Tea Tree Oil: Remedy and Poison

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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