Hi everyone
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I am aware that Tea Tree Oil has been used by many people for a long time. However, the EU Scientific Committee has expressed concerns about the safety of tea tree oil. Many of you will no doubt be familiar with the lengthy opinion given by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products from 2004 see: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_00c.pdf
A more reader friendly article reiterates some of the concerns see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/feb/18/medicineandhealth.health
I would be interested in whether members of the Forum are using Tea Tree Oil in their practice?Given the concerns raised in the literature, I would be interested to know if practitioners consider it safe to continue to use tea tree oil in practice?
Thanks
Kelvin08
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I can never understand why so many jumped on the tea tree oil bandwagon when it efficacy compared to other modalities (that have well documented efficacy) has not been demonstrated. Is that being ethical?
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Tea tree oil
Essential oil derived from leavesThis article is about essential oil isolated from the leaves of the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia. For the sweet seasoning oil pressed from Camellia seeds, C. sinensis or C. oleifera, see tea seed oil.Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh, camphoraceous odor and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear.[1][2] It is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, native to southeast Queensland and the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil comprises many constituent chemicals, and its composition changes if it is exposed to air and oxidizes. Commercial use of tea tree oil began in the 1920s, pioneered by the entrepreneur Arthur Penfold.
As a traditional medicine, it is typically used as a topical medication in low concentrations for the treatment of skin conditions, but little evidence exists of clinical efficacy.[2][3][4][5]
Tea tree oil is neither a patented product nor an approved drug in the United States,[2][5] although it is approved as a complementary medicine for aromatherapy in Australia.[6] It is poisonous if consumed by mouth and is unsafe for children.[7]
- ^ "Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpene-4-ol (tea tree oil): ISO 4730: 2017 (E)". International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva, Switzerland. 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ a b c "Tea tree oil". Drugs.com. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Opinion on Tea tree oil" (PDF). SCCP/1155/08 Scientific Committee on Consumer Products. 16 December 2008.
- ^ "Tea tree oil". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b Thomas, J; Carson, C. F; Peterson, G. M; et al. (2016). "Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Review). 94 (2): 258–266. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0515. PMC 4751955. PMID 26787146.
- ^ "Summary for ARTG Entry: 79370 Tea Tree Oil, Pure Essential Oil". Therapeutic Goods Administration. 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
poison
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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TEA TREE OIL IN THE TREATMENT OF TINEA PEDIS
Melinda M. Tong, Phillip M. Altman, Ross StC. Barnetson
Australasian Journal of Dermatology; Volume 33 Issue 3, Pages 145 - 149; Published Online: 28 Jun 2007
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Tea tree oil faces ban over health fear
Scientists say even small amounts could provoke rashes and allergies -
Dear All,
Go natural.
Eat bark of the willow tree.:butcher:
it improves blood flow and ones circulation and is known to have an anti inflammatory effect.
might make you ill though if you eat it in its natural state.:dizzy:
Same with eating the digitalis plant or even the poppy flower.:deadhorse:
regards David -
We advise using 100% tea tree oil in the treatment of verrucas when the salicylic acid is having no effect. It is difficult to know whether its effective, because its not been fully investigated in scientific trials. Tea tree oil, applied twice daily on its own or mixed with garlic juice seems to have an effect wheather this be antiviral or it damages the verruca cells. But we certainly have had results and ofcourse gentle on the skin unlike the acid or cryo-therapy
Rebecca :) -
I've found advising patients to run anti clockwise around a bonfire on Belgian independance day works well too!:pigs:
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Perhaps....
REFERENCES
1. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2000, Jan 88; The mode of antimicrobial action of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), Cox et al.
2. US Pharmacist 24th April 2001, article by Wendell L Combest, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, University School of Pharmacy, Winchester, Virginia.
3. Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Western Australia.
4. Mayo Clinic Health Manager - an online resource: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tea-tree-oil/
Tea tree oil contains constituents called terpenoids, substances known to have antiseptic and antifungal properties. The compound terpinen-4-ol is the most abundant of these and is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity. -
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The references quoted report in vivo observations
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The well designed RCT's show its no better than placebo (like the one posted above). Some poorly designed clinical observations studies with potential for bias (some without a placebo group) claim to show it works. -
Standing on one leg in an east breeze a with your trousers tucked into your socks works well too.. -
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Three cheers for placebos, the most effective, flexible and safe medical treatment you know. Long may they last and long may patients benefit provided medics never become infected with their own propaganda. -
I'm paraphrasing because its a big book.
There is a chemical called curcumin found in tumeric, which shows promise as a cancer treatment. That is, if you dunk some cancer cells in it they tend to die. Michael Van straten, Ever optimistic writer for the express, has stated that "recent research shows that tumeric is highly protective against many forms of cancer, especially prostate"
Now there may be evidence that essence of tumeric works on cells in a dish but does this mean eating curry prevents cancer? No. To get to a measurable (much less active) amount of curcumin in your system you'd have to eat 100g of tumeric. For a mutton curry (serves 6) you might use a teaspoon (about 5g) of turmeric. Thats 120 curries in one go. That's a lot of curry. Methane poisoning would probably kill you before you felt the benefit.
Lots of things have antiseptic and antifungal properties. Fairy liquid has antiseptic properties. Thats not the same as saying that pulling some on a grotty nail will cure the fungus, or that putting it on a VP will get rid of it.
Some studies are hard to do. This one isn't. Two groups of VPs or fungal nails. Two batches of oil in coded unmarked bottles, one tea tree oil, the other crisp and dry (or other brand of cooking oil) perhaps with a dash of perfume. If tea tree oil IS effective it'll show up. Until such a study, which would be easy and cheap to do, comes up I'll stay in the "placebo" camp. Which is not the same as ineffective, but also not to say its a good treatment.
Simples!
Regards
Robert -
IMO more worryingly, is the fact that the incidence of reactions to oxidized TTO is recorded as being relevant enough to warrant warnings on TTO products. Once a bottle of TTO is opened it continues to oxidate and increase in strength enough to become a severe irritant. Just because it is a `natural` antimicrobial, that does not make it safe (would you eat Foxgloves from your garden if someone said “Hey, it`s natural”?). How many practitioners out there recommending TTO for TP or VPs are explaining the nature of oxidation?
The amount of pts that I`ve seen presenting with Paronychia and contact dermatisis associated with use of TTO, is enough for me to discourage its use, IMHO of course.
Cheers,
Bel
Refs;
Rutherford T, Nixon R, Tam M and Tate B. Allergy to tea tree oil: retrospective review of 41 cases with positive patch tests over 4.5 years. Australasian Journal of Dermatology (2007) 48; 83-87
Aberer W. Contact allergy and medicinal herbs. Journal of the German Society of Dermatology (2008) 6; 15 -24
Hausen BM. Evaluation of the main contact allergens in oxidized tea tree oil. Dermatitis2004; 15: 213-14 -
No one has been duking it out on this thread for quite a while so I thought I'd post something I found, just to stir up the pot.
Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties
Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 January; 19(1): 50–62.
I would urge anyone interested in the subject to read it before quoting the usual EU issues or Rutherford '07.
It's a evenhanded but critical look at a large panoply of research to date (2006).
A few quotes :
Clinical Efficacy
. . . . Therefore, although some of these data indicate that TTO has potential as a therapeutic agent, confirmatory studies are required.
Conclusions
. . . . Despite some progress, there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Large randomized clinical trials are now required to cement a place for TTO as a topical medicinal agent. -
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As I wrote, ". . . would urge anyone interested in the subject to read it before . . . "
It appears that didn't happen. -
Read it......nope. Not changed my mind. They briefly mention saftey;
Despite the progress in characterizing the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil, less work has been done on the safety and toxicity of the oil.
Well, such work has since been undertaken. One of which is one I referenced; Aberer (2008) who looked at allergens associated with TTO and other medicinal herbs.
Also, check out one of the references in the article you supplied;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10357714
Tea tree oil kept in open and closed bottles or other containers undergoes photooxidation within a few days to several months, leading to the creation of degradation products that are moderate to strong sensitizers..... These must be considered responsible for the development of allergic contact dermatitis seen in individuals treating themselves with the oil.
So, no I won`t be recommending TTO, even if it does kill dermatophytes (as does Domestos). It just aint safe.
Cheers,
Bel -
I am neither an advocate nor a detractor of TTO - I would say agnostic.
But I think it's rather clear that the authors of article find it neither cure-all nor snake oil, nor useless - in some cases efficacious, in some cases not - the jury is still out. -
Ive seem some quite adverse reactions to Tea tree oil.......Sometimes i think plain old vapor rub with camphor will do the same job just fine....Or perhaps a lit oxy torch ...it gets rid of pretty much everything in its path..
FDCB -
Chlorine dioxide is good too.:bang:
The whole in vitro / in vivo thing is quite annoying. -
While the article does state in its conclusion that "A wealth of in vitro data now supports the long-held beliefs that TTO has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties", the telling sentence, for me, is in the "Clinical Efficacy'" section where it states "onychomycosis is considered to be largely unresponsive to topical treatment of any kind, and a high rate of cure should therefore not be expected." Tea tree oil is no magic cure.
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Well spotted!!
As my rt hon colleague ian often says, the plural of anecdote is anecdotes, NOT DATA!!! -
When discussing this with members of my local NHS trust they said that they cannot use or recomennnnd the use of TTO. All treatments they give must be evidence based and TTO is not.
Further for members of the society at least, if you cannot show that you have studied the art and 'science' of essential oil therapy then you are outside your professional insurance and not covered. For members of the Society that course would have to be a Society approved course to give insurance cover. You are at liberty to obtain cover elsewhere and other bodies may differ. -
Re; disclaimer for SCP members....subjective at best. But that`s just my opinion, of course ;) -
Blinda
I was anticipating Mark would be along.
Cheers -
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They did not make it past the draft stage with that on there.:butcher: -
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I just caught one of those animal doctor shows on TV. They talked about a dog who got a paw wound. The owner put tea tree oil on the wound. The dog licked it and died. :wacko:
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Gas gangrene and osteomyelitis of the foot in a diabetic patient treated with tea tree oil.
Cooney DR, Cooney NL.
Int J Emerg Med. 2011 Apr 14;4:14.
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Bel and Davinci while upset for the above patient are 2 happy people more real reasons why not to use TTO
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Antifungal Activity of Nanocapsule Suspensions Containing Tea Tree Oil on the Growth of Trichophyton rubrum.
Flores FC, de Lima JA, Ribeiro RF, Alves SH, Rolim CM, Beck RC, da Silva CB.
Mycopathologia. 2013 Feb 8.
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I hope the TTO fans did not miss this
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