Tea Tree Oil

Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil as an Alternative Medicine According to GRADE* Ranking:

WARNING: Tea Tree Oil is not recommended for children, pregnant women or mothers that are breastfeeding. Also, Tea tree oil should never be taken internally. Should only be used over skin, inhaled with a vaporizer, or mixed with water as a mouthwash.)

Candidiasis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating candida. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Cold [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that tea tree oil is effective in treating colds)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Gingivitis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that tea tree oil is effective in treating gingivitis)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Oesophageal Candidiasis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating candida. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Acne Vulgaris [1, 3, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating acne has yielded unreliable results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that tea tree oil is effective in treating gingivitis)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that tea tree oil is effective in treating eczema)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Candidal Vaginitis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating candida. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Cellulitis [1, 2, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating cellulitis has yielded mixed results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Herpes Simplex Virus Infections [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating herpes has yielded unreliable results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Lice [1, 6, 7, 8]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that tea tree oil is effective in treating lice)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Mite Bites [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating insect bites. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Orbital Cellulitis [1, 2, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating cellulitis has yielded mixed results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Scabies [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating scabies. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Sunburn [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly against (There is some evidence that tea tree oil should not be used on burns. There is insufficient evidence to support claims that it helps in the treatment of burns at all.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Tinea Pedis [1, 4, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating tinea pedis has yielded unreliable results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Dandruff [1, 5, 6, 7, 9]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Studies show that tea tree oil may be helpful in treating dandruff)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Cystic Acne [1, 3, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treating acne has yielded unreliable results.)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Black Widow Spider Bite [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating insect bites. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Oral Candidiasis [1, 6, 7]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown that tea tree oil may be effective in treating candida. However more research needs to be done in the form of clinical trials)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

References:

1.  Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/62/4/769

3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2145499

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9055360

5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12451368

6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9848442

7. Bishop, C.D. (1995). "Anti-viral Activity of the Essential Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia". Journal of Essential Oil Research: 641-644

8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18816275

9. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm