Oregano Oil: Extraordinary Oregano Oil

Oregano, the fragrant herb commonly used to flavor pasta and meat dishes, is renowned for its versatility in the kitchen. But did you know that it can also be transformed into an herbal oil with a wide range of benefits? Read on to learn more about oregano oil.

This post is on Healthwise

What Is Oregano Oil?

Oregano oil is derived from the leaves and flowers of oregano (Origanum vulgare), a hardy, bushy perennial herb, and a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family. It's native to Europe, although it grows in many areas around the world1 The plant grows up to 90 centimeters (35 inches) high, with dark green leaves that are two to three centimeters long.2

The ancient Greeks and Romans have a profound appreciation for oregano, using it for various medicinal uses. In fact, its name comes from the Greek words "oros" and "ganos," which are words for mountain and joy,– oregano literally means "joy of the mountain." It was revered as a symbol of happiness, and it was an ancient tradition to crown brides and grooms with a laurel of oregano.3

There are over 40 oregano species, but the most therapeutically beneficial is the oil produced from wild oregano or Origanum vulgare that's native to Mediterranean regions.4 Beware, though, as many of the oregano oils sold in grocery stores are not made from this variety, and may have little to no therapeutic value. Opt only for oregano oil made from Origanum vulgare and Thymus capitatus, a variety that grows in Spain.5

To obtain oregano oil, the dried flowers and leaves of the wild oregano plant are harvested when the oil content of the plant is at its highest, and then distilled.6The resulting oil is golden to dark yellow, with a strong spicy odor.7

Uses of Oregano Oil

I highly recommend adding oregano oil to your arsenal of natural healing tools, as it has a wide range of uses. This herbal oil is a powerful antimicrobial that can help fight off infections. Oregano oil also has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

Other ideal uses for oregano oil are:8

• Treating foot or nail fungus. Put a few teaspoons of oregano oil in a basin of water and soak your feet in it. You can also dilute the oil (mix a drop with a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil), and then apply it on your nails or skin.
• Killing parasites and infections. Dilute the oil (mix a drop with a drop of a carrier oil such as coconut oil), and place it under your tongue. Hold it there for a few minutes, and then rinse it out. Repeat this at least four times a day.
• Alleviating sinus infections and colds. Put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of steaming water, and then inhale the steam.

I also encourage using the antiseptic powers of this herbal oil to clean your home. Here's one way how: combine four drops of oregano oil with 10 drops of lemon oil and a quarter-cup of white vinegar, and then add to a bucket of water. Use this mixture to wipe and clean surfaces.9

Composition of Oregano Oil

Oregano oil is high in phenols, which are natural phytochemical compounds with beneficial antioxidant effects. The two most abundant phenols in it are:

• Thymol - a natural fungicide with antiseptic properties. It helps boost your immune system, works as a shield against toxins, and even helps prevent tissue damage and encourages healing.
• Carvacrol – found to be effective against various bacterial infections, such as candida albicans, staphylococcus, E. coli, campylobacter, salmonella, klebsiella, the aspergillus mold, giardia, pseudomonas, and listeria.

Other healthful compounds in oregano oil include:10

• Terpenes – known for their powerful antibacterial properties.
• Rosmarinic acid – an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage and has shown promise in treating allergic asthma and preventing cancer and atherosclerosis. It also works as a natural antihistamine that reduces fluid buildup and swelling caused by allergy attacks.
• Naringin - inhibits the growth of cancer cells and helps boost the antioxidants in oregano oil.
• Beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - this substance inhibits inflammation and is also beneficial for conditions including osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis, as well as metabolic syndrome.11, 12

Nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, manganese, copper, boron, and niacin are also found in oregano oil.

Benefits of Oregano Oil

Oregano oil has wide-reaching health benefits, but is most associated with respiratory and immune system health. It is known for helping prevent and treat infections, such as:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacteria like E. coli, Proteus,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.13
• Respiratory infections brought on by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria strains.14
• Yeast infections, even those that are resistant to the commonly used antifungal drug Diflucan.15
• Parasitic infections caused by the amoeba giardia – it was even found to be more effective than antibiotics like Tinidazol.16
• oregano oil has strong antibacterial properties that can kill this deadly superbug.
  Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection – A team of Indian and British researchers found that oregano oil has strong antibacterial properties that can kill this deadly superbug.17

Oregano oil has also shown promise in preventing food-borne illnesses caused by pathogens like listeria,  salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella dysenteria. Adding it to foods not only helps kill the bacteria, but may also alleviate food poisoning symptoms. An animal study from University of Arizona researchers also found that oregano oil can help kill norovirus,18which causes gastroenteritis.

Oregano oil is also a prized antiseptic essential oil in aromatherapy because its proportion of phenols is said to be the highest of all aromatic plants. Aside from using the steam method to relieve coughs and other respiratory illnesses, you can also use it to:

• Ward off insects. Carvacrol in oregano oil works as a natural insect repellant. Try putting a few drops on outdoor furniture, or apply a diluted mixture on your skin when heading outdoors.
• Relieve bug bites and rashes, including poison ivy rash. Apply oregano oil diluted with olive oil on the affected areas.19
• Help heal cold sores, dandruff, and other skin conditions. Some experts also advocate using a diluted version to treat acne and rosacea.
• Ease sore throat. Simply add a few drops to a glass of water. It can help alleviate toothache as well.
• Relieve muscle and joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sprains, and cramps.20

How to Make Oregano Oil

Extracting oregano oil requires a special distillation process. However, there is a simple way to make your own oregano oil at home. Here's a basic recipe from HomegrownandHealthy.com:21

Ingredients:

• Oregano leaves, chopped orcrushed
• Olive oil, almond oil or grape seed oil
• Sanitized jar with lid

Procedure:

1. Boil some water in a sauce pan. Once it has reached a rolling boil, turn off the heat.
2. Place your oil of choice and chopped oregano leaves in the jar.
3. Put the jar in the hot water and let it sit for about five to 10 minutes. This heats up the oil and helps the oregano release its natural oils.
4. Remove the jar from the water bath and place beside a sunny window for one to two weeks. Shake the jar every few days.
5. Once the two weeks is up, strain the oil from the leaves and place into a sanitized jar. Store the oil in a dark, cool place.

To preserve the oil, add a few more drops of grapefruit seed oil.

How Does Oregano Oil Work?

The compounds in oregano oil work together to provide the antimicrobial effects this oil is so well-known for. Carvacrol is its most important component, and is responsible for many of its health benefits. Carvacrol has powerful antimicrobial properties, and has been shown to help break through the outer cell membranes that help protect bacteria from your immune system.22

Oregano oil can either be applied topically or ingested, depending on the condition you're using it for. However, I advise against using the oil full-strength, as it can irritate your skin. Do not apply it to broken skin and open wounds as well.

Oregano oil is meant for short-term use only, and, if using orally, should be taken in small doses of four to six drops for only seven to 10 days.23

Is Oregano Oil Safe?

Yes it is, as long as it's diluted in water or with a carrier oil (some of my top choices are jojoba, olive, and coconut oils). Clinical herbalist Michelle Lynde says the ideal ratio when diluting this herbal oil is one part oregano oil to three parts carrier oil.24

I recommend doing a spot test as well to check if you have any allergic reactions to oregano oil. Simply apply a diluted drop on your arm and see if any irritation occurs.

Be careful when buying oregano oil because some manufacturers sell adulterated oils and oils made from thyme, Spanish oregano, or cultivated oregano, which DO NOT provide any health benefits.

Side Effects of Oregano Oil

Some people may experience stomach upset when ingesting oregano oil (or even the herb itself). Those who are allergic to plants from the Lamiaceae family (mint, lavender, sage, and basil) should also avoid this oil, as they may also develop an allergic reaction.

Oregano oil is also NOT advisable for infants and children. Pregnant or nursing women are also discouraged from using oregano oil both topically and orally, as it can encourage blood circulation within the uterus, which deteriorates the lining that encompasses the fetus within the womb. Oregano oil also has a potential to induce menstruation, and may be dangerous to your unborn child.25

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Oil of Oregano Has Natural Antibiotic Uses and Health Benefits

Danica Collins

Oil of oregano is a powerful natural antibiotic and has many other health benefits and uses. The oil is pressed from the leaves of the oregano plant (origanum vulgare) – not to be confused with common oregano used as a culinary spice (origanum majorana).

Although oil of oregano has long been prized for its anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, as well as a remedy for stomach aches and coughs, recent studies have shown that its active ingredient, carvacrol, may be an effective treatment against bacterial infections that are resistant to drugs.

When used in low doses, oil of oregano has been favorably compared to the efficacy of antibiotics such as streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin when it comes to fighting Staphylococcus bacteria.

Dr. Harry G. Preuss of Georgetown University presented his study’s findings, which confirm that oil of oregano reduces infection “as effectively as traditional antibiotics.” (Published in Science Daily)

The Journal of Applied Microbiology reported that among 52 plant oils tested, oregano was considered to have “pharmacologic” action against common bugs such as Candida albicans (yeast), E. coli, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The issue of growing resistance to pharmaceutical antibiotics has been troubling to medical practitioners. Various germs have shown resistance to a number of these antibiotics, including vancomycin, which is considered the most potent antibiotic. Resistance does not appear to develop against a naturally-occurring antibiotic such as oil of oregano. Price-wise, vancomycin costs approximately $16.00 per pill compared to approximately $1.00 for therapeutic strength oil of oregano.

Thymol, a chemical also found in oil of oregano, has been shown to be a powerful antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral agent.

Oil of oregano is available in either capsule or liquid form at most health food and natural food stores, as well as online retailers. Many swear by oregano oil’s benefits such as, the ability to stop colds, sore throats or headaches dead in their tracks. Still others use the oil to get rid of nail fungi or athlete’s foot. For best results, follow dosage directions on the package.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/?p=404

Oregano, a Super Herb, Wards Off Prostate Cancer

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

 

Windowsill Herb Wards Off Prostate Cancer

As if you needed a reason to eat that slice of pizza. Or your other favorite Italian dish…

Along with flavor, oregano offers several health benefits. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.¹ Studies indicate that it even helps fight breast cancer.²

Now a new study shows it may benefit men battling prostate cancer.

One out of six men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most don’t die. But they do undergo treatment and surgeries with harsh side effects. But now…

Professor Supriya Bavadekar PhD from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY may have found a new type of treatment in the form of oregano.³ “We’re hoping this translates into a drug with lesser adverse effects in patients,” Dr. Bavadekar said.

Dr. Bavadekar and her team studied the effects of the natural herb using different concentrations. They exposed the prostate cancer cells to oregano in three different time periods – 24 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours.

The results? The oregano killed the cancer cells.

But even better…

The oregano didn’t just kill some of the cells. In 96 hours the drug produced almost 100 percent inhibition.

“We’re thinking this compound could be used by itself or in combination with other agents,” Dr. Bavadekar said. Best of all?

Oregano proves to be nontoxic. Meaning…no harsh side effects.

“Its effects on cancer cells can really elevate the spice to the level of a super-spice, like turmeric,” Dr. Bavadekar said. “If the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may represent a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer.”

But what is causing the cells to die?

It’s called carvacrol… This compound is found in an array of plants and herbs including wild bergamot, thyme and pepperwort. But it’s most abundant in oregano.

Carvacrol induces apoptosis or cell suicide in prostate cells. The higher the concentration, the more cell death.

Researchers from India also tested the effects of carvacrol on cancer cells.⁴ Just as it did in the first study, carvacrol produced cell suicide. At a 500 ml concentration carvacrol induced cervical cancer cell death up to 80 percent. Again, the higher the concentration, the higher the cell death.

Studies on carvacrol as a form of cancer treatment are still in the early stages. Dr. Bavadekar said she is optimistic about what they will uncover in future studies.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start benefiting from the super spice now. Add a little spice to your life. Oregano is safe. It’s natural. And it’s easily available. You can even grow it at home.

Make it a cooking staple. Start by sprinkling a little oregano on your favorite healthy dishes. A dash here, a dash there. Don’t care for the spice in food? You can still benefit.

You can find oregano oil capsules at your local health food store. Or they can easily be bought online. Oregano oil contains a high concentration of carvacrol.

Oregano won’t just add flavor to your dishes. It could add years to your life by helping keep prostate cancer at bay.

References:
¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19075694
¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20096548
¹http://www.liu.edu/Brooklyn/About/News/Press-Releases/2012/April/BK-PR-Apr25-2012.aspx
¹http://www.biolmedonline.com/Articles/MAASCON-1/Vol3_2_307-312.pdf

 

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/09/windowsill-herb-wards-off-prostate-cancer/