Tea Tree Organic Essential Oil

Tea Tree Organic Essential Oil is regarded as having one of the broadest ranges of therapeutic benefits offered within aromatherapy. As a virtual “Swiss army knife” of applications, it demonstrates antimicrobial, antiseptic, expectorant, relaxing, and stress relieving characteristics.* This impressive range of abilities translates into a powerful supporter for the integumentary system (skin and hair), respiratory system, immune system, and nervous system while also exhibiting an uncanny ability to deter bugs and parasites.* Knowing all this, it’s no surprise that other Tea Tree products have been used as ingredients in shampoos, lotions, powders, deodorants, detergents, pet shampoos, bug sprays, and of course tea.

Tea Tree should not be confused with “New Zealand Tea Tree” which is actually somewhat of a misnomer for the Manuka plant, a distinctly different species. Another potential source of confusion lies with the Lavender Tea Tree plant. Also native to Australia, this plant produces “Rosalina oil” which bears more resemblance to Eucalyptus oil than that of the true Tea Tree plant. Many products labeled “Lavender Tea Tree Oil” are in reality just a blend of Tea Tree and Lavender, as opposed to actually being sourced from the plant which shares its name.

About the Plant:

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) generally reaches between 5 and 7 meters tall in moist but well-drained riverbanks and waterways with abundant sunshine. It grows quickly and vigorously, usually having one trunk but sometimes multiple stems originating from a single rootstock. This tree displays papery-thin white bark, a lush-green bushy crown, and blooms of wispy white flowers between spring and summer.

Tea Tree is now commonly grown in commercial plantations due to its high demand and tendency for rapid growth in repeatable conditions. Other trees related to the tea tree are Clove, Eucalyptus, Myrtle, and Niaouli. Tea Tree is classified as an evergreen. The Essential Oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs.

Where It Grows:

While Tea Tree is native to Australia, specifically the swampy southeastern coast, where generations of aboriginal people have used the plant for healing. The name “tea tree” refers to the practice of drinking an infusion, or “tea”, of the leaves as a healing herbal drink. This is said to have been first observed by the sailors on Captain Cook’s ship in the eighteenth century.

Today, it is now understood that this plant can thrive in multiple regions where proper conditions exist. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is found from the Grafton district in New South Wales as far inland as Stroud. It has even been found in the coastal districts north to Maryborough in Queensland. It loves to grows along streams and in swamp places.

Traditional Uses and Lore:

The Aboriginal peoples of Australia were the first to discover the wonders of Tea Tree. They regarded it as somewhat of a “cure-all” and used the crushed leaves to create teas and mud pastes which could be applied to a wide range of maladies. However, it was not called “tea tree” until the 1700s when Capt. James Cook had arrived in Australia and noticed leaves from several plants within the melaleuca and leptospermum genus were being ground into tea by the Bundjalung natives. Not long after, he was prescribing these teas to his crew for the prevention of scurvy.*

This led to the common term “tea tree” existing as sort of a catch-all for a variety of plants, which still persists to this day. Hence, the confusion between Manuka (New Zealand Tea Tree), Cajuput (Swamp Tea Tree, White Tree), Lavender Tea Tree, and others. These are all separate species than that of “true” Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia).

By the 1920s, Tea Tree Oil was being distilled in Australia. This is when the Western World finally caught on to the therapeutic potential of the plant, which had been long understood by the Aboriginal natives.

In World War II, cutters and producers of Tea Tree Essential Oil were exempt from military service until enough Essential Oil had been accumulated. Tea Tree Essential Oil was issued to each soldier and sailor to be used to treat any tropical infections, wounds, and other injuries.

Other Facts:

• • • Scent: Warm, Spicy, Camphoraceous, Fresh, and Slightly Bitter Aroma
    • Fragrance Note: Middle Note
    • Composition: α-Pinene, β-Pinene, Sabinene, Myrcene, α-Phellandrene, α-Terpinine, Limonene, 1.8 Cineole, ᵧ-Terpinine, p-Cymene, Terpinolene, Linalool, Terpinene-4-ol, and α-Terpineol
    • Family: Myrtaceae Family

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.