Health Benefits of
Oil of Oregano

If you're looking for natural healing, you may be interested in the health benefits of Oil of Oregano. Research shows the ingredients in this healthy oil have some pretty remarkable powers:

• It's a broad-spectrum antibiotic

• Fights fungal infections

• Antiparasitic

• Antiviral

• Prevents free radical damage to your cells

• It's a natural antihistamine

• May help lower cholesterol levels

• May inhibit cancer cell growth

Before we look at how you can benefit from Oil of Oregano, let's take a quick look at where this oil comes from and how it's made....

How Oil of Oregano is Made

Oil of Oregano is made from the leaves and flowers of the wild Oregano plant. Its history stretches as far back to the ancient Greeks.

The leaves are picked from the plant and pressed to extract the oil. Authentic Oil of Oregano is made from wild crafted true oregano (Origanum vulgare), an aromatic herb that's native to the Mediterranean region.

Oregano's name is literally translated to mean, "Joy of the Mountains." It comes from two Greek words: oras meaning "mountain" and ganos meaning "joy".

The ancient Greeks knew about the health benefits of Oil of Oregano and used it for treating many infection-related illnesses and diseases.

Health Benefits of Oil of Oregano's Ingredients

Why can this oil be used as a natural remedy for many different uses? The answer lies in the unique combination of ingredients that have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Below is a more detailed look at Oil of Oregano's ingredients and their effects:

Volatile Oils

Oil of Oregano contains two volatile oils called Carvacrol and Thymol. These are the main ingredients responsible for its antimicrobial actions.

1. Carvacrol - this volatile oil was proven in studies to be a powerful antimicrobial and food preservative. Research shows it's effective against bacteria such as :

   • Escherichia coli

   • Salmonella enterica

   • Listeria monocytogenes

   Carvacrol also works as an antifungal. A recent study proved you could use carvacrol to eliminate parasitic infections.

2. Thymol - Thymol has antiseptic properties and is also a natural fungicide. Did you know thymol is one of the active ingredients in Listerine mouthwash? This may explain why Listerine is so effective at killing germs and reducing plaque.

Terpenes

Terpenes are the primary constituents of the essential oils of many plants and flowers. Terpenes have antibacterial properties and they have a strong pine-smelling odor.

The name, terpene, originates from the word 'turpentine'. While turpentine is known as a common solvent for stripping off paint, this ingredient plays a healthier role in Oil of Oregano.

Tea tree oil is another healthy oil that contains a terpene called terpinen 4 OL. Terpinen 4 OL is the active ingredient for using tea tree oil on acne.

Rosmarinic acid

Rosmarinic acid is an antioxidant and antihistamine. It's been shown to prevent free radical cell damage, thereby lowering your risk for atherosclerosis and cancer.

A recent study showed plants rich in rosmarinic acid can be an effective treatment for allergic asthma. Researchers discovered rosmarinic acid reduces fluid buildup and swelling during an allergy attack and it makes an effective natural antihistamine.

I've used Oil of Oregano to treat my hay fever symptoms of itchy eyes and sneezing. I'd place a few drops of Oil of Oregano under my tongue as soon as I started to feel my hay fever coming on. I found the Oil of Oregano reduced my symptoms in about an hour and I didn't experience any drowsiness that I'd sometimes get from my over-the-counter antihistamine.

Naringin

Naringin was shown to inhibit cancer cells from growing and was proven to be an effective antioxidant. This substance is also found in grapefruits, which gives them that bitter taste.

Oil of Oregano may not only help fight germs, it may also help fight oxidation and reduce your risk of cancer.

Grapefruit photo courtesy of Hernan Herrero

Tocopherols

The most well known tocopherol is good ol' vitamin E - a powerful antioxidant.

Other ingredients found in Oil of Oregano include calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, and manganese. You'll also get a dose of vitamins C and A (beta carotene) and niacin.

Oil of Oregano's Ingredients Provide a Wide Range of Uses

This complex mixture of compounds explains why Oil of Oregano can be used for so many different conditions. I found it works great to help relieve my cold and flu symptoms, especially bronchitis. This oil may also be used to treat yeast infections, acne, canker sores and gum disease, foot and nail fungus and more.

For more detailed information on using oregano oil, see my webpage, 15 Uses of Oil of Oregano. You'll find a number of interesting ways to use this oil for better health and wellness.