Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) has been used for centuries by the native people of Australia. Most commonly known as Melaleuca, however someof the larger species are 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 plant. In particular, the 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.
Scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil made from Melaleuca alternifolia is a highly effective topical antibacterial and antifungal. Melaleuca is also the name of a MLM-marketing company, known as “Melaleuca, The Wellness Company”.