Take Some Oregano and Call Me in the Morning

For the Greeks, it means “joy of the mountain,” and the herb has long been a favorite in cultures along the Mediterranean. While its potent smell and taste lingers long after a meal, oregano may be the key to living a longer life. Research suggests that oil of oregano, an extract made from one of two plants, the origanum vulgare, or the thymus capitatus variety from Spain, and can be used as an antibiotic to prevent many illnesses in humans.

If you pluck a bottle of dried oregano off of a supermarket shelf it will probably carry little to no healing properties because it isn’t derived from one of the two healing wild oregano plants. Oil of oregano is derived from the wild oregano plant—a member of the mint family—that grows naturally in the less-pollution-filled mountains of the Mediterranean region and is usually bottled mixed with olive or coconut oil because of its potency. Oil of oregano has been shown to kill parasites and viruses, bacteria, and some types of fungus, as well as being an antihistamine. Oil of oregano has been used for centuries to treat infections and it might be a savior for sufferers of colitis, an inflammation in the gastrointestinal system.

The lead ingredient in oregano oil is carvacrol, a strong antimicrobial used to preserve food and protect against mold and other common bacteria, making it the largest healing agent of the oil. Thymol is the second most active ingredient important as a fungicide and is the leading bad-breath killing agent in the popular mouthwash Listerine, capable of preventing tissue deterioration and promoting growth. The rest of the ingredients provide more antibacterial support, prevent the damage caused by free radicals, act as allergen-blockers, and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Oil of oregano also contains calcium, zinc, boron, vitamins A, C, and E, potassium and iron among others. No wonder it has been able to generate new liver cell growth in rodents.

Published in Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, researchers used oil of oregano to produce positive results against colitis. Rats were induced with colitis and then given oil of oregano and compared against a control group. The oil group showed less colitis ulcers, abscesses, and edema.  A few other, smaller studies have proved oil of oregano to positively decrease inflammation from colitis, mortality rate among the rodents, and tissue damage as well as helping to regenerate the livers of rats.

Besides being used as a research tool for a possible cancer-prevention medicine down the line, oil of oregano could be a household cure-all for a variety of ailments. Dr. Cass Ingram wrote a book called The Cure is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health about his life-saving encounter with oil of oregano. The super oil, he claims, is helpful in calming or healing over 170 different bodily conditions. Anything from athlete’s foot to worms, diarrhea to diaper rash, a bee sting to being short of breath, oil of oregano can help.

Before you go online or to your local herb store, make sure you do your research. Make sure the oil of oregano is from one of the two wild varieties mentioned above, and that the carvacrol content is at least 70 percent. Oil of oregano is sold in liquid form or as a capsule/tablet. The 1oz “super strength” bottle of the popular brand name Oregonol that boasts 70 to 75 percent of the needed carvacrol mixed with olive oil is sold online for 69 dollars (regular strength .45oz sells for 29 dollars and a bottle of 60 gel caps with 6 drops inside each also sells for 29 dollars).

It is important to note that oil of oregano is not recommended for anyone allergic to oregano, thyme, basil, mint, sage, or anyone who might be sensitive to its smell or taste because the same family of plants could yield the same negative results like a rash or vomiting. Oil of oregano can also reduce iron intake within the body and it is advised to also take iron supplements along with a dosage but because of this fact, pregnant women are not to take oil of oregano on a regular basis.
   
Although this nature oil sounds heavenly, its price tag can bring you back down to earth, so if you choose this alternative method, choose carefully and always read the instructions and consult your doctor if a complication arises or if you have questions.