Tea tree, scientifically known as Melaleuca alternifolia, stands tall as a remarkable shrub, native to Australia, flourishing along streams and swampy areas in southeast Queensland and the north coast of New South Wales.
The Name of Tea Tree
Some popular common names for this plant include Narrow-leaved Paperbark, Narrow-leaved Tea-Tree, Narrow-leaved Ti-Tree, Snow-in-Summer, Tea Tree, and Australian Tea Tree.
Captain James Cook documented the first use of the Tea Tree in the 18th century, when he used the leaves to brew tea, hence the name "Tea Tree."
However, the name of Tea Tree outside of Australia is not exclusive to Melaleuca alternifolia. Check our blog on the shared name of "Tea Tree" to compare the oil components of 5 different plants.
Healing Tea Tree Lake
Lake Ainsworth, affectionately referred to as 'Tea Tree Lake' by locals, is a stunning freshwater lake nestled in Lennox Head, just a short 25-minute drive south from Byron Bay. While there are several 'tea tree lakes' dotted throughout Byron Bay and the Ballina Shire, such as those at Tyagarah Nature Reserve, Lake Ainsworth stands out as one of the most remarkable and renowned among them.
The local Aboriginal Bundjalung people were the first to use Tea Tree plants for medical purposes. The lake is believed to have healing power as Tea Tree Plants grow beside the lake to create a medical bath.
Traditional Uses for Tea Tree
For centuries, Indigenous Australians have harnessed the healing powers of the 'Tea Trees.' The Bundjalung would inhale the oils from crushed leaves to combat coughs and colds and apply poultices of leaves to wounds for relief. The leaves were also infused to create remedies for sore throats and skin conditions, a testament to this remarkable shrub's versatile and potent nature.
Application for Tea Tree Oil
In 1922, Sydney-based chemist Dr. Arthur Penfold reported that Tea Tree Oil was 13 times stronger than carbolic acid. This made it a powerful antiseptic for killing bacteria and fungi, yet non-caustic to the skin. Since 1930s, Tea Tree Oil has been produced on an industrial scale around the Northern Coast of New South Wales.
Now, Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, lice, and insect bites. The Australian Tea Tree Industry expects approximately 500 Tones of production in 2024.
Pure Tea Tree oil has remarkable antiseptic properties. Australian soldiers used it to treat wounds and foot fungus during World War II. Tea Tree Oil lost its popularity due to the rising popularity of penicillin after WWII, but it later regained attention as an alternative treatment against multidrug-resistant microbial strains like MRSA.
Tea tree oil and its components have been used in agriculture to prevent food spoilage or as a pesticide. Several studies have shown that TTO is an effective organic fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide that can be used in the context of ‘Green Technology’. This oil blocked the mycelial growth of 15 post-harvest fungi. One of our clients from the Philippines uses Tea Tree Oil in their shampoo for pet chickens, which has been exceedingly popular.
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