6 Ways Oregano Essential Oil Supports Overall Health & Immunity

In addition to a wide range of medicinal uses, oregano essential oil benefits can be used as a natural antibiotic, but without the potential side effects. However, don’t just go out and buy oregano oil and slather it on your skin willy-nilly. The key is to always dilute to avoid skin irritation and use it properly because it is a potent plant-based medicine!

Oregano’s Plant Profile

There’s no mystery surrounding oregano essential oil’s plant profile. The potent essential oil that we will discuss comes from the same oregano plants (origanum vulgare) that grow in your kitchen herb garden. Or perhaps is sitting, dried and crumbled, in a jar in your herb and spice pantry.

Who knew that the fresh oregano in our favorite recipes was harboring such a potent essential oil?

Like many of our herbal gems, oregano hails from the Mediterranean. As such, its popularity began in Greece and Rome, then spread to Europe and eventually the rest of the Western world. It was used for both culinary purposes and folk medicines.

The essential oil form is distilled from the leaves and flowers of the plant, similar to the parts used for culinary purposes. Oregano (Origanum vulgare and Origanum majorana) is grown in the Mediterranean, and the benefits abound in the compounds that are extracted via distillation. Each pound of oil is a product of over 1,000 pounds of wild oregano, forming a potent and valuable medicine that has been valued for thousands of years and countless cultures.

Oregano essential oil is rich in the chemical composition factors of carvacrol and thymol, which are both shared with thyme essential oil as well. (1) This should give you a head start on the best applications for oregano if you are familiar with thyme- and it doesn’t disappoint!

Use oregano essential oil for its antibacterial properties, which we’ll look at more closely at the end of the article. Remember that it is a strong oil that often causes sensitization if used neat (undiluted, or without a carrier oil). Make sure you dilute it well with a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil for anything topical or internal.

Grab a free copy of our exclusive dilution guide and percentage chart.

6 Benefits of Oregano Essential Oil

1. Antibacterial Support

Of the wide range of antibacterial essential oils available to us, oregano oil stands out among the fold. From a 2012 study in Poland, of a group of essential oils tested, “The highest and broadest activity was shown by Origanum vulgare oil. Carvacrol had the highest antibacterial activity among the tested components.” (2)

With antibiotic resistance to bacterial overgrowth on the rise, having natural alternatives available is more important than ever. Use oregano oil as part of a first response to sickness to help beat bacterial illness to the punch!

Application: Inhalation, culinary use, and diluted topical treatments can all introduce oregano’s antibacterial effects as needed. 

2. Antiviral Disinfecting

Viruses are such a struggle because there isn’t a way to “cure” them. Think about common flu and cold medicines. They promise a shorter duration or lessened symptoms, but they aren’t just going to be cured. A strong antiviral works by disabling viral cells, which slows the spread and lets the body take over without being overwhelmed.

Antivirals hold the virus down so the immune system can kick it!

One of the main compounds in oregano oil, carvacrol, stands out as a potent antiviral. (3) With so many viral illnesses circulating – yes, including the flu and the common cold – having the health benefits of an antiviral tool at the ready can help keep your family well.

Application: Use oregano essential oil and thyme essential oil together for increased antiviral and antibacterial potency in cleaner sprays and wellness preparations.

3. Bug Repellent

As a source of thymol and carvacrol, oregano essential oil is an effective addition to mosquito sprays. (4) The trick with DIY bug repellents is to have a variety of actions working together. Oregano is yet another oil – joining citronella, clove, and even ylang ylang – that can be used to ward off those pesky summer pests.

Application: Include oregano among a blend of 3-5 essential oils diluted into 190-proof alcohol or light carrier oil in a spritz bottle. Spray on clothes and ankles. See our Tick Repellant Clothing Spray for an effective blend to try. 

4. Athlete’s Foot Killer

After showing itself to be a strong antimicrobial, oregano oil pulls out all the stops with its antifungal properties, as well!

Athlete’s foot and other fungal infections are often stigmatized, but they are often no worse than any other incidental infection. It’s a part of life and something that many of us will have to deal with at some point in our lives.

Tackle nasty fungal infections with oregano essential oil, knocking it back before the discomfort really sets in. One study set out to do just that and found promising results with using oregano oil in a foot bath – a simple and soothing treatment for an uncomfortable and unsightly infection. (5)

Application: Mix into a 1% carrier oil and use in a warm foot bath to enjoy the antifungal health benefits of the oregano essential oil.

5. Antioxidant Healer

Finally, with strong antioxidant activities, oregano oil has been studied for a new and unfortunately greatly-needed kind of healing: cancer-related. In 2013, researchers evaluated the ways oregano essential oil could help mitigate the damage inflicted by a chemotherapy drug.

Cavracol, as well as super-antioxidant pomegranates, demonstrated protective and restorative effects neurologically after the chemotherapy drug MTX was taken. (6) The high antioxidant activity of oregano oil also has implications for its chemopreventive properties.

Application: Speak with your oncologist about mitigating the incidental damage done by harsh treatments with antioxidant oils like oregano oil.

6. Intestinal Wellness

Oregano essential oil has been found to have a beneficial impact on the intestinal health of weaning piglets, as evidenced by improved histological parameters of the jejunum and ileum. This suggests that using this oil can contribute to better overall gut health in young pigs.

Furthermore, research highlights that the antimicrobial properties of oregano essential oil may also play a role in supporting gut health, as it can help to combat harmful bacteria and promote a balanced microbiota in the intestines.

Additionally, studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of oregano essential oil may further contribute to the overall improvement of intestinal health in piglets, making it a promising natural solution for addressing gut health concerns in young animals.

Note About Natural Antibiotics

The problem with automatic prescription of antibiotics, due to patient demand or physician ignorance, is that they are only effective against bacterial infections. If our illness is viral and we take an antibiotic, we’re risking the loss of beneficial bacteria in our bodies and aiding the creation of bacteria-resistant superbugs, all with no healing benefit. Even when we are facing a bacterial illness, finding the right antibiotic is much more effective than prescribing a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

The Wall Street Journal brought this significant public health concern to light in a 2013 article about antibiotic overuse and misuse, stating: (7)

“Overuse of antibiotics, and prescribing broad-spectrum drugs when they aren’t needed, can cause a range of problems. It can make the drugs less effective against the bacteria they are intended to treat by fostering the growth of antibiotic-resistant infections. And it can wipe out the body’s good bacteria, which help digest food, produce vitamins, and protect from infections, among other functions.

• In a July study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, researchers from the University of Utah and the CDC found that 60% of the time physicians prescribe antibiotics, they choose broad-spectrum ones….
• A similar study of children, published in the journal Pediatrics in 2011, found that when antibiotics were prescribed they were broad-spectrum 50% of the time, mainly for respiratory conditions….

Both studies also found that about 25% of the time antibiotics were being prescribed for conditions in which they have no use, such as viral infections.”

Essentially, our current approach to prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics out of reflex is like sending the atomic bomb where the A-Team would have sufficed.

Antibiotic Prowess of Oregano Oil

Most consumers have no idea that antibiotics come in multiple forms. Beyond the indication of broad-spectrum antibiotics, there are more considerations that determine how an antibiotic is most effectively used – Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are affected in their own ways, and certain antibiotics will be more effective against one than the other.

The Journal of Medicinal Food published an analysis of oregano oil’s efficacy against three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two Gram-positive (Staphylococus aureus , Bacillus subtilis) bacteria. True oregano (Origanum vulgare) harvested at various growth stages was tested, and all three were effective in vitro against all five bacterial strains. (8)

Similar findings were published two years prior when researchers in Pakistan found oregano oil to be effective against parasites and even cancer cells! (9)

With clear results against these common bacteria – especially the food safety-related E. coli and Salmonella – including oregano essential oil in meals seems wise for gastrointestinal protection and disease prevention.

Beyond Bacteria

We could go on for pages about the antibiotic effects of oregano oil, but there’s more to it than that. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics that are essentially one-trick ponies, oregano oil carries with it so many more benefits. It is truly an essential oil that should be considered to battle infection and other microbes.

Within oregano oil, a phenol component called carvacol is arguably the reason that it is so strong. When you search the PubMed database of peer-reviewed literature, carvacol is referenced in more than 800 separate returns. Researchers are intrigued by this component, to say the least.

Some of the conditions carvacol and oregano oil have been indicated for, aside from bacterial infections, include fungi, parasites, viruses, inflammation, cell death, tumors, pain, histamine reactions, and oxidative stress.

Carvacol stepped out among the crowd of medicinal components when the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences highlighted that carvacrol was shown to have an antioxidant effect and anti-inflammatory properties. (10) Methotrexate (MTX) is well known as dangerous but used anyway for its treatment capability in severe illnesses such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

To measure the interaction between MTX and carvacol, MTX-treated rats were observed with and without carvacol. The antioxidant effects were able to inhibit the negative effects of MTX. Similarly, carvacol has also been shown in vitro to potentially, “prevent pathogenic overgrowth and colonization in the large intestine during oral iron therapy” – a therapy for anemia associated with severe gastrointestinal complaints, supporting digestive health. (11)

The research about oregano oil benefits that follow will be exciting to watch because the implications of a natural remedy able to limit the effects of necessary prescriptions are vast. Beyond fascination, someone taking harsh treatments such as iron therapy or chemotherapy could face a very different future with the potential side effects controlled.

Easy DIY Applications

Although the scientific literature is very quiet regarding specific essential oil protocols, many people have found the following to be helpful:

• Apply diluted oregano oil on your abdomen. Proper dilution depends on individual sensitivity: Try 2-3 drops each of oregano and tea tree oil to 1 Tablespoon carrier oil as a good start for adults. For children use extra caution and be sure to use even more carrier oil.
• Put 1 drop of oregano + 1 drop of tea tree in a gel capsule with carrier oil and consume. For people battling a bacterial infection, consider taking up two capsules a day.

See our Triple-Threat, Infection-Fighting Roll-On Remedy, which features the antibacterial powerhouse of oregano essential oil.

Keeping a Proper Perspective

After lambasting the unnecessary use of antibiotics, and then singing the praises of a powerful one, you are no doubt wondering what limits we should place on oregano oil use and how it should be used properly.

At this point, we can’t be sure.

Because of its potency and capabilities, oregano oil should be used carefully alongside the guidance of a natural health expert or naturally-minded healthcare provider. Always dilute it, and be sure to take it orally in a gel capsule with carrier oil instead of straight with water.

If it’s strong enough to tackle MTX, it’s strong enough to be taken seriously. Seek out a natural health provider today and see how oregano oil might fit within your lifestyle and regimen.

Safety Note: Oregano does have potential cautions and contraindications for various methods of use. If you have any diagnosed medical conditions or are on any medications, work with the appropriate healthcare provider to determine if oregano oil is appropriate for you.

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