Tea Tree Oil (also known as Melaleuca) is a natural anti-bacterial disinfectant that was commonly used as a general antiseptic by the aborigine tribes in Australia for centuries. More recently, the scientific community has confirmed that tea tree oil has tremendous medicinal benefits. It is a light yellow essential oil that has a scent similar to nutmeg. It is produced by distilling the leaves of the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia.

Multiple studies have demonstrated the capacity for tea tree oil to serve as an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory agent. For almost a century it has been used for one or more of these purposes.

The oil of Melaleuca alternifolia has more than 100 components. The most abundant of these is terpinen-4-ol which makes up at least 30 per cent and has an important role in the oil’s antimicrobial activity.

Tea tree oil is an excellent natural remedy for hundreds of bacterial and fungal skin ailments such as acne, abscess, oily skin, blisters, sun burns, athlete’s foot, warts, herpes, insect bites, rashes, dandruff and other minor wounds and irritations.

Studies have shown that tea tree oil also treats respiratory problems ranging from common sore throats, coughs and runny nose to severe conditions such as asthma, tuberculosis, and bronchitis. The anti-viral properties of the oil fight many common infectious diseases such as chicken pox, shingles and measles, flu, cold sores and verrucae. It also strengthens the body’s immune system, which is often weakened by stress, illness, or by the use of antibiotics and other drugs. It can also be used as a mouth wash, since it is highly effective in healing oral candidiasis (a fungal infection of mouth and throat).