Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms: Ti-tree

Aroma: Fresh, spicy, medicinal.

Colour: Clear, colourless to pale yellow. Dark yellow indicates old or oxidized oil.

Plant: An evergreen tree that grows to 7 metres with paper like bark, small narrow leaves and profuse flowers.

Main Growing Areas: East coast of Australia.

Major Constituents: terpinene-4-ol, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpineol, 1.8 cineole, para-cymene.

Interesting snippets: The first essential oil distillation was done in 1924.

The botanical name comes from the Greek melos meaning dark or black, and leukon meaning white. This was a reference to the white papery bark on the higher trunk and the black bark on the lower trunk.

From the 1790s onwards, the first European settlers who colonised the areas around the Clarence and Richmond Rivers learned from the Bundjalong tribe how to use the leaves for healing purposes, such as inhalations for respiratory ailments, and poultices, infusions and ointments for infected wounds.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Leaves and twigs by steam distillation. Yield varies from 1.8 to 3.5%. The oil oxidises over time.

Therapeutic actions: Infected skin rashes, acne, boils, colds, flu, tinea, candida, sore throat.

Emotional and Spiritual: Nervous debility, mental fatigue and chronic lethargy.
Robbi Zeck writes that tea tree will take you beyond any points of difference, raise your tolerance level and encourage you to see the bigger picture. It builds confidence and a strong sense of integrity that also helps to develop robust immunity and inner containment.

Gabriel Mojay writes that tea tree oil is of special importance to physically delicate individuals who struggle not only with their bodies, but with the feelings of victimisation and doom that can easily accompany and exacerbate chronic ill-health.

Aromatherapy Insight Card:

UNDERSTANDING
Replace your “victim” mentality and feelings of doom and gloom with a feeling of understanding. Take a step back; release the struggle in life by understanding why events happen. By finding patience and seeing other points of view, you bring tolerance and growth into your environment and life. Enjoy the chance to learn to understand yourself and the others in your life.

Fragrant Change Healing card: There is always another point of view.

Contemplations for the Soul:

Are you dealing with a challenging situation, problem or person?
Are you trying to find an answer but it keeps eluding you?
Do you lack confidence and think of yourself as a victim in this situation?
Are you feeling confused and emotionally shattered?
Try looking at it from a new perspective.
Take a wider view and look at the bigger picture rather focussing on a small part of it.
Change your attitude from one of victim to one of a confident, focussed individual who has the ability to remain strong no matter what kind of toxic or challenging circumstances they find themselves in.
Remember you have the strength and insight to deal with this challenge or person.

Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitising, non-toxic.

Sources: Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Bowles E.J, The A to Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Kerr J, Tea Tree Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.13 (2000)
Jefferies J, Osborn K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Hodder and Stoughton (1996)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)