Tea tree oil was studied for it’s effects against a number of fungi and yeasts in the laboratory. Tea tree oil was found to be effective against all tested fungi. It was effective against 32 types of Candida species. Tea tree oil was effective against 22 strains of a yeast called Malassezia furfur.

Tea tree oil was compared to the pharmaceutical, Miconazole. Miconazole appeared to be slightly more effective against fungi than Tea tree oil. The following species were tested:

Trichophyton species.

Microsporum species.

Candida species.

Trichosporum species.

Malassezia furfur.

CONCLUSION: Tea tree oil has been used medicinally for 70 years. It is sometimes called Melaleuca. The authors suggest Tea tree oil ointment would be useful in the “therapy of fungal infections of the skin and mucous membranes and in the treatment of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, tinea unguium (fungus of the nails), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and tinea corporis (yeast of the skin). Basically, fungal infections of all external parts of the body were treatable with Tea tree oil.

PMID: 9055360.

Summary #064.