Using an unproven remedy for this infection puts you at risk for post-strep disorders that can affect other organs long after the initial thoat symptoms have dissipated (i.e. rheumatic fever causing heart damage, kidney inflammation). Avoiding antibiotics and thus failing to rapidly knock down the infection also places children and others around you at risk of catching the disease.
While adults would be able to use tea tree oil as an oral rinse without much risk of toxicity (allergic reactions are still possible), kids might well swallow some of the oil, which is hazardous to take internally (or even externally, if you slather on too much of it).

It should also be noted that even if the above poster had strep throat (which can't be accurately diagnosed without specific testing), throat symptoms commonly subside within several days on their own, so it's likely the tea tree oil treatment had nothing to do with the apparent resolution of illness (again, the disappearance of throat pain doesn't mean you're off the hook from the infection, as complications affecting other organs can ensue later).

Using tea tree oil for some external conditions (i.e. certain fungal infections) is acceptable. On the other hand, strep throat is not something to fool around with without proper antibiotic therapy.

Tea tree oil really is an extremely useful product in maintaining wellness. Now whether any of us wants to prescribe it for others is another question. However, I have used tea tree essential oil for many years at the first sign of bacterial or viral illness and I can say it works for me. The illness never progresses to the point where I am sick which is of great benefit.

For many years I sold essential oils and had many very satisfied customers.

Cautions with using any essential oils is that more is not better, they are best used in extremely small amounts and diluted appropriately in a carrier oil. Also never take them internally without consulting a qualified aromatherapist. And learn as much as you can about these natural medications, Julia Lawless' books have very good info. My final recommendation is to buy only quality essential oils which are in the minority and not always easy to find.

As I indicated (and an Internet search will bear this out), simple antibiotics that are highly effective against strep throat are inexpensive. You might save a few bucks on tea tree oil, which has no proven efficacy against strep, and risk nasty complications later on. Adults can take that chance, if they want. I'm concerned that someone reading this thread might think it's a good idea to try this remedy on their children, with potentially disastrous results.

I note from orchidguyftl's website that he's in the business of selling tea tree oil and other products. Sellers of supplements are not always the most objective judges of how well their products work.

In response to luckygal, tea tree oil can potentially be a useful treatment for some external infections, but it's far from a cure-all. And it's never a good idea to take it internally. An aromatherapist is not someone to trust on this score.

"Taking tea tree oil by mouth may cause possibly serious side effects such as confusion, loss of muscle control, or coma. Even small amounts of tea tree oil may be harmful if swallowed by young children or household pets. Using tea tree oil orally is not recommended due to these risks.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

"Tea tree oil should not be used orally; there are reports of toxicity after consuming tea tree oil by mouth."

Tea tree oil may cause problems even with external use:

"When applied to the skin, tea tree oil is reported to be mildly irritating and has been associated with the development of allergic contact dermatitis, which may limit its potential as a topical agent for some patients."

Potential toxic or irritating effects aside, the original claim that tea tree oil is effective against strep throat lacks documentation.

There have been numerous scientific studies on tea tree essential oil, you might try googling the subject if you'd like to learn about them.
Here's a quote from one study by researchers at the University of Western Australia: "The primary aim of the group is to investigate and characterise the medicinal properties of tea tree oil, in particular the antimicrobial properties. So far the group has shown that tea tree oil has broad-spectrum in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity."
Here's the link the quote is from: http://www.tto.bcs.uwa.edu.au/

More info here: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/REM00007

I'm convinced that if it were possible for the pharmaceutical industry to patent natural products such as tea tree essential oil we'd hear a very different story. Tea tree would be the "new wonder drug" then.

Regardless of your opinions which are obviously biased against natural products there are many of us who maintain very good health by using such products. My doctor is amazed at how healthy I am at age 66 and how seldom I visit her office (once a year for a check-up). Over the years I've found I'm healthier when I can avoid the allopathic system as much as possible. And I am well acquainted with the system having worked in it for decades.

I know I will be unlikely to convince people such as yourself of the benefits of natural herbal products but if there is only one person out there who can learn the truth I am happy to spend a bit of time writing to you! Hope you stay healthy - it will be more difficult with "your" system but you might be lucky. For myself I'm much healthier and happier using the "medicines" which were given us by our Creator.

One major difference between penicillin and tea tree oil in this circumstance (strep throat) is that penicillin is known to be highly effective against strep. Tea tree oil is not. Therefore we should be intolerant of any significant toxicity associated with using tea tree oil in this fashion (and as mentioned, potential toxicity is only one problem. Developing a severe post-strep complication (i.e. kidney or heart disease) because you didn't treat the initial strep throat properly is another issue).

"Here's a quote from one study by researchers at the University of Western Australia: "The primary aim of the group is to investigate and characterise the medicinal properties of tea tree oil, in particular the antimicrobial properties. So far the group has shown that tea tree oil has broad-spectrum in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity."

I put the term in vitro in bold print for you. It essentially means "in a test tube". Tea tree oil has not been shown to cure strep throat infections.

"I'm convinced that if it were possible for the pharmaceutical industry to patent natural products such as tea tree essential oil we'd hear a very different story."

The pharmaceutical industry has developed, patented and marketed many antibiotics and other drugs that are plant-derived or related to compounds originally identified in nature. There's no plot against tea tree oil, which is not the panacea its backers seem to believe.

"Regardless of your opinions which are obviously biased against natural products"

Sad to see that once again, when their arguments fail some posters turn to personal attacks, such as this unfounded one. I've made positive statements about a number of herbal medicines in this forum, most recently Andrographis (see the current thread).

"For myself I'm much healthier and happier using the "medicines" which were given us by our Creator."

We obviously differ in how we view medicines. I'm satisfied to use the ones that are proven to work, and whose development may or may not have been creator-inspired. As for herbs, they're a stew of complex compounds, many of which seem intended to protect the plant and are thus toxic to animals, including us. Some have benefits for us. None can be regarded as safe and/or effective merely because they're "natural".

I suspect there are many cases of post-strep complications even in those taking penicillin due to incomplete compliance as well as organism resistance. Penicillin is no longer the wonder drug we thot it to be in the 40's. It can no longer be guaranteed to work in every case. I likely wouldn't be here without it but have developed an allergy to it as have many others. So for me tea tree as well as many other EO's work well to maintain my good health.

I'm sure that, given the widespread lack of compliance with Rx consumption it's only a matter of time before there are even more penicillin resistant streptococci. The benefit of tea tree EO not having this organism resistance factor is something science has not yet been able to duplicate.

The pharmaceutical industry has tried to duplicate many natural herbals but their continuing problem is that they have not been able to exactly duplicate mother nature. Without changing the natural formula they cannot patent it so it is of no use to them.

I have never stated here and am well aware that there are no completely safe products, natural or synthetic. I will continue to sensibly use products which have proven themselves to me to be both safe and effective and for me those are natural.

"Prove it isn't so" is not a valid defense of a suggested therapy. "Prove it is so" (i.e. that it works) is the evidence-based standard by which new medicines and therapies are accepted in health care.

"As far as in vitro studies are concerned that's where all research starts. Unfortunately for natural products there are few companies with enough funds (unlike the pharmaceutical coffers) to sponsor human research."

There's plenty of research being done all the time on plant-based and other "natural" treatments. Not all of it is high-quality research (i.e. large double-blind studies published in reputable journals), a fault for which supplement companies with their multibillion dollar profits but extremely limited investment in research must accept a share of blame. Still, much work is being done (check the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (which funds lots of herbal research and the Pub Med scientific journal database for more information).

"I suspect there are many cases of post-strep complications even in those taking penicillin due to incomplete compliance as well as organism resistance. Penicillin is no longer the wonder drug we thot it to be in the 40's."

It's still an excellent drug for strep throat, even though other antibiotics may be even more effective. From a recent article on the subject:

"For 5 decades, penicillin has been the treatment of choice for this infection, and it is currently recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, the World Health Organization, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Amoxicillin is often utilized in young children in place of penicillin V because of taste considerations. Although the problem of increasing antimicrobial resistance among bacteria is one of the most important infectious disease issues of our time, (the organism that causes strep throat) remarkably have never developed resistance to any of the penicillins or cephalosporins or shown any increase in penicillin minimal inhibitory concentrations over at least 5 decades."

So antibiotic resistance is not an issue when it comes to treating strep throat. Effectiveness in quelling the infection and preventing complications is the issue, and the available antibiotics are relatively cheap and work fine.

Evidence is lacking that tea tree oil can do the job effectively and safely.

"I will continue to sensibly use products which have proven themselves to me to be both safe and effective and for me those are natural."

That's a philosophical difference I don't think we can resolve. I'll use products that have been demonstrated to work, regardless of artificial definitions of what is "natural" or "non-natural".

I don't really think I have to prove something which has been the subject of numerous studies over the last century. Tea tree oil was used effectively while penicillin was still only thot to be mold on bread. The real difference in the two treatments is that one can be controlled by the powerful pharmaceutical industry and the herbal product cannot.

Another benefit of tea tree oil is that it is known to increase WBC's which helps boost immune function. I don't think I've ever heard that penicillin does that but I'm sure you will correct me if I'm ignorant of that "fact".

Here is an interesting quote from the link you posted: "Streptococcal pharyngitis is a self-limited illness with resolution within a few days even without therapy." What is your opinion of this?

As to your "interesting quote", I addressed that subject in my first response to the original poster in this thread:

"It should also be noted that even if the above poster had strep throat (which can't be accurately diagnosed without specific testing), throat symptoms commonly subside within several days on their own, so it's likely the tea tree oil treatment had nothing to do with the apparent resolution of illness (again, the disappearance of throat pain doesn't mean you're off the hook from the infection, as complications affecting other organs can ensue later)."

Gargling salt water with a few drops of tea tree oil in it works wonders on strep throat. It will NOT kill you to try it, unless you have a severe allergy to tea tree oil. To find out if you have an allergy to a new substance you can take a q-tip & soak it w/ the substance then swab in inner crook of your elbow. If There is no negative reaction to the substance chances are gargling with it to sooth your throat will not put you in a comma. (please note the extreme sarcasm) I gargle with tea tree oil. I am fine. I use it on my children. We are all very healthy & I do take my children to the Dr. When they need to go. ie: vaccinations.

1. Orchid guy, you say you went to the doctor to get strep diagnosed. But couldn't afford the prescription. Why did you go to the doctor then? I would assume your co-pay would be more than the prescription. When I take my dd to the doctor for strep (1-2x a year) our co-pay is around $15 and the prescription is $6-10. Why didn't you go to a clinic if you couldn't afford it? This just makes no sense. If you had money for gas for your car, you had money for a prescription.

2. Strep is one of those things you just don't want to mess with. I would agree with tmom that topical use of tea tree is effective but would never give my dd tea tree orally to treat strep throat.

3. If Orchid didn't go back to the doctor to make sure the strep was cured by his home remedy there is no way of knowing. And I would think it would make more sense financially to just get the low cost prescription than pay for 2 copays. Plus, tea tree is expensive!!!

4. Strep goes away on its own within a week. But a person is contagious for up to a month afterword. So by not taking antibiotics you not only risk complications for yourself but risk the health of everyone with whom you come in contact with for a month.

I'm all for herbal remedies, but this one takes the cake. Why don't you post this information on your website Orchid?

Whenever I've used tea tree for symptoms of a cold I use one drop in a few drops of a carrier oil and put it ON my throat. That is on my skin on the exterior of my throat. I don't use essential oils internally much. The skin absorbs very well and I have never NOT had this work to stop symptoms quickly. I've sometimes used it twice a day for three days if symptoms persist that long. That would be 6 drops of the 200 drops in that $15. bottle You do the math and you will see it's much cheaper than any over-the-counter cold remedy. AND I don't have to put up with feeling crummy for a week with a cold. Fortunately tea tree is also good for cleaning my house or it would never be used up before the shelf-life expired.