Description
Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. It is a pale yellowish to water-white mobile liquid of warm-spicy, aromatic-terpenic odour, with camphoraceous, bitter-burnt undertones. The main chemical constituents are alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, alpha-terpinene, limonene, 1-8-cineole, terpinene, para-cymene, terpinolene, alpha-dimethyl styrene, sabinene hydrate, trans-menth-2-ene, beta-caryophyllene, aromadendrene, terpinene-4-ol, alpha-terpineol, cadinene, globulol, viridiflorol, viridiflorene, and proprties and indications. Tea tree oil is believed to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and potent anti-fungal properties. It sweats toxins out of the body and is indicated for influenza, cold sores, catarrh, and possibly glandular fever and gingivitis. It is also of value in treating vaginal thrush and
Ti-Treeessential oil
Common name:
Tea Tree, Ti-Tree, Ti-Trol, Melasol.
Botanical (and family):
Melaleuca alternifolia. FamilyMyrtaceae
Distribution:
Australia
Description of plant:
Small tree with needle like leaves and sessile heads of light yellow flowers.
Extraction:
Steam distillation of the leaves.
Charactersitics:
A pale yellowish to water-white mobile liquid of warm-spicy, aromatic-terpenic odour, with camphoraceous, bitter-burnt undertones.
TOP NOTE
Odour effects:
Revitalizing.
Cautions:Can cause irritation in certain skin types and certain areas of the skin.
Main chemical constituents:
Alpha-Pinene - 4%
Beta-Pinene - 1%
Sabinene - 1%
Myrcene and Alpha-hellandrene - 2%
Alpha-Terpinene - 10%
Limonene - 1%
1-8-Cineole - 4%
Terpinene - 20%
Para-Cymene - 2%
Terpinolene - 4%
Alpha-Dimethyl styrene - trace
Sabinene hydrate - trace
trans-menth-2-ene - 1%
Beta-Caryophyllene - 2%
Aromadendrene - 2%
Terpinene-4-ol - 35%
Alpha-Terpineol - 3%
Cadinene - 2%
Globulol - 1%
Viridiflorol - 3%
Viridiflorene - 2%
Properties and indications:
MIND:
Refreshing and revitalizing.
BODY:
Activates white corpuscles against infection. Ti-Tree combines anti-bacterial, anti-viral and potent anti-fungal properties. It sweats toxins out of the body. Indicated for influenza, cold sores, catarrh, and possibly glandular fever and gingivitis. Is of value in treating vaginal thrush and genital infections generally. Alleviates cystitis. Alleviates itching from chickenpox and insect bites. Useful for mouth ulcers and sweaty feet. Helps with asthma, TB, haemorrhoids and varicose veins.
SKIN:
Reduces pus in boils and carbuncles. Seems to clear spots caused by shingles. Useful for burns, ringworm, warts, herpes and athletes foot. Helpful with dry scalp and dandruff.
Other uses:
Soaps, toothpaste, shampoo, disinfectants, gargles, aftershaves.
Blends well with:
Cinnamon, Clove, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Thyne, Lavender, Lemon, Mandarin, Orange, Rosemary.
More on ti-tree
The so-called Tea Tree is a member of the family Myrtacaea consisting of a large group of trees, many from Australia. The Melaleuca and Lentospermum genera form a considerable sized group, which are known collectively as 'Tea Trees'. Melaleuca alternifolia, from which the well-known oil is extracted, is also referred to as the 'Narrow Leaved Paperbark Tree', and was originally a swamp-dweller on the eastern part of Australia presently called New South Wales. It is relatively small, barely reaching 7 metres in height, and is a spindly shrub with feathery bright green needle-like leaves and small yellow or cream 'bottle-brush' flowers. The root systems are vigorous, and if cut down will send off new shoots immediately.
The Aboriginies have been familiar with the therapeutic properties of this family for hundreds of years. Such was the general ignorance of the early white settlers, that tea tree was first mentioned in the British Pharmaceutical Codex only in 1949. After an initial flurry of interest in its wonderful healing properties, the emergence of isolated chemical drugs created a suppression of interest until the recent burgeoning of converts who understand that true long-term health is more about prevention, than cure. The way of thinking in the future will be one of holism, where it is recognised that all aspects of the body, mind and spirit are interconnected, and have an unseen, but nevertheless real influence on each other. To this end, Ti-tree has an amazing number of uses for maintaining health.
It is believed that the name was introduced by sailors during the foray of Captain Cook to the mentioned continent. Lacking in tea by this time, they used the leaves to great effect as a substitute, which they found 'spicy and refreshing'.
The essential-oil is stored in tiny sacs in the leaves, which is released during the process of steam distillation. A great deal of research has gone into establishing quality standards for the oil. It was discovered that there is a synergistic ratio between terpinen-4-ol and 1,8 Cineol in ti-tree, which optimises its considerable properties. It has
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