Oregano Oil Health Benefits

Oregano oil is widely known as nature’s potent germ-killer. Not only is it highly respected within the natural health community, it is also being widely studied within the scientific community for its vast medical uses.

Research designed to examine oregano oil has encompassed many topics, including pain relief. Oregano oil also has extremely high levels of free-radical-fighting antioxidants, agents that protect the body.
Oregano oil may also provide support against common infectious ailments including the common flu, psoriasis, eczema, Athlete’s foot, yeast infections and bacterial infections.

Research on Oregano Oil

Studies have shown its usefulness against candida albicans, aspergillus mold, staph infections, vaginal infections, pseudomonas and listeria. A study from the US Dept of Agriculture showed that oregano essential oils presented antimicrobial activities against Salmonella and E.coli. Other research holds the same, stating that oregano oil is such a powerful antimicrobial that it can be used to preserve food. Studies from the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee and the University of the Algarve found that similar results for oregano’s antibacterial action on pathogenic germs.
A recent study from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University Medical Center, stated the following in regard to the role of essential oils for infections:

“New, safe antimicrobial agents are needed to prevent and overcome severe bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Based on our previous experience and that of others, we postulated that herbal essential oils, such as those of origanum (oregano oil)…offer such possibilities.” ^[PDF]

In an article published on Science Daily, oil of oregano was found to be effective in killing Staphylococcus bacteria. It was also equally as effective in its germ-killing abilities as common prescription antibiotics.
Another study published in the journal, Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology found that oregano oil could lower the negative effects of induced colitis in rats and opens the door to new ideas about its benefit to the colon and liver.

More Health Benefits of Oregano Oil

• Inflammation resistant
• Can help relieve congestion
• Emmenagogue — Oregano oil can aid irregular menstruation and reducing the negative effects of menopause.
• Anti-allergen — Oregano oils produce a sedating effect on the hyper-sensitivity of allergies.
• Potent anti-oxidant capacity — Through neutralizing free-radicals, oregano oil helps us slow the process of cellular deterioration, thus slowing the process of aging.
• Rosmarinic acid, a component of oil of oregano, is an antihistimine, and a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin E.
• Digestive aid — Stimulates the flow of bile in the digestive organs
• With regular use, oregano oil can help protect us against fungal infections.

Anti-microbial Capacities

• Holds anti-bacterial properties — This essential oil fights common bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, skin infections and even food poisoning. A recent study on the antibacterial qualities of multiple essential oils found that both oregano and thyme oils showed the strongest levels of antibacterial activity.
• Inhibition of the growth of enteric organisms. A 6-weeks study on individuals with organisms found that supplementation with 600 mg of oregano oil daily led to a complete disappearance of the harmful organisms. It may also protect us against a wide variety of infiltration within the body, as well as the physical environment. This includes round worms, tape worms, bed bugs, lice, fleas and mosquitoes.

Oregano oil is also a excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It is high in the vitamins A C, and E complex, as well as zinc, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese and niacin.
I have used oregano oil for many different things over the years and highly recommend you keep some in your natural medicine cabinet. When researching oil of oregano products to buy, be sure to look at the amount of Carvacrol it contains, and also try to buy organic when possible. This is the oil of oregano product that I personally use and recommend for everyone.
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM