Tea tree oil is a potent herbal extraction of the Melaleuca tree. It is extensively used for medicinal purposes in the African countries where it is considered a compelling antiseptic. This oil is a very effective anti-fungal material and can be used for curing fungal infections like dandruff, which is an acute fungal infection caused on the scalp by the dermatophytes present there. It has proved very effective in fighting the infection caused by the harmful dermatophytes Malassezia furfur.



A very efficient herbal medication, Tea tree oil also yields favorable results in case of insect bites. It can also be used for the effective treatment of poison ivy, sunburns, ear infections, and bee stings. Oral care products containing Tea tree oil like mouthwashes and toothpastes have been very effective in curing the problem of (bad breath) or halitosis. Such products can also yield very positive results if used for the treatment of Canker sores, which are a kind of mouth ulcers.

They are characterized by symptoms like open sore, which occur due to a rupturing of the mucous membrane on the lip. These sores can be caused due to a variety of reasons like chemical or physical strain, infection from viruses, cancerous processes, and certain side effects of medications. Tea tree oil can be used to cure mouth ulcers with efficiency. Tea tree oil can also be used for the treatment of cold sores caused by the Herpes simplex virus. Cold sores are characterized by formation of watery chafes on the mucous membranes of the sex organs, mouth and lips or epidermal skin. Tea tree oil can also be used to combat the viral infections of shingles sores, chicken pox, and warts.

Tea tree oil is also widely used in the preparation of cosmetic formulations. It is important to remember that Melaleuca oil or Tea tree oil as it is more commonly known is only used for external skin. When consumed, tea tree oil can cause several problems like stupor and ataxia. Oral products containing tea tree oil can also be used for the effective treatment of gum problems. It is important to use the diluted version of tea tree oil as application of an undiluted formulation can lead to skin irritation in humans and death in animals. Other abnormalities of external use of undiluted tea tree oil include formation of abnormal breast in young men. Tea tree oil should also be not used for internal part of the ear.

Tea tree oil became an object of common use in 1920's-1930 when an article stating its positive effects was written by the renowned investigator Arthur Penfold. The commercial use of this product started in the 1970's and the 1980's when large plantations were set up to facilitate the production of this plant. Tea tree oil is, in fact, released from the special species of plant called the Melaleuca alternifolia but it can also be produced from the sub-species of the same plant called the Melaleuca dissitiflora and the Melaleuca linariifolia.