The miracle of oregano oil and its uses

The miracle of oregano oil and its uses

Oregano oil is an oil made from the plant Origanum vulgare: also called as the oregano plant. The oregano plant is best known for its use in Italian dishes. The dried and crushed leaves of oregano is used as an herb to flavor many dishes.

This flavorful herb plant also gives us other opportunities to reap its benefits. Oregano oil is an oil which is scientifically proven to fight bacteria, viruses, fungus, and microbes. While oregano oil is also believed to have properties that can help with inflammation, diabetes, and to suppress cancer agents.

Oregano oil is made from the leaves and the shoot of the plant. The parts of the plant is completely dried. Then, when the leaves and shoot are dry, oil is extracted from them. The oil is purified by the use of stream distillation method.

Steam distillation is used to separate two components that are mixed and form a heterogeneous mixture. Stream distillation method is useful for the purification of essential oils.

Oregano oil is a mixture of three beneficial components. These components are

·         Carvacrol

·         Thymol

·         Rosmarinic acid

Each of these are beneficial for different purposes and work all together to fight many diseases.

Carvacrol is a type of carbolic acid which is present in oregano. Carvacrol helps in stopping the growth of many types of bacteria.

Thymol is known for its natural ability to curb fungus and also strengthen immune system while protecting it from harmful toxins.

Rosmarinic acid is a natural antioxidant that helps to reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Molecules that have uneven number of electrons and carry oxygen in blood are called free radicals.

Free radicals are very bad for health. The molecules can cause long chain reactions in the body, known as oxidation. Sometimes the molecules can cause a lot of health issues. The issues can be related to heart problems, inflammation, cancer, and cataract. Oregano oil when taken correctly can help to reduce the risk of such diseases.

Oregano oil is used differently for different purposes. The three ways to use oregano oil is to take it orally, inhale with steam, and used topically. Oregano oil and oregano essential oil are made of different components. Any essential oil is not meant to be taken orally while oils can be consumed to get their benefits.

Oregano oil when taken orally, mixed with water, coconut oil, or in any form can help to improve digestion and prevent intestinal diseases. It is important to talk to a professional practitioner before incorporating any new habits for medicinal benefits.

Is oregano oil antiviral or antibacterial?

The herb related to the mint family is not only antiviral but also antibacterial. Oregano is rich with carvacrol and carvacrol has the ability to fight both viruses and bacteria. Oregano oil can be used orally to fight viruses while topologically to fight skin infections and other problems caused by bacteria.

How Does Oregano Oil Kill Bacteria?

Oregano oil when used topologically can kill bacteria in up to 24 hours after use. In a study research, Aeruginosa IQ0042 cells and AF0005 cells were exposed to oregano oil for an hour, the result of it was that the cell membrane and the cell wall was damaged and caused leak in intercellular substances and finally the cell wall separating. This shows oregano’s ability to kill bacteria and break it down. Although it came into researchers knowledge that some bacteria and microbes have developed a resistance to oregano oil treatment.

Oregano oil used with a carrier oil can be effective to treats acne, toothaches, warts, dandruff, etc. Oregano oil is also effective in treating flu and cold. Oregano oil can be used to treat respiratory problems by inhaling oregano oil with steam. Or, you can use oregano to make tea and consume it. Don’t take more than four cups of oregano tea in a day as it might cause upset stomach.

Oregano Essential Oil Rather Than Pharmaceutical Antibiotics

In many studies, oregano oil has been proven to be effective to fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

In a study conducted on 18 mice, the mice were infected with staph and then when treated with oregano oil, the oregano oil was very effective in eliminating staph bacteria. Hence, we can say oregano oil has major antibacterial properties.

While in a test-tube study, the oil was directly compared to pharmaceuticals antibiotics such as streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin, and oregano oil performed just as well as the commercial antibiotics.

Some people was make their own homemade oregano oil. To make it oregano leaves and a carrier oil like coconut oil is heated on a double boiler to seep the leaves. The oil then is left for few days before using. The benefits of oregano is mentioned by Hobdari family health as well. They mention that a little bit of oregano oil can go a long way to treat diarrhea and there is no need for medicine. Let the nature do the healing.

Health benefits of oregano oil

Oregano is a miracle herb which not only is flavorful but also has many striking health benefits. As oregano is a combination of Carvacrol, Thymol, and Rosmarinic acid; this makes oregano a huge source of terpenes, phenols, and terpenoids from its natural components.

1.    Antibiotic properties

Oregano oil is one of the best natural antibiotics. The content of carvacrol in oregano acts as a natural antibiotic. Research has shown that oregano is as effective as commercial antibiotics. The herb can be give many health benefits to humans but research hasn’t been particularly conducted on humans. The usage of such health supplements should be very careful.

2.    Helps in control cholesterol

The presence of phenol, thymol, and carvacrol is proved to be effective to control cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. In a study that included 48 people who had high cholesterols, were given oregano oil in their diet to understand its effects on cholesterol. At the end of the study people showed reduced levels of cholesterols after three months.

3.    Rich in antioxidants

Oregano oil has the highest level of oxidants when compared with more herbs for its antioxidant quantities. Oregano has more per gram antioxidants than apples and exceed many herbs. The antioxidants present in oregano can help fight free radicals which cause chronic diseases.

Very small quantity of oregano oil can be useful to reap its benefits.

4.    Helps in treating yeast infections

Oregano can be helpful in getting rid of yeast infections. Yeast is a type of fungus and oregano oil has antifungal properties. In a test conducted, oregano oil was found to be the most effective towards a yeast infection out of all the essential oils.

5.    Relieves pain

Oregano oil was proven to relieve pain in mice. In the study, when mice were given oregano oil, they felt less pain. It concludes that oregano has pain relief properties but the study hasn’t been conducted on humans.

6.    Anti-inflammatory properties

Study has shown that oregano oil can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. In the study conducted on mice, swelling on ear and paws was reduced when contacted with oregano oil.

7.    Improves gut health

Oregano can help in treating gut infections and diarrhea and other symptoms. In a research conducted on humans, oregano oil doses proved to be effective in reducing the harmful bacteria and increase good gut bacteria. The people infected felt a relief from the gut symptoms.

8.    Can help in fighting cancer cells

Carvacrol is not only antibacterial but only it has shown good results in many studies in its ability to fight cancer cells. Oregano oil can be effective to fight lung, breast, and liver cancer cells. Carvacrol has been proven to be effective to stop cell growth but the research has not been conducted on humans.

The use of oregano oil demands more research in terms of fighting cancer cells.

9.    Helps in losing weight

Carvacrol is a component that can help in reversing the formation of fat cells and help in not gaining weight. Oregano oil is filled with carvacrol and taking this supplement on a regular basis in small doses can help in reducing weight and maintaining the weight.

Please use this herb with caution as the oil is highly concentrated and should be taken in very small amounts.

Side Effects of Oregano Oil

Oregano oil is very different from its leaves we use for cooking. Oregano oil is very concentrated in nature. Using the right doses of oregano is generally safe but some people can suffer from some side effects.

The side effects can be the caused because of over usage or inappropriate usage.

Using too much of oregano oil can cause side effects because of its highly concentrated components.

Oregano oil can be used orally to get its health benefits but in some people it can cause

·         Vomiting

·         Upset stomach

·         Central hyperactivity

·         Sickness

Thymol in large amounts can cause irritation reactions in the body affecting organs and skin. It is also advisable that you do not consume oregano oil if you are allergic to mint, lavender, sage, and basil. As oregano belongs to the plant family.

You should always consider talking to your doctor before and also be aware of any precautions of any medical supplement.

When used topologically, oregano oil should be mixed with a carrier oil. Use of oregano oil can cause the skin to form rashes. Please read all instructions carefully on the package before using oregano oil.

Oregano oil is not recommendable to children and women who are pregnant. As oregano oil is rich in many components and there is an absence of oregano oil related research which makes it not ideal to be used for children and/or pregnant women.

Frequently asked questions

What bacteria does oregano oil kill?

Study shows that oregano oil helps in removing bad bacteria overgrowth. Oregano oil is rich in carvacrol which is very effective to fight bad bacteria like staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcus epidermidis. These bacteria cause bacterial infections and Oregano oil helps in eliminating many infection-causing bacteria.  

Can oregano oil kill fungus?

Oregano essential oil helps in killing fungus. The herb essential oil can help in treating skin infections caused by fungus. Oregano oil is rich in the component thymol that possesses anti-fungal properties. Oregano oil can also be helpful in treating infections like ringworms and athlete’s foot.

Is oregano good for bacterial infections?

As oregano oil is a natural antibiotic and being rich in Thymol, Carvacrol, and Rosmarinic acid makes it a great remedy to treat bacterial infections. Using oregano oil is also effective for treating wounds and killing MRSAs.

Is oil of oregano the same as oregano essential oil?

Oregano oil and oregano oil are different. Both are products made from oregano plant, oregano oil is the oil extracted from oregano leaf while oregano essential oil is also extracted from oregano leaf but is much more concentrated in form.

Oregano oil can be used orally but oregano essential oil cannot be used orally. Oregano essential oil is to be used topologically, inhaled, and used as an aroma.

Does oregano oil kill streptococcus?

Yes, Test tube studies has shown that components of garlic oil and oregano oil are the best alternate treatment for streptococcus. These are the natural treatments for various health benefits and antibacterial properties. 

Does Oregano p73 kill good bacteria?

No. Oregano p73 refers to the oregano that has 73 per cent polyphenol. Oregano p73 is an amazing rick source of vitamins and minerals. Oregano p73 has antiviral properties, antifungal properties, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Oregano oil p73 does not kill good bacteria and helps in removing bacteria overgrowth.

References

https://www.newswise.com/articles/oregano-oil-kills-drug-resistant-bacteria

https://www.healthline.com/health/oregano-oil-side-effects#dosage-andguidelines

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-steam-distillation-605690

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-oregano-oil-benefits-and-uses#What-is-oregano-oil?

https://www.verywellhealth.com/oregano-oil-health-benefits-89490