Tea Tree Oil for Treatment of Toenail Fungus
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Tea tree oil is extracted by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia. This plant is native to Australia.
Origianally, the leaves were used as a substitute for tea and is originally how tea tree oil got its name. Only the oil from the leaves is used medicinally.
Why Do People Use Tea Tree Oil?
The use of tea tree oil dates back to aboriginals in the sticks of Australia. They used it for healing skin cuts, skin fungus, burns, and infections. They simply crushed the leaves and applied them to infected area.
The effectiveness of tea tree oil is contained in the consituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antiseptic and antifungal activity. The compound terpinen-4-ol is the most plentiful substance in tea tree oil and is responsible for much of the anti-microbial function of tea tree oil.
What is the Evidence for Tea Tree Oil in Treating Toenail Fungus?
Actual clinical trials of tea tree oil are few. There have been some older clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of tea tree oil in humans.
In one trial, a randomized controlled trial examined the use of 25% tea tree oil solution, 50% tea tree oil solution, or placebo in 158 people with athlete’s foot. After applying twice a day for 4 weeks, the two tea tree oil solutions were found to be significantly more effective than placebo.
Among those using the 50% tea tree oil solution, 64% were cured, compared to only 31% among the placebo group. There were no significant side effects.
The Journal of Family Practice published the results of a randomized controlled study of tea tree oil for treatment of nail fungus. The study focused on the twice-daily application of 100% tea tree oil versus 1% clotrimazole solution (a topical antifungal medication) in 177 people with toe nail fungus infections. 6 months in to the study, the tea tree oil was found to be as effective as the topical antifungal. The results were based on clinical testing for fungus in the toenails. Needless to say, the test of extremely positive for the use of tea tree oil in treating toenail fungus.
An additional study was conducted. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted which examined the safety and effectiveness of a cream containing 5% tea tree oil and 2% butenafine hydrochloride in 60 people with toenail fungus infections. After 16 weeks, 80% of people using the cream had significant improvement compared to none in the placebo group. Side effects included mild inflammation.
Finally, a 3rd double-blind study examined the effectiveness of 100% tea tree oil compared with a topical antifungal, clotrimazole. Among the 112 people in the study with toenail fungus, tea tree oil was as effective as the antifungal.
Safety Concerns
Tea tree oil may alter hormone levels as discovered in one study. People with cancers that may be hormone sensitive or pregnant or nursing women should avoid tea tree oil.
Blisters and rashes may be a problem for some people who exhibit an allergic reaction to tea tree oil. People may suffer from dermatitis.
Undiluted tea tree that is undulated may cause a problem with redness and skin irritations.
As a general rule, tea tree oil is not considered safe for internal use. There are some products that contain tea tree oil such as toothpaste that is not intended to be swallowed in significant quantities.
Recommendation
The evidence is certainly there to justify trying tea tree oil to treat toenail fungus. Used topically, it is very safe and considered a much more conservative approach than drugs that circulate your entire blood stream. Follow label directions carefully when using tea tree oil as different concentrations of the oil require different treatment regimens.
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