Melaleuca alternifolia

Tea tree oil has long been used externally to treat wounds and infections.

HMPC monograph: Traditional use: Small, superficial wounds, insect bites, small boils, acne, for skin irritations, athlete's foot, itching and mild oral mucosal inflammation
ESCOP monograph: Bacterial and mycological infections of the skin, furunculosis, athlete's foot, nail fungus. Also for the eradication of MRSA (multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) during hospitalization; trichomonal vaginitis, vaginal candidiasis and cervicitis.
Commission E: no monograph

Empirical medicine: colds, sore throats, wounds, insect bites

In the cosmetics industry: Melaleuca alternifolia oil (INCI)

Skin reactions: stinging pain, itching, burning, irritation, reddening of the skin, allergic reactions.

Allergic contact dermatitis has been demonstrated to 1.8-cineole (eucalyptol); also to d-limonene, alpha-terpinene, aromadendrene and p-cymene. Sensitizing potency: Low. Frequency of sensitization: Rare. Oxidation products (peroxides, hydroperoxides and endoperoxides) formed during the oxidation of tea tree oil are suspected to be the cause of sensitization.

Remember! The terpenes contained in tea tree oil are also found in many other plants and plant oils, so that considerable cross-reactivity is to be expected.

Ingredients: The various commercial mixtures contain about 100 currently known ingredients, including eucalyptol and terpinen-4-ol (at least 30%), limonene, alpha-terpinene, delta-terpinene, alpha-pinene, ascaridol, cineole, myrcene and numerous other organic compounds.

Store away from light and at a moderate temperature to reduce oxidation. In addition to the commercially available cosmetic products containing tea tree oil, 5% tea tree oil in Vaseline is an inexpensive, pharmaceutically stable preparation.

Tea tree oil formulations are no longer included in the NRF or other common formulation collections.

Do not use orally or by inhalation and do not apply to eyes or ears.

Note! Tea tree oil mixtures with essential vegetable oils, e.g. Oleum origani cretici, as listed in the Supplementary Book to the German Pharmacopoeia 6th edition from 1926 (!!) are not recommended, as many essential oils are not available in pharmaceutically acceptable quality and therefore may not be used in pharmacies. For the preparation of tea tree oil mixtures, only the following are suitable in pharmaceutical quality: Oleum amygdalae, Oleum olivarum, Oleum Avocado.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/teebaum.php
2. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-melaleuca-alternifolia-maiden-betch-cheel-m-linariifolia-smith/other-species-melaleuca-aetheroleum_en.pdf

3. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practitioners. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 411-413