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Re: Tea tree oil

At 12:05 PM 6/17/97 +0100, Alessandra wrote:
>Ciao Medits!
>Second question: an English lady I met some time ago sang praises of a "Tea
>tree" oil, which she said is a wonderful, all-round ointement, useful to
>prevent cavities, to cure scratches and headaches, etc. She did not know
>what plant it was, though, and this "oil" is unknown in Italian market. I
>don't remember why I got the impression it could have been any of the
>Eugenias. Any information about it?
>
>
It is likely that she meant the oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, which is
sold under the name of tea-tree oil here in Australia.  It is claimed to be
an effective natural bactericide and fungicide. It is used to treat acne,
boils, impetigo, mouth ulcers, coughs, colds, arthritis etc in humans and
collar-rot in fruit trees.  It can penetrate the skin, which many other
antiseptic preparations are unable to do, and this property may be what
makes it effective-- but probably not innocuous for long term use.  Someone
will point out that the Aborigines have used it for thousands of years; but
they did not use the concentrated oil, and did not use the plant daily.

Other melaleucas as well as leptospermums are known as tea-trees here, just
to complicate things, but I am fairly sure that Melaleuca alternifolia is
the one meant, because it is the one grown commercially for the extraction
of medicinal oil.

Hope this helps.   Elizabeth
Geoff Morgan , on Tasmania's sunny (but frosty this year) east coast.
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