Tea tree oil (TTO), or melaleuca oil, is an
essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor and a color that
ranges from pale yellow to nearly colorless and clear.It is taken
from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to
Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales,
Australia. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil,
the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea
plant Camellia sinensis (beverage tea) or the tea oil plant
Camellia oleifera.
Tea tree oil may be effective in a variety of
dermatologic conditions including dandruff, acne, lice, herpes, and
other skininfections.
