What are the Little Known Dangers of Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant found in Australia. This popular oil has been embraced by the general public for its reported medicinal and healing benefits. It has become popular in the treatment of a variety of skin problems due to its antiseptic properties and is often marketed as an acne remedy. It’s also sometimes used on domestic animals for controlling the flea population. Although tea tree oil appears to be effective for the treatment of some skin conditions, little emphasis has been placed on the risks and side effects of tea tree oil. Are there potential dangers of tea tree oil use?

You Don’t Want to Swallow It

Although tea tree oil is used topically, few people are aware that it can cause severe side effects if ingested orally. The primary symptoms of tea tree oil ingestion involve the central nervous system and can include confusion, disorientation, excessive sleepiness, hallucinations, and even coma. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and extreme weakness. These symptoms can develop after swallowing only small quantities of the oil. For this reason, children should never be allowed to put tea tree oil around their mouth or have unsupervised access to it.

You Don’t Want to Use it on Your Dog or Cat

Although tea tree oil is used for flea control, it can be toxic to both dogs and cats, particularly cats. There have been reports of cats dying after having the oil applied to their skin or added to their bath water. Dogs are also subject to significant neurological side effects. There have been reports of dogs experiencing paralysis from application of the undiluted oil to their fur. Because cats have thinner skin, they’re able to more easily absorb the oil through their skin which may account for their greater intolerance of the oil. Keep in mind that toxic levels can build up gradually, meaning symptoms can develop over time with repeated use, even though the animal may initially appear to tolerate the oil. It’s best to avoid using tea tree oil on any domestic animal, particularly if it’s undiluted.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions to tea tree oil aren’t common, but do occur. The oil shouldn’t be applied to the skin if there’s a history of skin conditions such as eczema.

It May Alter Hormone Levels

One study showed that young boys who repeatedly used a product containing tea tree oil and lavender oil experienced gynecomastia or enlarged breast tissue. This raises the question as to whether tea tree oil (or lavender oil) serves as an endocrine disrupter and could alter sex hormone levels if used repeatedly. This would obviously be of concern for both children and adults.

While tea tree oil appears to have some benefits for treating certain skin conditions, the dangers of tea tree oil should be understood before using this product, particularly on children or pets.