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Tea tree is used medicinally as an antimicrobial, and when diluted, can be effective against a range of vaginal pathogens. The most effective type of oil comes from Australian and New Zealand tea tree plants (Melaleuca alternifolia).
Most of what we know comes from laboratory (in-vitro) studies, which show tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal activity.1 There are very few clinical trials of tea tree oil used in the vagina, so treat it as a promising but unproven option rather than a guaranteed treatment.
We no longer use tea tree oil in our own treatments — we did in the past, but have since moved to ingredients we find more consistently reliable. It remains a well-studied antimicrobial, and if you do use it, it must be heavily diluted in a weak essential-oil pessary and never applied straight.
Lactobacilli are somewhat resistant to tea tree oil, with pathogens susceptible at lower concentrations. This means tea tree oil can be used with positive effect for killing pathogens in the vagina, while sparing lactobacilli to a certain degree.2
In the laboratory, tea tree oil (M. alternifolia) kills the following vulvovaginal and urinary-tract bacteria:3,4
- Acinetobacter baumannii
- Actinomyces viscosus
- Actinomyces spp.
- Bacillus subtilis
- Bacteroides spp.
- Corynebacterium sp.
- Enterococci (10 minutes to an hour)
- Enterococcus faecalis (10 minutes to an hour)
- Enterococcus faecium (10 minutes to an hour)
- Escherichia coli
- Fusobacterium nucleatum
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Klebsiella pneumoniae (30 minutes)
- Lactobacillus spp.
- Micrococcus luteus
- Mobiluncus spp.
- Peptostreptococcus anaerobius
- Porphyromonas gingivalis
- Prevotella spp.
- Prevotella intermedia
- Propionibacterium acnes
- Proteus vulgaris
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (depends on oil used, can be effective from 1 to 1.5 hours)
- Serratia marcescens
- Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Strep)
- Staphylococcus aureus (takes about 30 minutes)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (takes 1.5 to 6 hours)
In the laboratory, tea tree oil (M. alternifolia) kills the following vulvovaginal and urinary-tract yeasts and fungi:
- Aspergillus flavus
- Aspergillus fumigatus
- Aspergillus niger
- Candida albicans
- Candida glabrata
- Candida parapsilosis
- Candida tropicalis
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Using tea tree oil safely
Tea tree oil is a potent essential oil and a common cause of allergic skin reactions. Never apply it undiluted to the vulva or vagina — it must be well diluted in a carrier such as a plain oil, and even then it can sting or irritate delicate tissue. Patch-test on your inner arm first, stop immediately if it burns or stings, and avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your practitioner advises otherwise. Never swallow tea tree oil — it is toxic if taken by mouth.1
Frequently asked questions
Does tea tree oil work for vaginal infections?
In the lab, diluted tea tree oil kills a wide range of vaginal bacteria and yeasts, and tends to spare lactobacilli somewhat. But there are very few clinical trials of vaginal use, so it is best seen as a promising, supportive option rather than a proven treatment.2
Is it safe to put tea tree oil in the vagina?
Only well diluted, and with caution. Undiluted tea tree oil can burn and irritate, and it is a common allergen, so patch-test first and stop if it stings. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding without advice, and never swallow it.1
This article is general information and not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Tea tree oil must be properly diluted and can irritate; if an infection is not settling, please see an experienced practitioner.
- Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2006;19(1):50–62.
- Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. In vitro susceptibilities of lactobacilli and organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 1999;43(1):196.
- May J, Chan CH, King A, Williams L, French GL. Time–kill studies of tea tree oils on clinical isolates. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2000;45(5):639–643.
- Singh BR, Vadhana P, Bhardwaj M, et al. Comparative antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) and common topical antimicrobials against bacteria associated with wound and topical infections. Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta. 2016;7(9):513.
