Western Herbalism
Tea tree
Melaleuca alternifolia
Also known as Oil of cajeput, Melaleuca.
Diluted oil is applied topically for parasitic, bacterial and fungal skin conditions including tinea, head lice, impetigo, candida, insect bites, infected cuts and nail fungus.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Cuts
- Sprain
- Candida
- Sciatica
- Onychomycosis
- Skin infection
- Tinea infections
- Bronchitis
- Cuts (infected)
- Vaginitis
- Contusion
- Impetigo
- Cystitis
- Insect bite
- Round worm
- Acne
- Thrush
- Laryngitis (chronic)
- Neuralgia
- Lumbago
- Wounds (infected)
- Skin abrasions
- Head lice
- Congestion (sinus)
- Musculoskeletal strain
- Cough
- Fungal infections
- Infection
- Intestinal worms
- Parasites
Safety
Pregnancy: Pregnancy Caution
Breastfeeding: Pregnancy/Lactation=Avoid internal use
The record lists 2 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Acne | <5% solution | |
| Thrush | Rinse mouth w/ 1 Tbs solution (<5%) | |
| Infusion | 1-2 tsp/c, drink hot 1-3x/day | |
| Steam inhalation | use 2-3 gtts of EO or 1-2 pinches of dry herb to boiling water | 0.1-0.15 mL |
| Topical (diluted in carrier) | Topical: typical 1-5% in carrier; face/sensitive 0.5-1; dermal maximum 5%. Oxidized tea tree is more sensitizing; store cool and dark. | |
| Internal (oral) | DO NOT take internally ... documented oral toxicity and no established safe oral dose. Oral ingestion has caused ataxia and CNS depression; never take internally. |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
indication. Diluted oil is applied topically for parasitic, bacterial and fungal skin conditions including tinea, head lice, impetigo, candida, insect bites, infected cuts and nail fungus.
constituent. Medicinal quality depends on terpene composition: terpinen-4-ol should make up roughly forty to fifty percent of the oil while cineole is kept low, ideally only a few percent.
traditional_use. Taken as a leaf tea rather than the essential oil, it has been regarded as a stimulating expectorant for chronic laryngitis and bronchitis, an antimicrobial for cystitis, and an anthelmintic for roundworms.
indication. A dilute mouth rinse of no more than five percent has been used to address oral thrush, with a small preliminary study reporting benefit in immunocompromised patients; the rinse must not be swallowed.
Often paired with
CajeputMelaleuca cajuputi
SassafrasSassafras albidum
Poison HemlockConium maculatum
Eastern HemlockAbies Canadensis
CayenneCapsicum frutescens
OreganoOriganum vulgareNearby on the shelf
TansyTanacetum vulgare
TapiocaManihot
TarragonArtemisia dracunculus
Tatarian asterAster tataricus
TeaselDipsacus fullonum
ThapsiaThapsia garganica
Thick-stemmed wood fernDryopteris crassirhizoma
ThimbleweedRudbeckia laciniataThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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