Tea Tree Oil for Skin Cancer

Researchers in Australia, where skin cancer is a huge problem, have shown that tea tree oil can prevent dermal tumors from growing and cause them to shrink and disappear, at least in mice. These findings, from the University of Western Australia, emerged from a three-year study, and are relevant to non-melanoma skin cancers and precancerous growths. The only problem the researchers observed was mild skin irritation, a side effect that disappeared within a few days after treatment ended. The team reported that within 24 hours after applying the tea tree oil the tumors started to shrink, and that within three days the growths could no longer be detected. The investigators are now hoping to launch a human clinical trial with about 50 people who have precancerous growths to determine if the tea tree oil can help prevent skin cancer from developing. The study was published online on February 21, 2010 in the journal Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology.

Learn how (and how often) to examine yourself for potential skin cancer.

Comments

[Nutrition, Medicine and Disease]

I also read that topical green tea extracts are useful.