Many people are concerned as to tea tree oil side effects. There are many stories of how the Tea Tree got its name. The most commonly accepted is due to the fact that, when the tea tree sheds its leaves into water, the leaves make the water a tea color. The tea tree often grows in areas where there are many bodies of water or running streams, and it is common for the leaves to fall into the water and to stain the water a 'tea' color.
Tea tree oil is distilled from the leaves of the tea tree. The oil can be applied topically to the skin and is best known for its infection fighting ability, whether they be bacterial or fungal infections. Acne, nail fungus, athlete's foot, as well as infestations of lice, scabies, and ringworm have all been successfully treated using tea tree oil. There are many other uses for tea tree oil, though some people are worried, asking the question: Is tea tree oil dangerous ?
So is tea tree oil dangerous ? Tea tree oil can most often be used very safely for the vast majority of people when applied to the surface of the skin, but for people with sensitive skin, some tea tree oil side effects in include skin irritation and swelling. Other tea tree oil effects include causing skin dryness in people who suffer from acne, as well as causing other tea tree oil side effects on the skin including itching, stinging, burning and redness. This tends to happen with people who have sensitive skin but can be avoided for most individuals by simply diluting the tea tree oil in a carrier oil, such as olive oil or almond oil. Simply add five or ten drops of the oil to every ounce of oil and test how the tea tree oil effects your skin on a small area first before applying to a larger area. You can experiment with the ratio of dilution by adding more or less drops to your carrier or base oil.
So again the question comes up as to 'Is tea tree oil dangerous'? Some researchers have revealed potential tea tree oil side effects when tea tree oil is applied combined with lavender essential oil. The combination of these two oils may not be safe for young boys who have not yet reached puberty. The combination of these two oils has potential tea tree oil effects that might interfere or alter normal hormone production in a young boy's body. There have been some cases of boys developing abnormal breast growth known as gynecomastia. This is thought to be due the way in which certain compounds in Lavender essential oil may possess estrogen-like qualities and mimic the effects of the estrogen hormone. Any potential tea tree oil side effects on girls is not clearly known.
A situation where medical professionals consider tea tree oil dangerous is when it is taken orally, by mouth. As a general rule, it is not recommended to take undiluted, full-strength tea tree oil by mouth due to the potential of some serious tea tree oil side effects. There have been some reports of tea tree oil effects such as confusion, an unsteady gait when walking, rash, and even one report of a young child going into a coma. Again, these tea tree oil side effects were when undiluted tea tree oil was used and this is the situation where researchers consider tea tree oil dangerous, versus when it is diluted in a carrier oil. Some other ways researchers consider tea tree oil dangerous due to several unsafe tea tree oil effects when taken orally:
Tea tree oil contains cineole, a known irritant to the skin. Tea tree oil containing this cineole applied to the skin can cause tea tree oil side effects such as contact dermatitis, skin irritation, or even an allergic reaction. This is especially true with tea tree oil that has been exposed to the air for a period of time.
Tea tree oil should not be ingested orally in its undiluted form, and only in very small amounts when diluted in oil or water if you want to avoid serious tea tree oil side effects. There have been reports of children being given full-strength tea tree oil where they suffered from disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, rash, and a loss of muscle control in the arms and legs leading to a loss of balance and coordination. One person is said to have gone into a coma after drinking tea tree oil tea.
Some of the Most Often Reported Tea Tree Oil Side Effects
Skin irritation
Skin redness
Itching
Allergic reactions
Dryness of the skin
Burning sensation on the skin
Eczema
These tea tree oil side effects are most commonly associated with tea tree oil being used in an undiluted form, especially on areas of the skin that are particularly sensitive, such as the face and around the eyes. When using tea tree oil as a mouth rinse, it needs to be diluted in water before use. Spit the mouth rinse into the sink and avoid swallowing.
Even ingesting as little as 10ml of full-strength, undiluted tea tree oil can have toxic and potentially dangerous tea tree oil effects, including nervous system problems, drowsiness, movement problems, breathing problems and even disorientation, confusion, and coma. Children are potentially sensitive to toxic tea tree oil side effects.
Many experts consider tea tree oil dangerous when the oil is not handled responsibly. That means treating tea tree oil in the same way you would any toxic or poisonous chemical and by all means keep the oil out of reach of children. The use of tea tree oil must be supervised by an adult to avoid any serious tea tree oil side effects. Any use of tea tree oil orally should be supervised by a healthcare or alternative health professional with experience in using tea tree oil.