The Benefits and Uses of Melaleuca Oil (Tea Tree Oil)

Melaleuca MelaOil T36 C5-1

Inside the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia—the “tea tree” of Australia—is an amazing substance made of more than 100 natural compounds. Some of these useful compounds are found nowhere else in nature.

Melaleuca Oil is an essential oil unlike any other. In fact, with its unique combination of six incredible properties, impressive healing ability, and many other helpful benefits, Melaleuca Oil could be thought of as nature’s first aid kit.

The medicinal and practical power in a drop of Melaleuca Oil is simply remarkable. But what exactly makes it so special?

  • Melaleuca Oil is naturally antiseptic, which means it has the power to reduce the likelihood of infection.
  • The oil is naturally soothing. It helps alleviate the itchiness and pain associated with bug bites, bee stings, cuts, scrapes, splinters, minor wounds, and other skin irritations.
  • The oil is safely penetrating. It has the power to deliver fast, deep, soothing relief right at the source of discomfort.
  • It is non-caustic, which means it is gentle enough to not cause any burning, corrosion, or other harmful chemical reactions.
  • Melaleuca oil is an effective solvent. It safely dissolves all sorts of substance like dirt, gum, resins, and more.
  • It is pleasantly aromatic. Its pleasing, natural fragrance helps refresh the senses.

Combined, these six properties make Melaleuca Oil a must-have for any medicine cabinet. And the best place to find this all-star oil is at Melaleuca, Inc. That’s because since 1985, Melaleuca has been distilling and bottling Melaleuca Oil in its purest, most naturally beneficial form to unlock its maximum potential to effectively relieve, comfort, penetrate, heal, and clean.

While families in Melaleuca homes have enjoyed this one-of-a-kind source of relief for nearly 30 years, Melaleuca alternifolia has been used as a traditional medicine for much longer. The indigenous people of Australia used the tree’s leaves as a natural remedy for all sorts of ailments.

The usefulness of Melaleuca alternifolia remained a secret of southeast Australia until 1770, when Captain James Cook landed there and observed the Aborigines brewing tea from the tree’s leaves. Won over by the tea, Cook collected leaves to be used as he and his crew sailed on.

However, it would take over one-and-a-half centuries for the therapeutic value of Melaleuca alternifolia to be rediscovered. In 1922, Arthur de Ramon Penfold, an Australian chemist, issued a report on the usefulness of tea tree oil. By the Second World War, the oil was standard issue for Australian and British soldiers alike. It was so effective and versatile that the soldiers dubbed it “first aid kit in a bottle.”

In 1985, a then-fledgling Melaleuca and its founder, Frank L. VanderSloot, began harvesting Melaleuca alternifolia. Since then, Melaleuca has introduced thousands of people all over the world to the soothing, healing powers of the highest-quality Melaleuca Oil.

Melaleuca Oil by itself works wonders. All it takes for soothing relief is a few drops applied directly to the skin. But because of its six amazing properties and variety of uses, Melaleuca Oil is a key ingredient in many other Melaleuca products:

EcoSense Sol-U-Mel
  • Sol-U-Mel® stain remover takes advantage of Melaleuca Oil’s dissolving power, non-caustic properties, and naturally pleasant fragrance. It safely and effectively breaks down the toughest stains and spills and neutralizes odors, making cleanup a worry free pleasure.
  • Pain-A-Trate® pain-relieving cream uses Melaleuca Oil’s penetrating power to take the cooling, relieving properties of camphor and menthol and the heating, soothing properties of methyl salicylate deep into muscles. This makes Pain-A-Trate much more effective at alleviating soreness and numbing pain than grocery store brands.
Melaleuca Product Pain A Trate
Melaleuca Product MelalGel
  • MelaGel® combines the antiseptic and soothing properties of Melaleuca Oil with natural cocoa butter and beeswax. The result is a sealing gel that keeps a constant layer of Melaleuca Oil on the skin. Because it doesn’t run or evaporate, it can heal bites, burns, cuts, and scrapes faster.
  • The Gold Bar® uses the antibacterial properties of Melaleuca Oil to gently remove dirt, leaving behind healthy, clean skin without causing irritation or dryness. The penetrating properties of Melaleuca Oil also carry natural moisturizers glycerin and aloe vera deep into the skin to help keep it soft.
Melaleuca Product The Gold Bar

These are just a few examples of the many safe, effective products that contain Melaleuca Oil and can only be found at Melaleuca.Scientists have studied and made many new discoveries about Melaleuca Oil in the last decade alone. And because there is still a lot to learn about this natural wonder, Melaleuca will continue to research Melaleuca Oil, discover additional uses for it, and develop new products with it for decades to come.

11 Comments

  1. Cindy on January 17, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Would really like to know where your Melaleuca is sourced from, how is it tested for Purity, the science behind your products? Especially the oil.



  2. Bonnie Altman on January 23, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Would really like to talk yo someone about product, I used ty o sell it 20+ yrs ago, may be interested in selling, but for sure ordering, 989 351 8680
    thank you
    Bonnie Altman



  3. Bonnie Altman on January 23, 2015 at 3:11 pm

    Would really like to talk yo someone about product, I used ty o sell it 20+ yrs ago, may be interested in selling, but for sure ordering,
    thank you
    Bonnie Altman



  4. Erin on January 26, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Melaleuca’s tea tree oil also comes from the Bungawalbyn Reserve in New South Wales, Australia and is steam distilled without using chemicals. TOP QUALITY Tea Tree oil should have a maximum cineole content of 5% and a minimum terpinen-4-ol content of 35-40%. Melaleuca, Inc. has set their standards HIGHER the the international standards and produces T36-C5, which contains a higher percentage of terpinen-4-ol (36%), and the lower level of cineole (5%), in a combination that is both effective and safe. Melaleuca, Inc.’s other tea tree oil product, T40-C3, is even more pure.

    As far as the science behind the oil you really have to search for medical journals and articles regarding it. They are out there but few in number since the oil itself cannot be patented (just like any product found in nature) there is little interest by companies to put money into studies they cannot directly profit off of. I wish I could readily sight articles from my years of research and reading but to find those articles again would take me too much time. It has been proven to be anti microbial and anti fungal and shown great promise in treating antibiotic resistant strains of the STAPH bacteria. When you have time to grab a cup of coffee or tea I would recommend you read up on it. Be smart about it and look at scientific research conducted not subjective opinions about it. The latter will be much more prevalent in your search unfortunately.



  5. Erin Mort on February 16, 2015 at 10:18 am

    Hi, did anyone ever get back to you? I am not sure if this is someone’s site and I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but if no one helps you, let me k now and either myself or my partner can help you.

    You can either email me or go to my fb under Erin Mort (my profile is a hand and a guitar) or to Gina Morris (her profile, she has long long hair and sunglasses on) and message either one of us. If you want to rejoin, I can sign you up with $1 membership fee but it ends in only a couple days. Thanks

    Erin



  6. Lucy Tantono on July 14, 2015 at 2:00 am

    Hi I would like to know the melaleuca tea tree oil can apply onto the scalp, as I know other brand of tea tree oil they do help in scalp dandruff and stop hair loss too.



  7. Tara on August 1, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    I used to put drops of tea tree oil in my shampoo. Now, I use Melaleuca’s line of hair care products. Both are great ways to naturally resolve those issues!



  8. Ron on September 3, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Melaleuca use to sell a “research” magazine that was full of all kinds of info on the chemistry – the molecules, structure … A little too deep for me, but interesting reading.



  9. Marion on May 10, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    I would like more info on using the tree oils



  10. gmm on October 28, 2018 at 11:32 am

    my friend is a dealer-my son is on hospice and got a terrible bed sore -nurses said it would not heal but we would maintain it-it was neurotic (dead tissue-totally black) she gave me T36-C5 and T40-C3 to use-I admit I was a little skeptical and nervous but desperate so put it in wound-after a weekish it now has been regenerating new beautiful pink tissue-the black dead tissue is gone-the hospice nurse, wound care nurse and dr are all amazed- they said it would never heal-I totally believe in this!!



  11. Mags on December 29, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    Thank you for all the interesting questions and comments! I’m ordering my oil tonight