Oil of Oregano Benefits

Oil of oregano is now getting the rightful attention it deserves. This is great news for many people because oil of oregano truly has many benefits the we can take advantage of.

The Source of Oregano Oil
This beneficial oil is derived from Origanum vulgare, which is a wild oregano plant that is native to the highlands of Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Turkey and Greece. This plant is completely different from common oregano, Origanum marjoram, which we use as a food spice. Parts of this wild plant were used by the ancient Greeks for treating common illnesses such as fever, colds, coughs and indigestion. There are herbalists who believe that the right combination of soil minerals and the mountain climate in this part of the world are responsible for the presence of potent substances in the plant - thus its ability to heal many diseases.

Key Components of Oil of Oregano
This essential oil is composed of many potent chemical substances that makes it effective for healing. These components include:

• Volatile oils – the main substances being carvacrol and thymol. Included in this group are caryophyllene, beta-bisabolene, borneol and linalool. These substances act synergistically in killing pathogens.
• Essential oils
• Flavonoids
• Tannins
• Sterols
• Resin

How Oregano Oil is Made
Compared to ancient Mediterranean processes, the production of oil of oregano is very modern these days. The most effective oil of oregano is produced using cold processing. Minimum or no heat is used in extracting the oil from the crushed leaves of the plant to ensure that there will be no degradation of the potency of the substances it contains. The oil undergoes distillation to ensure the elements contained inside the oil are fully concentrated. The resultant oil is then bottled for storage, marketing and distribution. 

The Best Oil of Oregano
To ensure that you are using the best oil, look at the bottle’s label. If it says that it comes from wild oregano plants grown in Turkey, Greece or Portugal, then the oil is probably good. But beware that there are also companies who put these labels on their bottles even if the oil is not sourced from these countries. Therefore you should only buy your oil from reputable companies.

A List of Oil of Oregano Benefits
There have already been many tests and experiments conducted on this oil which show its beneficial effects on health. Following is a list of the benefits we can derive from this wonderful substance.

• It can help us fight bacterial attacks – this was proven by a study conducted at the China Agricultural University, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering in September 2008. The scientists tested this oil against Escherichia coli and they found that it was effective in inhibiting its growth by depolarizing its cytoplasmic membrane. You can use this oil whenever you are suffering from diarrhea and other attacks of bacteria on your skin and other parts of your body.
• It can help us fight fungal attacks – oil of oregano has been successfully used for treating nail fungus and other type of fungal infection in the body. An experiment showed that this oil is effective against 24 fluconazole-resistant and 12 fluconazole-susceptible clinical isolates of Candida albicans.
• It can help us fight viral attacks – studies were also conducted on the substances contained in oregano oil against the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and found that it can inhibit the virus by more than 80%.
• It can kill and eliminate parasites inside your body – the powerful effect of oil of oregano against parasites were tested in 14 adults who tested positive for enteric parasites such as Entamoeba hartmanni, Endolimax nana and Blastocystis hominis. They were given 600 mg of the essential oil for 6 weeks. After the test period, 8 of the 14 patients were free of the parasites, and a further three patients showed a decline in the number of parasites. Seven patients also showed an improvement in their gastrointestinal condition.
• It can strengthen the immune system – if your immunity to disease is strong, then you can fight any kind of pathogenic attack. An experiment conducted on laboratory animals treated with oregano oil showed improvements in their daily weight gain and food conversion rates and their mortality rates went down. Whereas the mortality rates were high in animals that were not treated with the oil.
• It can control and manage inflammation – the carvacrol content of oregano oil has been tested and proven to be effective in controlling inflammation and is now being considered as an alternative treatment for many types of inflammation, including those related to arthritis. When the oil is applied to the affected joints, it can penetrate deep down and control the pain associated with it.
• It is can be used as an anti-cancer agent – a test in Turkey showed that with the introduction of carvacrol in oil of oregano in lung cancer cell line A549, they found a degeneration of cell morphology, a decrease in cell number and a decrease in total protein amount. Cell line A549 is approximately 75% of all lung cancers. This therefore shows the anti-cancer properties of this essential oil.
• It can be used as an anti-oxidant – researchers using HPLC or High Performance Liquid Chromatography concluded that Origanum vulgare – the source of oregano oil has a very high anti-radical activity.

Considerations When Using Oil of Oregano
Even with all these numerous benefits of oregano oil, it is always safest to use it in the right amounts. In this regard, there are certain things we need to consider when using this essential oil. Some of the things we need to think about are the following:

• Before using oregano oil, especially internally, always dilute it. It is rather strong and diluting it will soften its effects. Virgin olive oil is typically used as the carrier oil for this purpose.
• Pregnant women should avoid this oil because it can affect their iron absorption, which is very vital at this stage.
• Those with sensitive skin should be careful when applying oregano oil topically. Always dilute the concentrated oil with virgin olive oil so that it will have a milder effect on the skin. People who are allergic to basil, thyme, hyssop, sage or mint should also be careful since they are of the same herb family.