LATEST NEWS & MEDIA
23 Mar 2018 - Tea Tree Oil is a safe and well-established natural ingredient
A recent presentation at ENDO2018 purported a causal link between Lavender Oil and Tea Tree Oil to a condition in young boys called gynecomastia. More »»
22 Mar 2018 - ATTIA Refutes new gynecomastia links
A recent study by Ramsey et al looked at the impact of 8 chemicals on cells in a petri dish, this raises many questions. More »»
04 Dec 2017 - TTO goes Royal
Meghan Markle reveals the ONE go-to remedy in her medical cabinet she calls her 'cure-all' More »»
26 Aug 2017 - Botanical Adulterants Bulletin on Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia and M. linariifolia) Oil
The American Botanical Council (ABC) has released a Botanical Adulterants Bulletin on TTO. More »»
PrintHarvesting
M alternifolia is grown in plantations and the entire aerial growth of the plantation tree is mechanically harvested using modified forage harvesters which chop the leaf and twigs into a finely cut mass ready for steam distillation of the oil. Plantation trees are usually harvested every 12-18 months. The trees are robust and with good husbandry some plantations have been able to harvest leaf from their trees for up to 27 years. All plantation operators and harvesters take care to preserve the natural environmental balance to sustain and maintain future resources.
Images courtesy of Greg Baildon©
Many M alternifolia plantations are on the floodplains of the Northern Rivers area in NSW, Australia. During flood periods harvest can be delayed, though Melaleuca spp are well adapted to the area and can tolerate extendeed periods of inundation without being harmed.
The last of the floodwaters of May 2009 recede on a plantation near Bungawalbyn, NSW on the banks of the Richmond River.