Oregano, is one of the most common herbal plants that produces essential oils. Here in Wisconsin area, Oregano is fairly common and thrives easily. The plant originated from Europe; however, it grows almost everywhere around the world, and in general, Oregano is a herbal plant that is a close relative of the mint which falls under the same plant family.
It’s been used for centuries as a go-to home remedy for common cough and colds, this is because it’s highly effective in addressing the symptoms and provides a soothing effect once taking orally. It’s also used for treating indigestion and stomach upsets.
While some may question the health benefits of herbal plants such as the oregano, it’s important to know that the active ingredients and compounds of most plants used to produce essential oils are highly potent healers and have been studied for years by science.
Oregano in oil form is rich in carvacrol, β‐fenchyl alcohol, thymol, and γ‐terpinene. Carvanol has been shown to stop the growth of several different types of bacteria. Thymol is antifungal agent which also has various antioxidant properties.
Oregano also contains Rosmarinic acid that reduces the adverse effects of free radicals by acting as a very potent antioxidant. Because of the compounds present in the oil, it’s commonly referred too as natures antibiotics.
Once extracted and in oil form, Oregano has very high antioxidant characteristics which is the primary reason of its effectiveness in addressing cough and colds. It takes vast amounts of Oregano plant to produce the oil, therefore, it should be noted that the active ingredients are known to be more potent.
However, in it’s raw form, Oregano is effective in inhibiting the growth of several pathogenic bacteria.
Oregano oil can also be used in treating fungal infections. The same compounds present that have effects on harmful bacteria can also be successfully used for fungal infections like candidiasis. It can also be used to treat intestinal parasites, as the compounds mentioned above are also proven to have potent anti-helminthic properties.
Topically, it can be applied to the skin as an antibiotic for wounds or insect bites, which will reduce the possibility of infections. It’s also been shown to have an effect on treating skin warts.
Since it’s a herbal supplement its normally considered generally safe to use. However, there may be some contraindications for pregnant women, or other. So always check with your healthcare provider before starting any form of new supplementation.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Oregano Essential Oil and Its Fractions Obtained by Vacuum Distillation – Rostro-Alanis et al. Received: 2 April 2019; Accepted: 30 April 2019; Published: 17 May 2019