tree oil has been extensively used in Australia since the turn of the century.

Note:- The Australian governments standard for tea tree oil does not specify the botanical name Melaleuca Alternifolia but specifies: Oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type.

TYPICAL CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Alpha-pinene 2.5%, Alpha-terpine 9.1%. Para-cymene 3.9%, 1,8-cineole 4.3%, Gamma-terpinene 24.6%, Alpha-terpineol 2.3%, Terpinen-4-0L 42.1% and Terpinolene 4.1%