Respiratory Diseases

"...Australian tea tree (Melaleucae alternifolia) belongs to the same family as the eucalyptus tree.  Plants of this genus are commonly found in New Zealand and Australia.  The oils from these plants soothe irritated mucous membranes and help open blocked sinus an nasal passages.

For decades, oil of eucalyptus has been utilized in Western medicine for the treatment of minor ailments of the respiratory tract.  The use of tea tree oil for this purpose has only been more recent.  However, it offers advantages that far exceed that of eucalyptus.  In addition to opening closed respiratory passages, it helps kill the microbes that infect the throat, tonsils, sinuses and lungs.  Stubborn respiratory tract pathogens, such as strep, staph, diphtheria, tuberculosis, pneumoccous, Candida, and pseudomonas, have been found to succumb to its antibiotic powers.

Tea tree oil is useful as an adjunctive treatment for a variety of bronchial and lung ailments, including bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, whooping cough and croup.  Additionally, it may be utilized in the treatment of acute and chronic sinutitis.

To treat these conditions inhale the oil several times daily."

Reference: Cass Igram, D.O., "Killed on Contact, The Tea Tree Oil Story:  Nature's Finest Antiseptic", Cedar Graphics, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1992, pp. 39-40.