what is melaleuca alternifolia?

Answer 1

It is an evergreen shrub commonly known as tea tree and this is the plant that the "Tea Tree Oil" comes from, growing to 6m by 4m . It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June. Its other names include Paperbarks, Honey myrtles. The bark is very distinctive and consists of thin, white cream or brown, paper like layers. Leaves on some species are aromatic when crushed. Many of the shrub like melaleuca are known by the common name of honey myrtle because of their nectar rich flowers. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. It is commonly found in New South Walse , Australia.

The extracted oil is used for many skin ailments (including poison ivy) and has a sweet smelling citrus scent. It has been proven to contain many medicinal properties. It medicinal uses are said as follows: Alterative; Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Aromatherapy; Diaphoretic; and Expectorant.

Melaleuca alternifolia is highly regarded as an antiseptic essential oil. Young Living's melaleuca has high levels of terpinenol, the key active constituent.

An essential oil obtained from the leaves and twigs is strongly antiseptic, diaphoretic and expectorant. It stimulates the immune system and is effective against a broad range of bacterial and fungal infections. Internally, it is used in the treatment of chronic and some acute infections, notably cystitis, glandular fever and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is used externally in the treatment of thrush, vaginal infections, acne, athlete's foot, verrucae, warts, insect bites, cold sores and nits. It is applied neat to verrucae, warts and nits, but is diluted with a carrier oil such as almond for other uses.

The oil is non-irritant. Another report says that high quality oils contain about 40% terpinen-4-ol, which is well tolerated by the skin and 5% cineol which is irritant. However, in poor quality oils the levels of cineol can exceed 10% and in some cases up to 65%. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy.

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves It is strongly germicidal and is also used in dentistry, deodorants, soaps, mouthwashes etc.☺

Answer 2

Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It currently contains 236 species, all of which occur in Australia. About 230 species are endemic to Australia, the few remaining species occurring as far afield as Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and even Malaysia.

The species are shrubs and trees growing (depending on species) to 2–30 m tall, often with flaky, exfoliating bark. The leaves are evergreen, alternately arranged, ovate to lanceolate, 1-25 cm long and 0.5-7 cm broad, with an entire margin, dark green to grey-green in colour. The flowers are produced in dense clusters along the stems, each flower with fine small petals and a tight bundle of stamens; flower colour varies from white to pink, red, pale yellow or greenish. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous minute seeds.

Melaleuca is closely related to Callistemon, the main difference between the genera is that the stamens are generally free in Callistemon but grouped into bundles in Melaleuca.

In the wild, Melaleuca plants are generally found in open forest, woodland or shrubland, particularly along watercourses and the edges of swamps.

Common names of many Australasian genera are inaccurate and unhelpful. In consequence, the best-accepted common name for Melaleuca is simply melaleuca; however most of the larger species are also known as paperbarks, and the smaller types as honey myrtles. Some melaleucas are used in the manufacture of an essential oil called tea tree oil and called "tea trees", which is confusing, as "tea tree" has also been used for several other plants, including Leptospermum, a related and superficially similar-looking genus. In particular, the paperbark tree Melaleuca alternifolia was dubbed the "tea tree" as its foliage when steeped in water produces a brown tincture faintly resembling tea to the early Europeans, although it was generally recognised to be only a very poor (and potentially toxic) substitute. Similarly small bodies of water near Melaleuca scrub are sometimes coloured brown due to the seepage from the leaves.

In Australia, Melaleuca species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus including A. ligniveren. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down.

Melaleucas are popular garden plants, both in Australia and other tropical areas worldwide. In Hawaii and the Florida everglades, the Broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) was introduced in order to help drain low-lying swampy areas. It has since gone on to become a serious invasive weed.

Uses

[edit] Traditional Aboriginal uses
Aborigines used the leaves traditionally for many medicinal purposes, including chewing the young leaves to alleviate headache.

The softness of the bark made it very useful. It was used to line coolamons when they were used as cradles, and also as a bandage, as sleeping mats and for humpies. It was also used for wrapping food and as a disposable raincoat. In the Gadigal language, it is called Bujor. [1]


[edit] Modern uses
Scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil made from Melaleuca alternifolia is a highly effective topical antibacterial and antifungal, although it may be toxic when ingested internally in large doses or by children. In rare cases, topical products can be absorbed by the skin and result in toxicity.

The oils of Melaleuca can be found in organic solutions of medication that claims to eliminate warts, including the Human papillomavirus. No scientific evidence proves this claim (reference: "Forces of Nature: Warts No More").

Answer 3

It is the chemical name for Tea Tree oil.

Medicinal Uses

Alternative; Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Aromatherapy; Diaphoretic; Expectorant.

Tea tree, and in particular its essential oil, is one of the most important natural antiseptics and it merits a place in every medicine chest. It is useful for treating stings, burns, wounds and skin infections of all kinds.

An essential oil obtained from the leaves and twigs is strongly antiseptic, diaphoretic and expectorant. It stimulates the immune system and is effective against a broad range of bacterial and fungal infections. Internally, it is used in the treatment of chronic and some acute infections, notably cystitis, glandular fever and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is used externally in the treatment of thrush, vaginal infections, acne, athlete's foot, verrucae, warts, insect bites, cold sores and nits. It is applied neat to verrucae, warts and nits, but is diluted with a carrier oil such as almond for other uses.

Answer 4

MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIS
The essential oil of tea tree is extracted by steam distillation of the leaves of the tree grown in Australia. The fragrance is spicy, strong, and fresh. Tea tree essential oil has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties and has been used to treat a wide variety of infections, including yeast infections.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I believe that is Tea Tree from Australia. Tea tree oil is a good natural remedy for acne, sore muscles and dandruff,etc

Answer 7

It's a Narrow-leaved Paperbark tree also known as an Australian tea tree.