About Melaleuca Fungus
Not to be confused with the tea plant that produces black and green teas, trees in the genus Melaleuca, commonly known as the tea tree, are Australian natives well known among proponents of alternative medicine. Melaleuca leaves are the source of tea tree oil, a substance that has been used over the centuries to treat everything from lice to respiratory illnesses. Tea tree oil seems to be most effective, however, as an antifungal agent. Does this Spark an idea?
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Tea Tree
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Melaleuca is native to Australia, where it is a valued tree often planted in parks and subject to conservation efforts in areas of deforestation. Melaleuca alternifolia grows to around 20 feet tall, and it is covered with a light-colored peeling bark. Its evergreen leaves are 5 inches long, and its spikes of white flowers produce woody seed pods that distribute large numbers of seeds. In areas outside of Australia, such as south Florida, the tea tree is an invasive species whose prolific growth has a harmful effect on native ecosystems.
Antifungal Properties
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Oil extracted from the leaves of the tea tree has long been thought to have medicinal properties. The oil, which is applied topically, has been credited with curing lice, scabies, acne and fungal infections of the skin, as well as being effective as a topical antiseptic. Scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil is as effective as over-the-counter medications at relieving the symptoms of athlete's foot, although it doesn't appear to be as effective as prescription medications at curing the infection. The oil appears to be similarly effective in treating fungal infections of the nails. A 1990 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia concluded that tea tree oil is as effective as 5 percent benzoyle peroxide lotion in treating mild to moderate acne.
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Harmful Effects
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Tea tree oil is toxic if ingested and should only be applied topically to the skin. Topical application of tea tree oil may cause contact dermatitis, irritation or swelling in some people. People with acne may experience dryness, redness, burning or other irritation when using tea tree oil remedies.
Resistance to Biological Controls
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Attempts to use a predatory fungus to control melaleuca infestations in Florida have proven unsuccessful. B. Ribis, a fungus native to Florida, was injected into melaleuca trees with the hope that the fungus would destroy the trees the same way it destroys other trees, by eating them from the inside out. The melaleuca trees were generally able to contain and expel the fungus, leading the researchers to conclude that the fungus is ineffective at controlling the spread of melaleuca.
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References
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