Botanical names Melaleuca alternifolia
Source Leaves
Family Myrtaceae
Origin Australia
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Description / Color / Consistency A thin, clear, pale yellow liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A middle note with a medium aroma, Tee Tree has a fresh, slightly medicinal scent with characteristic woody, camphoraceous notes.
Blends With Cinnamon Bark, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Nutmeg, Rosewood, Rosemary and Thyme.
Product Abstract
Tea Tree oil, also known as Leptospermum petersonii or Melaleuca oil, is one of the most widely used and extensively researched essential oils, making it a must-have for every home. Because the benefits of Tea Tree lemon oil include cleansing properties and a refreshing scent, this versatile oil can be used for everything from home cleaning solutions to skin care.
Keep a bottle of Tea Tree lemon essential oil in your house to make homemade household cleaners, air fresheners, and linen spritzers. You can also find Tea Tree oil uses in your personal care and beauty routine.
History
1770, Captain James Cook landed at Botany Bay, Australia – near where Sydney is now. From there, he traveled north through the coastal regions of New South Wales. During this trek, he and his crew noticed the massive groves of trees thick with sticky, aromatic leaves.
The local natives told him about the healing powers of these trees. The leaves of this tea tree had been used for many years, by these people, to treat cuts and wounds. Crushed leaves were applied directly to an injury, then held in place with a mud pack. This poultice helped fight infection in the wound.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Unlike the name suggests, the essential oil of tea tree is not extracted from the plant commonly associated with tea as a beverage. Neither is it related to tea oil, which is extracted from the seed of the tea plant. Instead, it is extracted through steam distillation of twigs and leaves of tea tree, which has the botanical name Leptospermum petersonii. The tea tree is native to Southeast Queensland and New South Wales, in Australia, which is why it is such a popular essential oil in that country. However, its impressive qualities have spread to other parts of the world, so it can now be found internationally.
Common usage
Caution
Although there are no inherent risks of topically applying tea tree oil, in some rare cases, people may be overly sensitive to the oil, as a form of a minor allergenic. Melaleuca oil is clearly a powerful cleansing agent for better health, but should not be directly consumed. This is meant as a topical agent, and should not be trusted as an antibacterial agent for oral consumption. As with any new herbal remedy being added to your health regimen, speak to a trained medical professional before making any major changes. The side effects of cionsuming tea tree essential oil can be quite serious, and they include confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, coma, unsteadiness, severe rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, general weakness, stomach upset, and blood cell abnormalities. It should always be kept away from pets and children.
Key constituents
Terpinen-4-ol 38.10%
g-Terpinene 22.1%
a-Terpinene 10.5%
Terpinolene 3.5%
1,8-Cineole 3.1%
a-Terpineol 2.8%
p-Cymeme 2.7%
a-Pinene 2.4%
(þ)-Aromadendrene 2.1%
Ledene 1.8%
d-Cadinene 1.6%
(þ)-Limonene 1.1%
Safety summary
Hazards Drug interaction; teratogenicity; skin sensitization.
Cautions (all routes) Drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Cautions (oral) Diabetes medication, pregnancy.
Cautions (dermal) Hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin, children under 2 years of age.
Maximum daily oral dose in pregnancy 54 mg
Maximum dermal use level 0.8%
Our safety advice
We recommend a dermal maximum of 0.8% to avoid skin sensitization, and a daily oral maximum in pregnancy of 54 mg. This is based on 77% citral content, with dermal and oral citral limits of 0.6% and 0.6 mg/kg.
Regulatory guidelines
IFRA recommends a dermal limit for citral of 0.6% for body oils
and lotions, in order to avoid skin sensitization.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions No information was found for lemonscented tea tree oil, but skin sensitization is possible due to the high citral content.
Cardiovascular effects Gavage doses of 10, 15 or 20 mg/kg/ day citral for 28 days, dose-dependently lowered plasma insulin levels and increased glucose tolerance in obese rats.
Reproductive toxicity Citral is dose-dependently teratogenic because it inhibits retinoic acid synthesis, and this can affect fetal development.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found. Citral is slightly toxic: acute oral LD50 in rats 4.96 g/kg (Jenner et al 1964). Dermal LD50 in rabbits 2.25 g/kg
Antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity Leptospermum petersonii oil exhibited high radical scavenging activity in both ABTS and DPPH assays.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information was found for lemon-scented tea tree oil, but it contains no known carcinogens. Citral and citronellal display anticarcinogenic activity.
Drug interactions Antidiabetic medication, because of cardiovascular effects, above. See Table 4.10B. Since citral and geraniol inhibit CYP2B6, there is a theoretical risk ofinteraction between lemon-scented tea tree oil and drugs
metabolized by this enzyme.
Comments
The majority of growers and bulk suppliers cite Melaleuca alternifolia as their source of lemon-scented tea tree oil. The citral CT of L. liversidgei has been moderately developed, and may be an occasional source of lemon-scented tea tree. It has a similar citral content to L. petersonii.
