Our Ingredients
TEA TREE OIL
(Melaleuca alternifolia)
How does Tea Tree Oil work?
Terpinen 4 [a major component of Tea Tree Oil] has been clearly identified as a major antiseptic active component of the oil. Tea Tree Oil contains upwards of 35% of Terpinen 4. Other oil components act to enhance the synergism, to act as solvents etc, and are still being researched by universities and scientific institutions.
The mode of action of Tea Tree Oil is to damage the cell wall and cell membrane and to denature the cell constituents [eg protein]. The antiseptic actions of Tea Tree Oil are not impaired in the presence of blood, serum, pus, mucous discharge etc. An acquired immunity of micro-organisms to many antibiotics and sulphonamide drugs does NOT occur with Tea Tree Oil.
Substantial microbiological testing of Tea Tree Oil has established typical minimum inhibitory concentrations [MIC's] of the oil against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms, i.e. the lowest concentration of the oil that will inhibit growth of a specified micro-organism. Several hundred tests have taken place.
It can be concluded, therefore, that Tea Tree Oil is active against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms and performs effectively in stringent efficiency tests.
Horse, Ponies and Tea Tree Oil
The early part of the 1990's saw the development of Tea Tree Oil based products for use on horses and ponies. They, perhaps, more than many other animal types suffer from extremely sensitive skin and are very susceptible to insect bites and stings.
Additionally, because many horses are regularly "worked", with hunting, eventing, jumping, etc, cuts and abrasions are prevalent. Ringworm is another common problem with horses and Tea Tree Oil is active against ringworm lesions. It was natural, therefore, that Tea Tree Oil would become a significant part of the first aid kit for horses and ponies.
Tea Tree Oil has been proven to help in such conditions as Sweet Itch, Mud Fever, Rain Scald, Cracked Hooves, Saddle Sores, Thrush, etc, and OzOil is a must for anyone involved with the keeping of horses and ponies.
