Tea Tree Oil

The Basics On Tea Tree Oil

What is Tea Tree Oil?

Also known as Melaleuca, from the name of its native Australian plant source, Melaleuca alternifolia.

What are other names for Tea Tree Oil?

MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) ESSENTIAL OIL, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) OIL, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA ESSENTIAL OIL, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA LEAF OIL, OILS, TEA TREE, OILS, TEATREE, TEA EXTRACT; TEA LEAF, ABSOLUTE; TEA OIL; TEA TREE OIL, TEA RESINOID, TEA TREE LEAF OIL, TEA TREE OIL, and TEA TREE OILS

What is Tea Tree Oil used for?

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf (Tea Tree) Oil is an ancient remedy oil used by the aboriginal people of Australia to treat skin ailments. This essential oil has been used for almost 100 years in Australia but is now available worldwide both as neat oil and as an active component in an array of products1.

How Tea Tree Oil is classified

Skin-Soothing, Antioxidants, Plant Extracts

Recommendations for using Tea Tree Oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Use with caution

 

Tea Tree Oil During Pregnancy

What we know about using Tea Tree Oil while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

In oral studies, there were increased resorptions at 1000 mg/k/d in rats. In subcutaneous studies, the test substance was not well tolerated; subcutaneous lesions with necrosis developed. There were spontaneous abortions, increased resorptions, and increased fetal malformations at doses as low as 12 mg/kg/d. Intravaginal administrations up to 0.15 ml/d yielded fewer adverse effects. There were no adverse effects when pregnant Wistar rats (n = 6) were orally administered camellia sinensis extract (0, 84, 167, 501, and 1336 mg/mL/d; in the form of black tea).52 The caffeine content was 4.14% (865 mg for the highest dose). The test material was administered either on gestation days 1 ‚Äì 7, 8 ‚Äì 14, or 15 ‚Äì 21. Internal examinations of the dams were conducted by laparoscopy under anesthesia. Pups were examined daily until developmental signs were observed. The test doses were calculated to be equivalent to 1.5, 3, 9, and 24 cups of tea. There were no mortalities. There were no differences in number of pregnancies, number of uterine implants, number of viable implants, implantation index, preimplantation loss, post-implantation loss, gestation index, number of pups born, litter index, live birth index and viability index compared to controls. There were no differences in length of the implants/fetus, gestation length, cranial length, cranial diameter and tail length of pups. There were no differences in time taken to open eyes, eruption of incisors and appearance of fur. There were no gross morphological birth abnormalities observed. When camellia sinensis catechins (1400, 4200, 14000 ppm in feed; EGCG 90%, ECG ‚â§3.01%, GCG ‚â§0.12%, other catechins ‚â§0.54%) were administered to pregnant Wistar (SPF) rats (n = 25) on gestation days 6 – 20, there were no adverse effects observed.53 All rats survived treatment and there were no clinical signs. There was a transient reduction in feed consumption in the high-dose group and an increase in water consumption in the mid- and high-dose groups. There were not treatment-related macroscopic findings in the dams. There was no effect to embryo/fetal survival, fetal weights, or sex ratios. In a two generation study of camellia sinensis catechins (1200, 3600, 12000 ppm in feed) using Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30/sex), there were no adverse effects in either generation. The rats were treated for 10 weeks and then paired for mating. The diet continued through gestation until after weaning. The dams were killed and necropsied after weaning. The pups were culled to 25/sex and the above treatment repeated with mating taking place after 8 weeks. The offspring of the high-dose group had reduced growth rates, and there was an increase in pup loss. A growth effect among pups was also observed at 3600 ppm, but only in the second generation. Both sexes of the F1 generation in the high-dose group showed reduced absolute kidney and liver weights. The F1 males had reduced spleen and prostate weights, but the females’ spleens were normal. Histological examination revealed no abnormalities. The lowest dose was considered the overall adverse NOAEL. The authors derived a NOAEL equivalent to 200 mg/kg body weight per day EGCG preparation. Because dams consumed twice the amount of feed during the crucial lactation period, in which effects occurred, twice the lowest dose, which would otherwise have been 100 mg/kg body weight per day was calculated as the NOAEL.53

General safety info about Tea Tree Oil from CIR

No report found.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Tea Tree Oil

Briogeo B. Well + Organic Tea Tree Oil ; CosMedix Clarity Serum ;Sanitas Skincare Tea Tree Mask; Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo;SUNDAY RILEY U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil;Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil;Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel;Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum