(Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties
Link: Clinical Microbiology Reviews
Complementary and alternative medicines such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil have become increasingly popular in recent decades. 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 products. The primary uses of tea tree oil have historically capitalized on the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions of the oil. This review summarizes recent developments in our understanding of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil and its components, as well as clinical efficacy. Specific mechanisms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action are reviewed, and the toxicity of the oil is briefly discussed.
Plant oils are increasingly becoming more widely used in mainstream medicine and pharma and this is a heartening development...
It is indeed interesting to note the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil...thanks!
A page on plant oils provides a comprehensive list of plant oils and their various (including medicinal) uses - http://www.castoroil.in/reference/plant_oils/a_z/plant_oils_a_z.html
Vic, http://www.castoroil.in
Posted by: Castor | Sunday, 14 May 2006 at 11:11
This is a great resource! I knew that tea tree has a lot of applications in aromatherapy but I didn't know why. Thanks!
Posted by: aromatherapy course | Sunday, 23 December 2007 at 03:39