Cajeput oil
Scientific names: Melaleuca leucadendra, Kajuputi leucadendra, Myrtus leucadendra, Melaleuca quinquenervia
Family: Myrtaceae
Alternate names: Aceite de Cajeput, Cajeputi Aetheroleum, Cajeputier, Essence de Caia-Pouti, Essence de Cajeput, Huile de Cajeput, Huile de Cajoupouli, Kajuput, Kayaputi, Melaleuca Leucodendron, Paperbark Tree Oil, Punk Tree
Actions: Antibacterial, Antihistamine effect, Antioxidant activity, H. pylori inhibition activity, Herpes simplex I (HSV-1) inhibition activity, Hypoglycemic, Mosquito repellent, P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and CYP2D6 inhibition activity, Prostaglandin inhibition, Vasorelaxation
Background
Cajeput oil is produced by steam distillation of fresh leaves of the cajeput tree (Melaleuca leucadendra). Cajeput oil is used in food and as a medicine.
People use cajeput oil for colds and congestion, headaches, toothache, skin infections, pain, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse cajeput oil with tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) or niauli oil (Melaleuca viridiflora).
People use cajeput oil for colds and congestion, headaches, toothache, skin infections, pain, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse cajeput oil with tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) or niauli oil (Melaleuca viridiflora).
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Very small amounts of cajeput oil are LIKELY SAFE when added to food as flavoring. There isn't enough reliable information available to know if taking cajeput oil in larger amounts as a medicine is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: Cajeput oil is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when applied to unbroken skin. Applying cajeput oil to the skin may cause allergic reactions in some people.
When inhaled: It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to inhale cajeput oil. It can cause breathing problems.
Children: Do not let children inhale cajeput oil. Cajeput oil is LIKELY UNSAFE when inhaled. It can cause serious breathing problems. Applying cajeput oil to a child's face is also LIKELY UNSAFE. Cajeput oil that is applied to the face can be inhaled and cause breathing problems.
Asthma: Inhaling cajeput oil might cause an asthma attack.
Diabetes: Cajeput oil might decrease blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use cajeput oil as a medicine. The dose of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.
Surgery: Cajeput oil might affect blood sugar levels. This has raised some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using cajeput oil as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When applied to the skin: Cajeput oil is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when applied to unbroken skin. Applying cajeput oil to the skin may cause allergic reactions in some people.
When inhaled: It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to inhale cajeput oil. It can cause breathing problems.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cajeput oil is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: Do not let children inhale cajeput oil. Cajeput oil is LIKELY UNSAFE when inhaled. It can cause serious breathing problems. Applying cajeput oil to a child's face is also LIKELY UNSAFE. Cajeput oil that is applied to the face can be inhaled and cause breathing problems.
Asthma: Inhaling cajeput oil might cause an asthma attack.
Diabetes: Cajeput oil might decrease blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use cajeput oil as a medicine. The dose of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.
Surgery: Cajeput oil might affect blood sugar levels. This has raised some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using cajeput oil as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
- Cancer.
- Common cold.
- Fungal skin infections.
- Headache.
- Joint pain.
- Toothache.
- Other conditions.
Dosing & administration
The appropriate dose of cajeput oil for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for cajeput oil. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cajeput oil might slow down how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking cajeput oil along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking cajeput oil, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Medications that might be affected include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cajeput oil might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are used to lower blood sugar. By lowering blood sugar, cajeput oil might increase the risk of your blood sugar going too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Cajeput oil might lower blood sugar. Using it with other herbs and supplements that lower blood sugar might increase the risk of your blood sugar going too low. Some of these herbs and supplements include bitter melon, ginger, goat's rue, fenugreek, kudzu, willow bark, and others.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Action
Cajeput oil contains a chemical called cineole. When applied to the skin, cineole can irritate the skin, which relieves pain beneath the skin.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 30/04/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 02/12/2014 18:04:37. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
