History Of Tea Tree Oil
It was a captain of the British Royal Navy called James cook, who in 1770, landed in Sydney, Australia and ventured further into the coastal New South Wales where he found masses of tea trees surrounding the lagoons. There Captain James Cook was informed of the healing powers of the tea trees. The Australian aboriginal people used its leaves for healing cuts and wounds, by crushing them and directly applying them to the injury with a mud pack. Captain James Cook is believed to have given it its scientific name Melaleuca Alternifolia.
In the 19th century, the tea tree’s role as a local medicine was appreciated by the European settlers in Australia and further piqued their interest. Interested bloomed into scientific research and documentation of the tea tree plant, especially focusing on its bactericidal and germicidal properties.
In 1923, a curator and chemist at the Government museum of Technology and Applied Sciences in Sydney, called Dr. A.R.Penfold conducted a ground-breaking study of the tea tree leaves. The study revealed the tea tree essential oil to be an antiseptic bactericide thirteen times stronger than carbolic acid, which was the universal standard then. Dr. Penfold also noted that the Melaleuca Alternifolia was quite common in the North Coast district of New South Wales.
During the Second World War, there was a bad outbreak of the foot-fungus disease among many of the Australian soldiers. The severity reached a serious level until a war medic remembered the pure tea tree oil and doctors used it to coat the feet of the effected soldiers with it. It was found to be very effective and a quick cure and the popularity of the tea tree oil soared to a higher level that the world war soldiers were issued bottles of tea tree oil along with their first aid kit. The soldiers were asked to use it on all sorts of cuts, burns, scratches and infections, which were cured with alacrity.
From then on, the production of the tea tree oil was increased manifold to keep up with the high demand. Till date, Australia has developed and bred trees of high quality and yielding pure and consistent product. There are, though, different varieties of tea trees, including the Manuka, Kanuka and Lemon scented. Modern scientific farming methods and lush crop of trees have lead to higher production. Australia has schools and organizations that focus solely on developing better tea tree oil and incorporating new and more effective methods on the basis of scientific research and study.
In Australia, there is the Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association (ATTIA) which sets the standard for 100% pure tea tree oil. So for consumers intent on buying tea tree oil, check to see that if you are buying more than a 15ml bottle that it is packaged in a dark glass bottle. According to the ATTIA, any tea tree oil packaged in a clear glass or plastic bottle that holds more than 15ml or one half ounce of oil is not 100% pure tea tree oil!
Tea Tree Oil: Uses
Tea tree oil is one among nature’ many gifts to mankind. Uses of tea tree oil can be dated back to ancient times when aborigines of Australia used it to heal skin ailments and even cough and sore throat. Its miraculous cure was brought to light by Arthur Penfold after he published reports on its antimicrobial activity in 1920’s. However, usage of tea tree oil boomed and crossed borders during World War II.
Melaleuca alternifolia otherwise known as Melaleuca oil or Australian tea tree oil was originated in a region called Topi Topi, northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil is extracted from leaves and tea tree oil produced in Topi Topi is considered as the best quality available in the market.
People misunderstand tea oil for tea tree oil mainly due to their significant similarities and medicinal properties. Tea oil and tea tree oil have similar golden-yellow tone but fine camphoraceous aroma that tea tree oil produces makes it stand out. The presence of terpenoids makes tea tree oil both antiseptic and antifungal.
Tea tree oil can be used effectively against gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria and fungi. Studies prove that Tea tree oil is 11 times stronger than Phenol and brings quicker effect. Diluted solution of tea tree oil can prevent fleas and hair-loss among your pet dogs and their fur coat regains its natural gloss. You can also get shampoos that contain tea tree oil in the market, which is the easiest way to apply on pets. Few drops of diluted tea tree oil also keep away bacteria and fungi from pet fishes. Adding few drops in water to clean the floor helps to get rid of insects, ants etc.
Tea tree oil soothes sunburn, tooth ache, gum infection as well as pacifies severe cold and related congestion, sore throat etc. Some tooth pastes and mouthwashes make use of tea tree oil to solve oral problems. Breathing in the steam of diluted tea tree oil can clear respiratory tract during cold and flu. Though it is used to cure eye diseases like blepharitis, using it in ears is not recommended. Apart from medicinal benefits it can be used in cosmetics to. Antiseptic property in tea tree oil can cure facial skin problems like black heads and pimples and hence used in cosmetic products. Tea tree oil is the best treatment available for dandruff as it fights Malassezia furfur that brings dandruff. It is also a good natural deodorizer, which reduces body-odor. Similar to other essential oils, tea tree oil is advised to take externally.
Tea tree oil, once traditional medicine of natives of northeastern Australia is widely accepted and appreciated in different forms all over the world. Tea tree oil is a very handy all-in-one first-aid kit. If you are going for a travel, trekking or any adventurous trip, taking a small bottle of tea tree oil can be very helpful.
