In 1770 Lt garble (later to become...

In 1770 Lt garble (later to become "Captain" Cook) of the British Royal Navy, was in succession an expedition in northeastern Australia when he stumbl immediately after Melaleaca alternifolia, a small, (approximately four-foot) tree from the myrtle family.

From its flimsy three-inch leaves, Lt. Cook reportedly brewed a spicy tea, thus creating the plant's for the use of all name -- the tea tree Botarrist Sir Joseph Banks, who was along forward the expedition, took samples of the tea tree leaves back to England.

Exploring the medicinal applications of tea tree oil

Australian Aborigines originally used the plant for medicinal projects In 1924, two doctors of the Sydney Technological Museum, discovered the healing properties of its oil. In The Australian Journal of Pharmacy (1988) Dr Phillip M Altman quot single in kind doctor, A.R. Penfold, as stating that, in 1929 "[The oil of] Melaleuca alternifolia is particularly commended as a nonpoisonous, non-irritant antiseptic and disinfectant of unusual strength...the valuable antiseptic properties of the oil and its spicy flavoring should make good useful in dentrifices and mouthwashes."

The following year, a surgeon in Sydney reported that tea tree oil dissolved pus while leaving the surface of infected hurts clean, without any apparent tissue damage, Altman said. This may be nothing in today's ever-advancing world, yet back then, the most efficient germicides not no other than killed bacteria, they destroyed tissue as well.

Almost sum of two units decades later, during World War II, tea tree cutter and farmers were exempt from military service until enough of the essential oil was available. The oil was then given to each soldier and sailor for the treatment of tropical infections and wounds

Today, more than 200 years after its apparent discovery by way of Lt. Cook, tea tree oil is used as an antiseptic and germicide and study to be much stronger than carbolic acid, a poisonous crystalline acidic compose present in coal and copse tar I that is used in the manufacture of resins, plastics, tinges and pharmaceuticals.

The oil has a watery, pale golden appearance and a warm, spicy odor and can also be used for insect bites, skin puzzles and as a mouthwash. And, if mixed with other essential oils to compensate for its stout odor, tea tree oil can be used in dandruff shampoos, face masks, and topical creams. The oil penetrates the skin quickly and accelerates the healing of skin disorders, with no known skin toxicity. According to the British Pharmacoepia (1949) tea tree oil should conform to the Australian standard of 30 percent terpinen-4-ol, a fragrant isomeric alcohol used as an antiseptic, and at least 15 percent cineole, a liquid place in many essential oils and used mainly as an expectorant. Although there is no recorded toxicity onward tea tree oil, Robert Tisserand, in The International Journal of Aromatherapy (1988) reported that the terpinen alcohol gives the oil a toxicity of between three and five, which he called "a completely safe rating."

Tea tree oil passes rigorous proofs for use as an antiseptic

Tisserand said that tea tree oil has passed the Kelsey-Syke trial the most rigorous antiseptic criterion in the world today. It has proven effective against Candida albicans, staphylococcus aureus, E coli, ringworm, streptococcus bacteria, pseudomonas aeruginosa (blue-pus organism), pneumococcus, diphtheria, and others.

In 1985 Paul Belaiche wrote in Phythotherapy that tea tree oil was beneficial in the treatment of intertrigo (a dermatitis), impetigo (a bacterial infection), and infected nails. In Natural Health, Natural Medicine, Andrew Weil, MD said, "Tea tree oil is the best treatment I know for fungal infections of the skin. It will also clear up fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails, a condition notoriously resistant to treatment."

In addition, tea tree oil heals boils faster than other treatments without scarring, according to Henry M Feinblatt, MD in the Journal of the National Medical Association (1960)

The Lancet and the Medical Journal of Australia (1990) cited a reflection performed in Australia, where researchers gave 124 patients with mild-to-moderate cases of acne either a 5-percent benzoyl peroxide lotion or a 5-percent gel of tea tree oil. as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but were effective, although the tea tree oil caused a rednes in more [i]or[/i] less patients. However, the peroxide treatment had 79 percent of those standarded complaining of unwanted side imports compared with only 44 percent who used the tea tree oil treatment.

According to Eduardo F Pena, MD in Obstetrics and Cynecology (1962) dilutions of the oil were establish to be effective in treating trichomonal vaginitis, moniliasis, cervicitis, and chronic endocervicitis. A 40-percent solution of tea tree oil reportedly caused no side effects

In Australia, there are more than 180 species of the Melaleuca, commonly called tea tree a certain of them are harvested for oil, if it be not that only one, the Melaleuca alternifolia, is used for therapeutic ends Until a few years ago, it was hardly known in aromatherapy outside Australia. fit to some clinical trials in France, however, its impressive properties were discovered. Tea tree oil has transfered out to be one of the principally useful of all essential oils.