Tea tree oil may help combat skin cancer

Tea tree oil may be a cheap and effective treatment for certain skin cancers and is used widely for spot removal and insect bites, say Scientists.

For the study, the Researchers at the University of Western Australia, apparently identified solid tumors grown under the skin in mice. The mice were then treated with tea tree oil formulation. It was found that the tea tree oil can shrink non-melanoma skin cancers in mice in just a day and cure them in three days.

The tea tree oil activated the body’s immune response. It prevents evaporation and increases the penetration of tea tree oil through the skin.

Unlike the other approved skin cancer chemotherapies, tea tree oil formulation produces only mild skin irritation which disappears within days of finishing the treatment, said Dr. Greay and Dr. Demelza, the lead researchers in the study.

The non-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common types of skin cancer that affects thousands across the globe each year.

The results from three year old study are published online in the journal Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology.

Tea tree oil is also an excellent anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-viral, expectorant, balsamic, cicatrisant, fungicide, insecticide, stimulant and sudorific.

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