Using Tea Tree Oil Can Increase MRSA Risk

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-16-2007

[GSlob]

Aren't tea leaves harvested from a shrub, not from a tree? So, what's growing on the tea tree? Teapots and saucers?

[DogBarkTree]

Very sceptical of this one. Tea tree oil has many uses. The Aboriginals in Oz have used it for thousands of years. Ive used it to cure toenail fungus.

[battlegearboat]

Bought a jug of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo at Sports Cuts from the pretty young female barber. It's quite a tingly sensation.

This'll probably be one of my last posts as I can feel the superbugs attacking me now.

Farewell, cruel...cruel World!

[kaotic133]

Isn't that pretty much what happens with all anti-biotics? Doctors are just upset the stuff can be had without going through them as a middle-man.

[DogBarkTree]

Tea tree oil comes from the leaf of the Tea Tree. The Brits learned from the natives in Austrailia that it was a cure for scurvey, rickets, and other infections. I encountered a tea tree in Oz many a few years back. It had a paint thinner kind of smell to it.

[goodnesswins]

USING it HOW? topically?

[MizSterious]

I'm skeptical too. Have used it for decades, and so far, no superbugs.

[MizSterious]

I think topically--never heard of using it internally, although someone might correct me. I use it for minor cuts, etc., and lately found a shampoo that contains it.

[hoosierpearl]

Tea tree oil comes from the maleleuca tree. I hope I spelled it right. I'm very allergic to it, applied topically.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Did you say "macacca"?

[I still care]

I have a secret addiction to confess. I love the smell of tea tree oil. It smells like gasoline. One of those weird things I guess. I used to use a tea tree cleanser from Trader Joe's, now I make my own with oils from the health food store.

It's a natural antibiotic and antifungal.

[hoosierpearl]

If you can read you can see that I did not. Do you want to give me a definition that isn't ugly?

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"Bought a jug of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo at Sports Cuts from the pretty young female barber...This'll probably be one of my last posts as I can feel the superbugs attacking me now."

Naw, the real problem is that if you persist in utilizing this dangerous subversive substance you will soon look like the pretty young female barber. See:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11075-natural-oils-gave-young-boys-breasts.html

(I understand that it is widely used in San Franancisco, probably for its "tingly" properties. Enjoy!)

[Revolting cat!]

I see dead people!

[Eva]

Women are using tea tree oil to treat finger nail fungus. It's a common home remedy.

[MHGinTN]

There is a 'home remedy' for scabies which uses a series of four baths in three days, 1/4 ounce 100% oil concentrate per 24 gallons of water. Same bath works for funguses also, but who knows ... the native Aussies would know. I think the active ingredient is in the family of terpenes

[metmom]

health ping

[CarrotAndStick]

"Tea" tree oil is not from the plant one normally associates with the drink. "Tea" tree oil is from an entirely different species, that grows in Australia.

The hill-grown, drinking tea that is used in making the drink does not produce oil in commercially significant quantities.

[lonestar]

I buy tea tree oil from a friend who sells Maleleuca products.