Herb in Focus: Tea Tree

Herb in Focus: Tea Tree

If you’ve walked into a retail pharmacy lately, a trip down nearly any aisle would offer up a tea tree oil product. While it may look like it’s having glow-up era, that glow up era has been going on for centuries.

Tea tree oil isn’t just another ingredient on a label; it’s a natural powerhouse known for its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and soothing properties, it helps manage bacteria, oil, and inflammation, making it a favorite for everything from blemish-prone skin to minor cuts, scrapes, and fungal concerns like athlete’s foot or nail fungus. Let’s take a closer look at this versatile botanical.

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Tea tree

What is Tea Tree?

Tea tree is ubiquitous. From shampoos and soaps to astringents and cleansers, it’s in just about everything (and for good reason). But what is it?

Tea tree, or Melaleuca alternifolia, is a small evergreen tree native to Australia, where it grows in coastal regions and wetlands. For centuries, its narrow, aromatic leaves have been valued for their natural properties.

That said, when people talk about tea tree, they’re most likely talking about tea tree oil, the essential oil extracted from the leaves of the plant. Tea tree oil is produced through steam distillation, a process that concentrates the plant’s active compounds into a potent, highly aromatic liquid.

What Part of the Tea Tree Plant Is Used?

Unlike some botanicals that use the whole plant or its roots or flowers, tea tree’s benefits come specifically from its leaves. The leaves are distilled to produce essential oil and that oil is known for its cleansing and purifying properties

In short, tea tree is almost always used in its oil form, rather than as a dried herb or whole-plant preparation.

A Potent Botanical in a Small Package

Tea tree oil is considered a natural antiseptic, which is why it shows up in such a wide range of topical products, from hair and skincare to balms. Because it’s so concentrated, it’s typically diluted and combined with other botanicals and carrier oils to support the skin without being overly harsh.

In products like hemp balms, tea tree oil is often included to help support skin clarity and surface-level defense. Tea tree is ideal in combination with other oils when designed for everyday use.

Botanical rendering of tea tree

A Brief History of Tea Tree in Herbal Traditions

While tea tree is all over the modern day pharmacy, it has its roots in the traditional practices of Indigenous Australians, particularly the Bundjalung people of eastern Australia (1).

For generations, they crushed tea tree leaves to apply directly to the skin, inhaled the vapors, or soaked them in water to create cleansing washes. In these forms, tea tree was relied on as a natural antiseptic, used to help clean and protect cuts, soothe skin irritations, and support recovery from minor wounds and infections (2).

Broader recognition for its antimicrobial properties were in the early 20th century, when Australian chemist Arthur Penfold studied tea tree oil. Early medical reports described tea tree oil as having notable germicidal and antiseptic properties, and it was even included in first aid kits for treating wounds and preventing infection prior to the widespread use of antibiotics (3).

When pharmaceutical medicine advanced, tea tree’s use declined, especially in clinical settings, but its reputation as a plant-based antiseptic persists. Modern reviews and research continue to highlight that the primary historical uses of tea tree oil center were for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions. 

However, its resurgence in the modern pharmacy is typically in skincare and and other topical applications as tea tree should not be ingested (4).

Tea Tree Oil Benefits

As noted above, tea tree oil is best known as a natural antiseptic, but its benefits go beyond simple cleansing. Thanks to its unique combination of active compounds, it’s been widely studied for how it supports the skin’s natural defense systems.

While it’s commonly used in topical formulations to help maintain skin clarity, comfort, and balance, there are additional benefits.

Key Tea Tree Oil Benefits

  • Natural Antiseptic for Cuts and Minor Skin Irritations
    Tea tree oil has well-documented antimicrobial properties, making it useful for helping cleanse the skin and reduce the risk of infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and abrasions (2).
  • Supports Acne-Prone Skin
    Some studies have shown tea tree oil can help reduce acne lesions due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a popular botanical in skincare formulations (4).
  • Helps Soothe Skin Inflammation and Irritation
    Tea tree oil has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, which may help calm redness, swelling, and irritation on the skin (5).
  • Supports Wound Healing
    Studies suggest tea tree oil may promote wound healing by reducing microbial load and supporting the skin’s natural repair process (6)
  • May Help with Fungal Skin Concerns
    Tea tree oil has shown antifungal activity against organisms associated with conditions like athlete’s foot and nail fungus (7).
  • Supports Overall Skin Clarity and Balance
    Because it helps manage bacteria, oil, and inflammation, tea tree oil is often used in products designed to support clearer, healthier-looking skin over time (4). 

From antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to skin clarifying, it’s pretty clear (pardon the pun) to see how and why tea tree oil is still prevalent, even in the modern pharmacy.

What Is Tea Tree Good For and Who Benefits?

As the research suggests, tea tree oil has a long history of use for skin, hair, and overall topical health. Because its primary strengths come from its antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, it’s an incredibly versatile ingredient in both personal care and wellness routines.

Key uses for tea tree oil

Key Uses of Tea Tree Oil

  • Acne and Blemish-Prone Skin – Helps reduce bacterial growth and calm inflammation, supporting clearer skin over time.
  • Fungal Skin Conditions – Limited research suggests it may help inhibit fungi responsible for athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and other superficial infections.
  • Minor Cuts and Scrapes – Can reduce microbial load and support the skin’s natural repair process.
  • Scalp Health – May help with dandruff or scalp irritation due to antifungal and soothing properties.
  • General Skin Balance – Supports oil control and overall skin clarity, contributing to healthier-looking skin.

Who Might Benefit from Tea Tree Oil

  • People with oily or acne-prone skin looking for natural alternatives to conventional treatments.
  • Individuals prone to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot or nail fungus.
  • Anyone seeking gentle, supportive skin care for minor irritations, blemishes, or scalp issues.
  • Those interested in plant-based wellness routines that focus on maintaining skin balance and hygiene.

What Products Benefit from Tea Tree Oil?

With tea tree, it’s important to look at not only who, but also what common products might benefit from tea tree oil. Those include:

  • Topical balms and salves – Supports skin clarity, soothes minor irritations, and helps maintain overall skin balance. It can be really beneficial when paired with a topical CBD product.
  • Acne creams and serums – Helps reduce bacteria and inflammation associated with blemishes.
  • Foot care products – Effective against fungal infections like athlete’s foot and nail fungus.
  • Shampoos and scalp treatments – Helps with dandruff, scalp irritation, and overall scalp health.
  • Body washes and soaps – Adds gentle antimicrobial support for daily skin care.

Tea tree oil is not a cure-all, but its broad antimicrobial and soothing effects make it a valuable addition to many self-care and dermatological regimens.

As for our hemp balm, including tea tree oil makes perfect sense: it complements the moisturizing and calming benefits of hemp while also helping to keep skin balanced, clear, and resilient against minor irritations or microbial challenges.

SuperTrees Botanicals Hemp Balm

Choosing a High-Quality Botanical with Tea Tree

When selecting any product that includes tea tree oil, quality and formulation matter. Look for balms or topical products that ensure you get the antimicrobial, antifungal, and soothing benefits tea tree is known for, without unnecessary fillers or harsh additives.

More specifically, products that combine tea tree with other supportive ingredients, like hemp oil, can enhance skin hydration while helping to manage inflammation and minor skin concerns.

If you’re looking for a gentle, effective way to reduce inflammation and support healing with healthier skin, our hemp balm offers the perfect combination of soothing hemp and skin-balancing tea tree oil.

Ready to try it out? Head over to the botanicals shop. Have more questions? Please reach out!


Sources:
1.  Kairey, L., Agnew, T., Bowles, E. J., Barkla, B. J., Wardle, J., & Lauche, R. (2023).
Efficacy and safety of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil for human health: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1116077. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1116077

2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.).
Tea tree oil. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tea-tree-oil

3. Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., & Riley, T. V. (2021).
Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. Microbiology Spectrum.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8540646

4.  Carson, C. F., Hammer, K. A., & Riley, T. V. (2006).
Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: A review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 19(1), 50–62. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006

5. Enshaieh, S., Jooya, A., Siadat, A. H., & Iraji, F. (2007).
The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 73(1), 22–25.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17314442/

6. Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Bagherani, N., & Kazerouni, A. (2013).
A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. International Journal of Dermatology, 52(7), 784–790.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23848210/

7. Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., & Riley, T. V. (1997).
In vitro activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil against dermatophytes and other filamentous fungi. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 39(6), 701–702.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9055360/

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