Health benefits of oregano oil, the king of essential oils
Oregano is a member of the mint family. The whole herb extract has over 30 active compounds; being the most active compounds carvacrol and thymol. I consider oregano oil to be the king of essential oils due to its many beneficial healing properties.
Oregano oil is a powerful and effective antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and even antioxidant.
You can help heal your body in many ways.
A team of British and Indian researchers discovered that oregano oil is such a powerful antibacterial that it is more effective at killing MRSA than 18 other antibiotics(1)
Respiratory:
Oregano oil helps cure viral and bacterial infections like colds, sinusitis, bronchitis, and even staphylococcal pneumonia.
fungus:
Oregano oil can help kill Candida, which is an overgrowth of yeast in the intestine, and can also cure toenail fungus.
Parasites:
It is effective in killing the giardia amoeba in the intestine, which is a microscopic parasite, and even kills head lice when applied topically.
Foodborne Illnesses:
Oregano oil can kill bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as e-coli, salmonella, and listeria.
Skin:
Helps heal contact dermatitis, rashes like poison ivy, and helps soothe insect bites. You can even use it as a mosquito repellent. Just mix a few drops with a carrier oil like coconut oil and rub it in. You may smell like oregano, but it beats smelling like DEET, if you ask me!
Oregano oil effectively cures cold sores and even acne.
Mouth:
Oil pulling with a few drops of oregano oil mixed with coconut oil helps relieve gingivitis, dental infections, and bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth. Swish the oils around in your mouth for about 5 minutes, then spit and rinse. Never swallow the oil as it will be full of bacteria that you absorbed from your mouth.
Immune system:
Oregano oil is an antioxidant. It has been shown to increase glutathione levels (3), which is the body’s master antioxidant that helps boost your immune system, flush out toxins, eliminate free radicals, and increase energy levels.
Cancer:
Research has shown that oregano oil is even effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.(2)
What type of oregano oil should I get?
There are several types on the market, there are Spanish or Mexican oregano oils or cultivated oils, you don’t want those oils, they don’t have medicinal properties. There are standardized oils, and normally those don’t work either because they usually have added synthetic carvacrol. You want to buy a brand that is wild Mediterranean, hand-picked, and steam-distilled.
How is oregano oil used?
There are several ways to take oregano oil. You can rub a few drops with a carrier oil (ie coconut oil or olive oil) on the bottom of your feet or on your chest if you have a respiratory condition. You can put a few drops under your tongue, which helps it get into your bloodstream faster, but it will burn you! You can take oregano oil capsules and you can add 5 or 6 drops to some water and drink it. You can also mix a few drops with a carrier oil and apply topically to the various skin oils mentioned.
Since good oil of oregano is a food, it is safe to take on a daily basis to maintain health. If you are taking large doses, you should also consider taking a good probiotic, as it can also kill some good bacteria in your gut.
Sources and references:
1) Medical News Today, November 2008
2) Published, October 2014
3) Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, April 1991