Tea Tree Oil
TEA TREE OIL
(Melaleuca alternifolia)
How does Tea Tree Oil work?
Terpinen 4 [a major component of Tea Tree Oil] has been clearly identified as a major antiseptic active component of the oil. Tea Tree Oil contains upwards of 35% of Terpinen 4. Other oil components act to enhance the synergism, to act as solvents etc, and are still being researched by universities and scientific institutions.
The mode of action of Tea Tree Oil is to damage the cell wall and cell membrane and to denature the cell constituents [eg protein]. The antiseptic actions of Tea Tree Oil are not impaired in the presence of blood, serum, pus, mucous discharge etc. An acquired immunity of micro-organisms to many antibiotics and sulphonamide drugs does NOT occur with Tea Tree Oil.
Substantial microbiological testing of Tea Tree Oil has established typical minimum inhibitory concentrations [MIC's] of the oil against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms, i.e. the lowest concentration of the oil that will inhibit growth of a specified micro-organism. Several hundred tests have taken place.
It can be concluded, therefore, that Tea Tree Oil is active against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms and performs effectively in stringent efficiency tests.
