Tea Tree Oil and Its Many Uses

Tea tree oil is an essential oil known for its medicinal properties. Native to the New South Wales, Australia steam distillation of the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia helps obtain tea tree oil. Among the 100 compounds contained in the oil terpinen-4-ol mainly accounts for most of the antimicrobial actions. Tea tree oil is a clear to very yellow or green-tinged essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor. These leaves were earlier used as a substitute for tea, which is how the oil got its name. One should not confuse Tea tree oil and Tea Oil (the seasoning and cooking oil obtained from pressed seeds of the plant Camellia oleifera). Tea Tree oil was used in Australia as a potent antiseptic much before any scientific research. Tea Tree crushed leaves were used as traditional medicine by inhaling the oils treating... [read full story]