Evidence supporting the use of: Tea Tree
For the health condition: Infection (bacterial)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has a well-documented history of traditional use by indigenous Australians for wound healing and infection control, but its antibacterial properties are also supported by scientific research. Laboratory studies have shown that Tea Tree oil exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (including some methicillin-resistant strains), Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The primary active component, terpinen-4-ol, is thought to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, leading to cell death.

Clinical evidence in humans, however, is more limited and mixed. Some small randomized controlled trials and clinical studies have demonstrated that topical Tea Tree oil preparations can be effective in reducing bacterial load in conditions like acne and minor wounds. For example, a few studies have found Tea Tree oil to be as effective as standard topical antibiotics in reducing acne lesions, which are in part caused by bacterial infection. However, robust large-scale clinical trials for broader bacterial infections are lacking, and Tea Tree oil is not recommended as a substitute for systemic antibiotics in serious infections.

In summary, laboratory and limited clinical evidence justify the use of Tea Tree oil as an adjunctive topical treatment for mild bacterial skin infections, but more research is needed to establish its efficacy and safety for broader or systemic infections.

More about Tea Tree
More about Infection (bacterial)

Other ingredients used for Infection (bacterial)

2'-Fucosyllactose
Ajoene
Allspice
alpha-pinene
annatto
bacillus clausii
bacillus subtilis
barberry
bayberry
bearberry
myrobalan
berberine
Beta-Glucan
betel
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bisabolol
black cumin
black pepper
black walnut
burdock
caprylic acid
cassia bark
cat's claw
Coptis chinensis
turmeric
curcumin
cuspidatum root
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ginger
goldenseal
heartwood
immunoglobin G
iodine
L12-myoviridae
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus crispatus
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus salivarius
lactoferrin
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
licorice root
mangosteen
methenamine
monolaurin
moringa
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
purified silver
saccharomyces boulardii
schizonepeta
shiitake mushroom
streptococcus thermophilus
T4D-myoviridae
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
xylitol
zinc
bentonite
sarsaparilla
yellow root
pistacia integerrima gall
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
rubia cordifolia
swertia
pau d'arco
myrrh
oriental arborvitae
eucalyptus
white oak
Abies spectabilis
geranium
red root
sea salt
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Alcohol
Avens
Agarikon Mushroom
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Alpha-terpineol
Acacia
Agave
Allicin
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Aucubin
Andrographolide
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Allyl Sulfide
Acemannan
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alliin
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Alantolactone
Bee Propolis
Bifidobacterium
Babchi
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blepharis
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Berberis (unspecified)
Brazilian peppertree
Basidiomycota
Brevibacillus brevis
Bauhinia
Bacillus licheniformis
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Backhousia citriodora
Bifidobacterium animalis
Black Nightshade
Bacteria
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
Bassia scoparia
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coconut oil
Coriolus mushroom
Combretum quadrangulare
Carvacrol
Cinquefoil
Cymbidium goeringii
Cajuput
Celandine
Centipeda
Cistus
Campsiandra angustifolia
Chirata
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Ceanothus integerrimus
Cosmos
Cynodon dactylon
Chiococca alba
Cocklebur
Copaiba Oil
Celosia
Dehydroabietic acid
DIVI-DIVI
Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Elephant's Head
Euphorbia
Elemi
Embelia
Eugenol
Fucoidan
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
Fang-Feng
Ficus religiosa
Geraniol
Glyceryl monolaurate
Glyceryl caprylate caprate
Globulins
Graviola
Galangin
Gallesia
Golden Shower Tree
Guazuma ulmifolia
Hygrophila
Houttuynia
Hydrocolloid
Humic acid
Horsemint
Immunoglobulin G
Isoalantolactone
Indian Coraltree
Isothiocyanates
Kigelia africana
Kachnar
Kochia
Knotgrass
Kefiran
Lime
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lichen
Lophira lanceolata
Lapachol
Lactic Acid
Lactococcus casei
Lysozyme
Leptadenia
Lantana camara
Leptospermum scoparium
Lactobacillus
Liverwort
L. lactis
Lysimachia
Labdanum
Lauric arginate
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Mountain horopito
Marsh Tea
Malva sylvestris
Matapalo Tree
Mangostin
Mahonia
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mondo Grass
Mangostanol
Mannose
Manzanita
Macaranga indica
Naphthoquinones
Nisin
Nasturtium
Osha
Orris
Oldenlandia diffusa
Phellodendron
Purple Tephrosia
Premna
Phragmites
Pluchea
Paenibacillus polymyxa
Pepper Bark Tree
Phlorotannins
Probiotics
Pediococcus acidilactici
Piper retrofractum
Pentatropis capensis
Pareira
Plumbago zeylanica
Peroxidase
Plectranthus amboinicus
Quebracho
Quisqualis
Rubia yunnanensis
Rosa laevigata
Spilanthes
Spanish Needle
Streptomyces
Streptomyces cellulosae
Shikonin
Self-Heal
Stemona
Siphoviridae
Sanguisorba
Streptomyces fradiae
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Streptococcus salivarius
Sarcandra glabra
Savory
Streptomyces griseoflavus
Simaruba
Sulfated polysaccharide
Storax
Smoketree
Sword Bean
Tannins
Terpinen-4-ol
Thuja
Thymol
Trametes
Thiosulfinate
Teri Pod
Umckaloabo
Umckalin
Vinegar
Verbascoside
Waltheria ovata
Xanthorrhizol
Zingerone

Products containing Tea Tree

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.