Melaleuca oil

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

acne

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 5% gel topically bid; Info: for pts 15 yo and older

blepharitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply swab topically bid; Alt: apply 2% gel topically bid

dandruff

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5% topical shampoo qd; Info: apply, leave several min, rinse; for pts 14 yo and older

dental plaque

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.5% mouth rinse topically qd; Alt: 10 mL (0.2-0.3% solution) swish/spit bid; brush w/ 2.5% gel topically bid; 3-4 gtt 100% mouthwash diluted in water swish/spit bid-tid

dry eye dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: scrub eyelid w/ tea tree oil shampoo qd; Alt: apply 1% tea tree oil shampoo topically qd

gingivitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.5% mouth rinse topically qd; Alt: 10 mL (0.2-0.3% solution) swish/spit bid; 3-4 gtt 100% mouthwash diluted in water swish/spit bid-tid; brush w/ 2.5% gel topically qd

halitosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 10 mL (100% solution) swish/spit bid; Alt: apply 15 mL (0.125% solution) topically qd; apply 0.5% solution topically bid; Info: 0.125% solution prepared w/ tea tree oil:peppermint oil:lemon oil (1:2:1 ratio); 0.5% solution prepared w/ tea tree oil:lemon oil:peppermint oil (1:1:0.2 ratio)

hemorrhoids, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply gel topically bid-tid

hirsutism

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply spray topically bid; Info: spray provides tea tree oil 2 mcg/cm^2 and lavender oil 48 mcg/cm^2

injection site rxn

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.05 mL tea tree oil topically plus inhaled aromatherapy q2h x3 days; Info: apply to upper arm, avoid injection site by >2 cm radius

lice, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 10% lotion topically x1; Info: may repeat q3-4 days x2wk; for pts 4-12 yo

molluscum contagiosum, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 1 gtt topically bid; Info: solution containing 75% tea tree oil

MRSA

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 10% cream plus 5% body wash topically qd-tid; Alt: apply 4% nasal ointment plus 5% body wash topically qd

nickel-induced contact dermatitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply undiluted or diluted tea tree oil topically qd; Alt: apply 60-120 mcL (20% or 50% solution) topically x1 before exposure

nipple fissures

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply tea tree oil topically after breastfeeding on days 3, 7, and 10 postpartum

ocular demodicosis, adults

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: scrub eyelid w/ tea tree oil shampoo qd plus scrub eyelid w/ 50% solution qwk; Alt: scrub eyelid w/ 10% solution qd-bid; apply 5-10% ointment topically to eyelid qd

ocular demodicosis, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5% ointment topically to eyelid qd plus scrub eyelid w/ 50% solution qwk; Info: for pts 2.5-11 yo

onychomycosis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 100% solution topically bid

rosacea

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply gel topically bid; Info: permethrin gel containing tea tree oil

tinea pedis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 10% cream topically bid; Alt: apply 25% or 50% solution topically bid