Lemon Tea Tree Oil: Aspergillosis and Emphysema

First, because it is a "frequently asked question" - no, you can not substitute a mix of lemon oil (citrus limon) and tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).  Lemon Tea Tree is an essential oil from Australia, properly called leptospermon petersonii.

I was first taught about the delights of Lemon Tea Tree from my friend and mentor Dennis Archer.  When we first met online, Dennis was the founder and grower at Toona Plantation, Australia's first plantation of organically raised Lemon Myrtle and Lemon Tea Tree.  Dennis taught me about the powerful antibacterial effects of Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) and taught me about the powerful insect repellent capabilities of Lemon Tea Tree.


Based on what I learned from Dennis, Lemon Tea Tree became the basis of our popular "SkeeterBeater" line of products.  A few years ago when research proved that Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Citriodora) was an effective mosquito repellant, and the government accepted Lemon Euc. as an "active ingredient" we tried adapting our formula. Because we like to keep the government happy, we tried using half Lemon Euc and half Lemon Tea Tree in our SkeeterBeater Blend, without changing the other ingredients.  Effectiveness dropped, client satisfaction dropped, and we went back to using almost all Lemon Tea Tree, with a tiny bit of Lemon Eucalyptus for labeling purposes.

Somewhere along the line I read some research indicating that a blend of equal parts of tea tree oil and lemon tea tree oil is a more effective germkiller than either oil alone.  I don't remember where I read it, but there it is.  

I have ALWAYS relied on Lemon Tea Tree as an insect repellant.  I have *never* reached for it as either an anti-fungal or an anti-bacterial oil.  It is time to rethink that.

Earlier this week, Dennis sent me the following anedote about the use of Lemon Tea Tree oil to deal with a longstanding case of Aspergillosis,  an allergy or very nasty infection of the lungs triggered by a reaction to the Aspergillus fungus. For more information about Aspergillosis you might check PubMed. 

Dennis wrote:

Marge,

Some anecdotal evidence for you on the efficacy of sniffing Leptospermum petersonii

Via a circuitous route, we had a call from a lady who had been suffering from Aspergillosis for over 9 years…I sent her some oil and the following instructions…

Re: Essential Oil of Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon scented Tea Tree)

We regard this EO as one of the more potent anti microbial oils with which we have worked…I understand that your wife has difficulty with breathing due to lung infection and your research led you to CSU…and thence to us. We do have anecdotal evidence that the oil is efficacious in cases of lung and chest infections.

To use is quite simple…fold a handkerchief into quarters, remove lid from EO bottle, place hankie over open top of bottle, invert bottle quickly, replace lid on bottle, fold hankie again so that oil is covered and inhale. Keep in a pocket, and inhale on a regular basis during the day...at night, place the aforementioned hankie under the pillow…try to not get oil on your hands/fingers…if you do, wash off with cold water and soap…

Use a fresh hankie the next morning and continue for 2-3 days. Then take a break for 1-2 days. Repeat for a couple of weeks…relief should be evident during and after this time. In the first instance, I would not recommend using the oil in a burner…you need to get the full effect as soon as possible…after 3-4 weeks, using the oil in a burner every 2-3 days would probably be beneficial…ensure that the dropper, and the rubber bulb, you use to extract the oil from the bottle is washed thoroughly after use in soapy water, then warm water rinsed and air dried separately…and try to not get the oil into the rubber bulb…the rubber will be eaten, and the oil will be contaminated….the fumes will still get in, but the cleaning process mentioned above will prolong the life of the bulb.

As with most `natural’ products, time is required to achieve the full effects as opposed to pharmaceuticals…although I’m sure you are aware of the need to complete a full course of e.g. antibiotics for the best results.

A couple of warnings…DO NOT take internally, even diluted, and keep in a cool, dark place out of reach of children.

I received a call about 3 weeks after the lady commenced her treatment…she could converse without coughing, her doctor had taken her off her cortisone…and she was one very happy lady…so much so, I started receiving calls from other sufferers…so passed them onto a grower who sold in 15 ml bottles…and hope they are all well…

A little closer to home…a relative of mine suffers from emphysema…and is on oxygen 24/7…after a stay with them I left a bottle of Lp…and the instructions above…a couple of weeks later a call from them was along the lines `Where can I get a 44 gal drum of this stuff?'…his quality of life has improved substantially…although still on oxygen…but can now go out fishing again..

Anecdotal of course…and I'm not a medical doctor…but quite pleasing all the same…now if we could get the manufacturers to add 0.01% Lp to the hand cleaners in hospitals…we'd reduce the effects of superbugs exponentially…and the place would stink pretty…we keep hassling…

Regards,

DA

  

Now, I personally am diagnosed with COPD.  Sometimes I use oxygen, sometimes I use an allopathic inhaler, always I am surrounded by the oils I love.  I use a lot of the conifers, some Frankincense,  Hyssop, Eucalyptus, lots of different oils known to aid in respiration.

It never OCCURRED to me to try Lemon Tea Tree for my COPD!

Dennis asked that I add some version of our "Standard Disclaimer" to his story, above.  That I remind everyone that the statements made in this blog or on the Nature's Gift website (and by Dennis himself! )have not been evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration). Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or health care provider. The information provided by this website, this blog, or this company is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a health care provider, and should not be construed as individual medical advice. The testimonials on this website are from individuals and do not guarantee or imply the same results.

I think I may put some Lemon Tea Tree in our of our Deluxe inhalers and have it available for when my COPD decides it wants to cause me problems.  

More information about Lemon Tea Tree is available on our website.  (And I just realized how extremely out of date that information is! It doesn't even talk about how effective SkeeterBeater is - and THAT is dependant upon Lemon Tea Tree.  


I had mentioned earlier that Dennis sold Toona, the plantation that produced our first few years supply of Lemon Myrtle and Lemon Tea Tree.  Today he is a consultant to those growing and distilling in Australia.  If you have need of his consulting services, you may reach him at  "Dennis Archer"  ie  ToonaATtpg.com.au (address altered to deter at least some of the spammers!) 
I am SO grateful to those who share their knowledge so willingly!