Tea Tree Oil as a Ringworm Treatments

Tea tree oil is a warmly aromatic and antiseptic oil from the tree Melaleuca alternifolia of Austalia. It is considered a powerful natural germicide by Dr Andrew Weil, a noted authority on natural health, and is used topically to treat a variety of conditions including the skin fungus known as ringworm. Now tea tree oil can be found all over the world in health food stores and online retailers and people suffering from ringworm have access to this tried-and-true natural folk remedy wherever they go.

Function

Tea tree oil contains powerful natural germicides that have been found to be active against many different pathogenic organisms. A study published in the journal Phytomedicine in 2009 showed that horses suffering from ringworm showed complete healing after tea tree oil was applied twice a day for fifteen days. It appears that the fungal organism that causes ringworm, Trichophyton equinum, is highly susceptible to the compounds in tea tree oil

History

The tea tree itself, Melaleuca alternifolia, has a rich history of use among aboriginal Australians. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the tea tree was used for colds and for most general sicknesses. Later, colonists discovered the amazing power of tea tree oil to combat fungal infections of the skin, like athlete’s foot.

Effects

Ringworm is not the only skin fungus that tea tree oil is effective against. A study published in the journal Skin Pharmacology in 1996, tested tea tree oil against 26 different dermophytes (skin funguses) and 54 different strains of yeast. They found that tea tree oil was able to inhibit the growth of all of the fungal organisms that it was tested on. The broad spectrum ability of tea tree oil to control fungus makes it one of the most potent natural cures for ringworm.

Benefits

Ringworm is characterized by a red circular rash that is itchy, and can sometimes cause lesions that may lead to scarring or discoloration. The pharmaceutical medications currently used to treat ringworm may cause side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, rash and abnormal liver functioning according to the Mayo Clinic. Tea tree oil has no known adverse side effects and was able to help heal the lesions present in the above mentioned study on ringworm in horses.

Considerations

Although there are anti-fungal preparations marketed especially for ringworm, athletes foot and jock itch that contain tea tree oil, it may be cheaper and more efficient to purchase pure tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has become so popular worldwide that even pharmacies now usually stock it on the shelf for a very low price point.