Melaleuca oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree through a process of steam distillation. It is native to southeast Queensland and New South Wales, Australia’s northeast coast.
One of the many unique qualities of essential oils (like melaleuca) is that it does not result in development of bacterial resistance as do antibacterial chemicals (like alcohol). They are also effective in killing strains of bacteria which, over time, have become resistant to man-made medicines (like some antibiotics).
According to the website https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil – “Tea tree oil makes an ideal natural hand sanitizer. Studies have shown that it kills several common bacteria and viruses responsible for causing illness including E. coli, S. pneumonia, and H. influenzae.
In fact, a study testing several types of hand-wash shows that adding tea tree oil to the cleaners boosted their effectiveness against E. coli. Studies continue to confirm that hand sanitizers with tea tree oil are effective for hand disinfection, killing bacteria without antibiotics.
“Tea tree oil contains a number of compounds, including terpinen-4-ol that have been shown to kill certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Terpinen-4-ol also appears to increase activity of your white blood cells, which help fight germs and other foreign invaders. These germ-fighting properties make tea tree oil a valued natural remedy for treating bacterial and fungal skin conditions, preventing infection, and promoting healing.”
Fun fact on the origin of the name ‘Melaleuca’: “Melaleuca comes from a combination of the Greek ‘melamelas’ (black) and ‘leukos’ (white), referring to the characteristic black trunk and young white branches. The Latin word, ‘alternifolia’, is a formal biological term meaning having leaves that grow on alternate sides of stem.” https://www.saje.com/blogs/ingredient-garden/tea-tree
Benefits:
Belle Products Containing Melaleuca Oil:
