Oregano oil is a natural medicine made from the oregano plant (Origanum vulgare), a staple kitchen herb used to spice up pasta and tomato dishes. Both the oil and the leaves are reported to exhibit therapeutic effects due to the plant’s natural antioxidant properties.

Medicinal benefits of oregano oil

Experts speculate that the therapeutic effects of oregano oil can be traced back to just three compounds: carvacrol, thymol and rosmarinic acid. All three compounds function as antioxidants. Carvacrol, in particular, has strong antibacterial properties, while thymol doubles as a natural antifungal agent.

Together, these three compounds work to provide the following medicinal benefits:

1. Fights pathogenic bacteria – Carvacrol is the most abundant compound found in oregano oil, making it a potent natural medicine for certain bacterial infections. For instance, studies found that oregano oil helps in eliminating the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium responsible for staph infections.
2. Treats chronic bacterial issues – Studies also suggest that oregano oil can be used to treat chronic bacterial issues like small intesine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a serious condition wherein the small intestine is flooded with bacteria.
3. Treats fungal infections – The thymol in oregano oil makes it a potent natural medicine for fungal infections, such as oral thrush, candidiasis and athelete’s foot.
4. Protects against DNA damage – Oregano oil’s strong antioxidant properties protect DNA from damage that can trigger carcinogens and dormant cancer cells to proliferate.
5. Eases inflammation – Some animal studies found that carvacrol helped reduce chronic inflammation in obese mice.
6. Stimulates faster healing – Using oregano oil as a topical medicine isn’t just for treating fungal or bacterial infections. It can also be used to facilitate faster healing and to protect cuts, scrapes and open wounds from potential infection.
7. Repels insects – Oregano oil also shows promise as a natural insect repellent. The compounds carvacrol and thymol have been shown to repel ticks and mosquitos in studies that used human participants.
8. Relieves pain – A 2013 investigation into the potential analgesic effects of oregano extract found that it helped relieve pain and reduce inflammation in mice.
9. Supports weight loss – Some studies suggest that carvacrol inhibits the creation and accumulation of fat tissue that contributed to weight gain. As such, oregano oil might be beneficial for people on weight loss diets or programs.
10. Fights cancer cells – A 2017 review published in the journal Molecules found that oregano essential oils possess compounds that inhibit the proliferation of breast and prostate cancer cells.

How to use oregano oil

In traditional medicine, the two main methods of using oregano oil are through steam inhalation and topical application.

When used with steam and inhaled, oregano oil can help ease nasal congestion and clear the lungs. This is the best method to use for ailments that affect the nose and mouth, such as sore throat, colds and chills.

Diluting and using the oil as a topical medication, on the other hand, is best done for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections like acne, canker sores and athlete’s foot. Oregano oil has also been reported to be potent against psoriasis, a chronic skin condition.

Oregano oil is also available in capsule form for people who cannot stand the taste of the oil itself. Although more expensive than the oil, capsules are the most potent in treating indigestion and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Oregano oil is a potent natural medicine that can ease all sorts of ailments, from bacterial infections to cancers. Be careful not to use oregano essential oil as it is not safe to consume due to its concentration.

Read more articles about oregano oil and other potent plant-based medicines at PlantMedicine.news.

Sources:

MedicalNewsToday.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2