Cajeput Oil: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

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).

Cajeput oil contains a chemical called cineole. When applied to the skin, cineole can irritate the skin, which relieves pain beneath the skin.

How does it work ?

Cajeput oil contains a chemical called cineole. When applied to the skin, cineole can irritate the skin, which relieves pain beneath the skin.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

Cancer.
Common cold.
Fungal skin infections.
Headache.
Joint pain.
Toothache.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cajeput oil for these uses.

Side Effects

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.

Special Precautions and 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.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with Cajeput Oil
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) interacts with Cajeput Oil
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.

Dosing

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.

View References

REFERENCES:

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.

Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

Osol and Farar. The Dispensatory of the United States of America. 25th ed. JB Lippincott Co., 1955.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182

El Toumy, S. A., Marzouk, M. S., Moharram, F. A., and Aboutabl, E. A. Flavonoids of Melaleuca quinquenervia. Pharmazie 2001;56(1):94-95.

Muller, J. F., Hawker, D. W., McLachlan, M. S., and Connell, D. W. PAHs, PCDD/Fs, PCBs and HCB in leaves from Brisbane, Australia. Chemosphere 2001;43(4-7):507-515.

Lee, T. H., Wang, G. J., Lee, C. K., Kuo, Y. H., and Chou, C. H. Inhibitory effects of glycosides from the leaves of Melaleuca quinquenervia on vascular contraction of rats. Planta Med 2002;68(6):492-496.

Stablein, J. J., Bucholtz, G. A., and Lockey, R. F. Melaleuca tree and respiratory disease. Ann.Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002;89(5):523-530.

Quimby, P. C., Jr., DeLoach, C. J., Wineriter, S. A., Goolsby, J. A., Sobhian, R., Boyette, C. D., and Abbas, H. K. Biological control of weeds: research by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: selected case studies. Pest.Manag.Sci 2003;59(6-7):671-680.

Moharram, F. A., Marzouk, M. S., El Toumy, S. A., Ahmed, A. A., and Aboutabl, E. A. Polyphenols of Melaleuca quinquenervia leaves--pharmacological studies of grandinin. Phytother Res 2003;17(7):767-773.

Jedlickova, Z., Mottl, O., and Sery, V. Antibacterial properties of the Vietnamese cajeput oil and ocimum oil in combination with antibacterial agents. J Hyg Epidemiol.Microbiol.Immunol 1992;36(3):303-309.

Subehan, Usia, T., Iwata, H., Kadota, S., and Tezuka, Y. Mechanism-based inhibition of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 by Indonesian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 5-24-2006;105(3):449-455.

Amer, A. and Mehlhorn, H. Repellency effect of forty-one essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes. Parasitol.Res 2006;99(4):478-490.

Stanaland, B. E., Gennaro, R. N., Bausher, M. G., Klotz, S. D., White, R. S., and Sweeney, M. J. Allergenic cross-reactivity between Callistemon citrinis and Melaleuca quinquenervia pollens. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1988;86(1):35-41.

Stanaland, B. E., Gennaro, R. N., Klotz, S. D., Sweeney, M. J., and White, R. S. Isolation and characterization of cross-reactive allergenic components in Callistemon citrinis and Melaleuca quinquenervia pollen by trans-blot enzyme-linked crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1986;80(3):278-284.

Sweeney, M., Hosseiny, S., Hunter, S., Klotz, S. D., Gennaro, R. N., and White, R. S. Immunodetection and comparison of melaleuca, bottlebrush, and bahia pollens. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994;105(3):289-296.

Lee, C. K. A New Norlupene from the Leaves of Melaleuca leucadendron. J Nat Prod. 3-27-1998;61(3):375-376.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.