PhytoScience - Article
Oil of Oregano
Oregano is an aromatic herb that grows in the Mediterranean region, and is cultivated in many areas of the world. It is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family, a plant family recognized for square stems and opposing pairs of leaves. The ancient Greek’s original name for this plant, “oreganos”, translated to “Delight of the Mountains”. It earns this name because the fragrance that is exuded, which has been described as complex, warm and spicy. The Greeks believed that if their cows ate oregano, it gave the meat a better flavor.
Today, Oregano is recognized internationally as a culinary spice. It is a popular herb with Americans, especially in the distinctive aroma of Italian style cooking. Aromatic spices have been used through out the world for centuries for both their distinctive flavor and aroma as well as for their medicinal qualities.
Oregano is rich in vitamins and minerals including vitamin A and C, niacin, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron and manganese. In addition, the herb contains many active chemical constituents that provide beneficial support to our bodies, such as thymol and carvacrol these components strongly discourage the growth of microorganisms, as action recognized by traditional herbalists throughout history as well as supported by modern scientific research. Oregano additionally provides antioxidant activities, useful to offset the effects of free radical damage.
There is a lot of confusion about oregano, because there are many plants throughout the world that are called oregano. Marjoram is often referred to as oregano, because it is a close cousin to the “true” oregano, and the genus and species name of marjoram is Origanum marjorana. To add to the confusion, the plant called oregano in Spain, Thymus nummularius, is different than Mexican oregano, Lippia graveolens. It is important to be aware of this because different species have different chemical constituents. The active ingredient, carvacrol, is found in high amounts only in “true” oregano, origanum vulare, the exact species that vitamin supplement manufacture use.
It takes approximately 100 pounds of oregano to produce 1 pound of oregano oil. This highly concentrated form provides you with a quality plant remedy containing all the important volatile oils intact, thus remaining true to maintaining the plant in its holistically balanced state.
Oregano oil is exceptional in its ability to destroy many different kinds of pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms. It has a stronger effect than commercial preparations of phenol, a well-recognized medical antiseptic. Disease causing microorganisms including bacteria, fungus, virus and parasites are involved in illnesses ranging from colds and flues to gingivitis of the gums, athlete’s foot and candida. Oregano oil has been shown in scientific studies to actively inhibit and destroy E. Coli, candida albacans and the bacteria’s that cause strep and staff infection. It has been used for diarrhea, intestinal gas and digestive problems, as well as sore throats and minor breathing difficulties in traditional herbology. Oil of Oregano can act as an immediate first aid for insect bites and minor cuts and scrapes as well as dandruff, diaper rash and other skin disorders.
Unlike pharmaceutical drug antibiotics, Oregano oil does not cause the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Although it is always possible for an individual to have an allergic reaction to any substance, there are no known adverse effects to Oil of oregano.
Proported Uses
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Fungus
- Parasites
- Psoriasis
- Sinusitis
- Cancur sores
- Warts
Mechanism of Action
Wild oregano oil is a very powerful anti-fungal herb. Carvacrol has been identified as the chief constituent behind Oregano Oil's extraordinary properties and is thought to work synergistically with the other components found in Wild Mediterranean Oregano Oil.
These findings have been published in various scientific journals and presented at prestigious scientific functions.Since it is relatively safe with short term use, it is possible to use higher doses of it to treat wide spread fungal infections, like Candidiasis. Oregano is said to work on almost every type of fungi and can even fight fungi that have mutated from antibiotic use.
Oregano also combats most bacterial infections, including staph, strep, and E. coli. Researchers believe its volatile oils oxygen somehow react with the bacteria to create heat and dehydrate the cells. It’s not just those spicy oils; oregano is also loaded with calcium, vitamin C and many other vitamins and minerals plus the antiseptic, chlorophyll.
Adverse Reactions
Reported: Hot peppery taste, Rash, Skin irritation, Pain {when used on mucus membraines}
Interactions
There are currently no reported drug interactions with the use of Oil of Oregano
Product warnings
Rregnant or lactating women should not use oil of oregano, either topically or internally. Use caution; oil of oregano should be diluted before using with children under the age of 12. Extra care is advised when using with infants.
Oil of oregano should always be diluted for topical use. The essential oil is irritaing to the skin. It can be especially irritating to mucous membranes and should be diluted with a carrier oil to 1% or less for this use. Use should be avoided on damaged or sensitive skin or on children younger than 2 years old.
Not all commercial oregano oils are made from high grade wild mountain oregano. Some even contain dangerous levels of thymol, so use due diligence in checking the quality and source of the product. There is no universal agreement among experts that oil of oregano should ever be taken internally. Those who accept its use stress that it be suitably diluted and its source and contents verified.
Internal use should be restricted to a few drops of the pure essential oil per dose, and used short term. Although therapeutic in small, short term doses, these oils can build to toxic levels in the liver, kidneys and the nervous system if taken in excess or long term usage.
Always be sure to use true wild oregano essential oil ( less than 5% thymol) Don’t be tempted by pure thymol oil, which should never be taken internally and should be only used with extreme caution externally.
Oil of oregano like other essential oils tends to be photosensitive. So avoid the sun and tanning beds after applying to prevent skin burn. Skin irritation can result if you apply the oil after sweating. If you have a medical condition consult with a physician before use.
Clinical Summary
Numerous university studies and independent research have shown Oregano Oil to be a potent antimicrobial.
Growing evidence is showing Oregano Oil to be useful as an antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agent rivaling even pharmaceutical antibiotics such as streptomycin, penicillin, vacnomycin, nystatin, and amphotericin in its ability to eliminate microbes.
Remarkably it accomplishes this without promoting the development of drug resistant strains and other problems often attributed to the use of standard antibiotics. In addition to this already impressive list of abilities Oregano Oil is also a powerful parasitic expellant, is valuable as a food preservative, and has been used to decontaminate foods from potentially harmful pathogen's.
References
1. Harry G. Preuss, MD and Vijaya Manohar, MSc. Ph.D and Dr. Cass Ingram, DO, from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007. Phone: 202-687-4294, Fax: 202-687-8788.
2. (Amsden GW 2004; Apfalter P 2003; Austin DJ et al 1999; Baggett HC et al 2004; Barie PS 1998; Bonten MJ et al 2001; Borer A et al 2002; Tasota FJ et al 1998)
3. Acaricidal efficacy of Origanum onites L. essential oil against Rhipicephalus turanicus (Ixodidae).Coskun S, Girisgin O, Kürkcüoglu M, Malyer H, Girisgin AO, Kırımer N, Baser KH.Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Uludag, Görükle, Bursa, 16059, Turkey, scoskun@uludag.edu.tr.
4. Antibacterial effect of oregano essential oil alone and in combination with antibiotics against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Si H, Hu J, Liu Z, Zeng ZL. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
5. The antimicrobial efficacy of plant essential oil combinations and interactions with food ingredients. Gutierrez J, Barry-Ryan C, Bourke P.School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
6. Carvacrol induces heat shock protein 60 and inhibits synthesis of flagellin in Escherichia coli O157:H7. Burt SA, van der Zee R, Koets AP, de Graaff AM, van Knapen F, Gaastra W, Haagsman HP, Veldhuizen EJ. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.a.burt@iras.uu.nl
7. Antifungal activities of selected aromatic plants growing wild in Greece. Soković M, Tzakou O, Pitarokili D, Couladis M. Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Disclaimer:
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any product mentioned is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.