Tea Tree Oil has been used in Europe for decades, both pure and as an ingredient in cosmetic products. The extract prepared from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia tree native to Australia is an antiseptic remedy, used by aboriginees for centuries. The British explorer Captain Cook “discovered” the extract in 1770. He apparently had run out of tea and ended up brewing melaleuca leaves into a refreshing drink, during a voyage of discovery into the vast Australian continent. The essential oil obtained by steam distillation was subsequently introduced into western culture as a remedy with antiseptic and antifungal properties. Its use as a folk remedy for cold, flu, and systemic fungal infections spread by word of mouth.
Tea Tree Oil: EU Science Committee Challenged
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