- Myrtaceae
- Leaf
- New South Wales, Australia
- Cut leaf — external preparations
Tea Tree Leaf
Melaleuca alternifolia
Select sizeThe plant
A small tree of swampy ground along the northern rivers of New South Wales, with papery peeling bark and fine needle-like leaves. Despite its enormous commercial footprint the species has a naturally tiny wild range. Leaves and terminal branchlets are steam-distilled for oil; dried cut leaf is used for external preparations.
What's in it
Tea tree is graded against an international standard on two opposing compounds.
Terpinen-4-ol
The principal active. Standard requires at least thirty per cent.
Cineole
Skin-irritating here. The standard caps it at fifteen per cent.
Gamma-terpinene
A major precursor component.
Alpha-terpineol
Contributing to the overall activity.
How it works
Tea tree is one of the few botanicals with a formal international standard attached, ISO 4730, and it works by setting a floor and a ceiling on two different compounds at once: terpinen-4-ol high, cineole low. High-cineole oil is more irritating to skin and less active, so a cheap oil is not simply weaker, it is worse on both counts. It is the clearest example in this catalogue of a specification doing real work.
In the tradition
Used by the Bundjalung people of northern New South Wales, who crushed the leaves and used them externally. Commercial distillation began in the 1920s and expanded enormously from the 1970s.
A specification doing real work.
- 1External use only. Do not swallow tea tree in any form.
- 2For a steam or wash, steep 1–2 tsp dried leaf in 500ml hot water for 10 mins, then allow to cool before use on skin.
- Never take internally — tea tree oil is toxic if swallowed.
- External use only. Patch test before first use.
- Keep away from children and pets.
A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet. Speak to your doctor before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.
Common questions
How do I prepare tea tree leaf?
External use only. Do not swallow tea tree in any form. Full directions are in the How to use panel above. See also: Infusion vs decoction.
What is tea tree leaf?
Tea Tree Leaf (Melaleuca alternifolia) belongs to the Myrtaceae family; the leaf is used. Origin: New South Wales, Australia. A narrow-leaved paperbark from a single river system in New South Wales. Its oil is one of the most widely used botanical antiseptics in the world, and it is not for drinking.
How should I store dried tea tree leaf?
Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture. Dried herbs are at their best for around a year.
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