Tea Tree Oil: Remedy and Poison

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The Bottom Line

Tea tree oil has been used as a "natural" remedy for a long time, especially for skin afflictions. There is very little scientific evidence that tea tree oil is effective for most skin conditions. It is poisonous if swallowed, so it should not be used in or around the mouth.

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What is tea tree oil?

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of an Australian tree called Melaleuca alternifolia. It is an essential oil with a long history of use as a natural remedy for skin ailments and other conditions. Tea tree oil is sold as a pure essential oil, in over-the-counter and herbal remedies for skin conditions, and as an ingredient in some household cleaning products. Tea tree oil is also known as Melaleuca Oil.

Is tea tree oil good for your skin and hair?

Skin conditions are common traditional uses of tea tree oil, including as a treatment for bruises, burns, canker sores, corns, eczema, insect bites, psoriasis, rosacea, scabies, and skin infections. Most of these uses have not been scientifically studied. 

There are a few studies that have investigated the effectiveness of tea tree oil for the treatment of acne, nail fungus, and athlete’s foot. The results of these studies are not impressive, and tea tree oil cannot be recommended for these conditions. One study found that a shampoo with 5% tea tree oil was superior to shampoo alone for the itching and flakiness of dandruff.

Side effects of tea tree oil

Tea tree oil can sometimes irritate the skin, especially in higher concentrations. It has also caused allergic skin reactions. The use of tea tree oil in the eyes can cause corneal damage. There have been reports of 8 boys who developed gynecomastia (formation of breast tissue) and 4 girls with premature breast formation during exposure to tea tree or lavender oils. In all cases, the tissues returned to normal after the application of the oil was stopped. These conditions are known to develop and disappear naturally, and since the products were not regulated, it is unclear how much of the oils were in them.

Is tea tree oil poisonous when swallowed?

Tea tree oil is known to be poisonous if swallowed. A 4-year-old boy swallowed a small amount given to him by mistake and went into a coma, from which he recovered. A 23-month-old boy swallowed up to 10 mL of tea tree oil. He became confused and lost the ability to walk, but recovered within 5 hours. Tea tree oil should not be taken by mouth for any reason, even though some traditional uses include tea tree oil as a mouthwash, treatment for bad breath, and treatment of toothache and mouth ulcers.

Is tea tree oil toxicity common?

Tea tree oil, like many other natural substances, can be poisonous if used in the wrong way. In 2022, Poison Control managed more than 2200 cases of human exposure to tea tree oil, nearly twice as many as any other named essential oil, including cinnamon oil, clove oil, and eucalyptus oil. More than 10% of people exposed to tea tree oil were treated in healthcare facilities.

If someone might have swallowed tea tree oil, immediately check the webPOISONCONTROL online tool or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Don't wait to see what will happen first, as swallowed tea tree oil can cause dangerous poisoning in less than thirty minutes.

 

Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist 

Revised William G. Troutman, PharmD
Professor of Pharmacy Emeritus

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Poisoned?

Call 1-800-222-1222 or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

  • Store tea tree oil like other medicines: in its original container, locked out of sight and reach of children.
  • Do not use tea tree oil in or around the mouth.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider before using any tea tree oil product.

This Really Happened

Case 1. An elderly man swallowed a teaspoonful of tea tree oil to treat an unknown illness. He called Poison Control about 2 hours later, complaining of dizziness and vomiting. His speech was slurred. He was referred to the nearest emergency room by Poison Control. Emergency medical services came to the home and performed an EKG and checked the man’s vital signs, which were normal. The man declined to go to the ER. Poison Control called him 2 hours later, and he was much better. In a follow-up call from Poison Control a day later, he reported he was fine.

Case 2. A middle-aged woman used tea tree oil and hydrogen peroxide 3% as an enema. She had obtained this advice online. Twelve hours later, an ER physician called Poison Control. The woman had developed bloody diarrhea. She required treatment with intravenous fluids and pain medication, but eventually recovered.


For More Information

Tea tree oil. US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Updated October 2020. Accessed July 1, 2024.


References

Braunstein EW, Braunstein GD. Are prepubertal gynaecomastia and premature thelarche linked to topical lavender and tea Tree oil use? touchREV Endocrinol. 2023;19(2):60-68.

Buck DS, Nidorf DM, Addino JG. Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole. J Fam Pract. 1994;38(6):601-605.

Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2022 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System® (NPDS) from America's Poison Centers®: 40th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023;61(10):717-939.

Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV, Nielsen JB. A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006;44(5):616-625.

Jacobs MR, Hornfeldt CS. Melaleuca oil poisoning. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1994;32(4):461-464.

Lubtikulthum P, Kamanamool N, Udompataikul M. A comparative study on the effectiveness of herbal extracts vs 2.5% benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019;18(6):1767-1775.

Morris MC, Donoghue A, Markowitz JA, Osterhoudt KC. Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2003;19(3):169-171.

Nascimento T, Gomes D, Simões R, da Graça Miguel M. Tea tree oil: properties and the therapeutic approach to acne-a review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023;12(6):1264.

Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS. Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47(6):852-855.

Tharmarajah B, Coroneo MT. Corneal effects of tea tree oil. Cornea. 2021;40(10):1363-1364.

Poisoned?

Call 1-800-222-1222 or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

  • Store tea tree oil like other medicines: in its original container, locked out of sight and reach of children.
  • Do not use tea tree oil in or around the mouth.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider before using any tea tree oil product.

This Really Happened

Case 1. An elderly man swallowed a teaspoonful of tea tree oil to treat an unknown illness. He called Poison Control about 2 hours later, complaining of dizziness and vomiting. His speech was slurred. He was referred to the nearest emergency room by Poison Control. Emergency medical services came to the home and performed an EKG and checked the man’s vital signs, which were normal. The man declined to go to the ER. Poison Control called him 2 hours later, and he was much better. In a follow-up call from Poison Control a day later, he reported he was fine.

Case 2. A middle-aged woman used tea tree oil and hydrogen peroxide 3% as an enema. She had obtained this advice online. Twelve hours later, an ER physician called Poison Control. The woman had developed bloody diarrhea. She required treatment with intravenous fluids and pain medication, but eventually recovered.