Explore oregano oil benefits. From antioxidants to reducing inflammation, discover the top eight ways oregano oil boosts health and enhances your wellness routine beyond its culinary uses.
Oreganoisn’t just a delicious addition to a slice ofpizza. This healthful herb packs a lot of perks for your bod. But can it have the same effect as an extracted or essential oil? Here’s a deep dive into the 8 best benefits oforegano oil.
Oregano oil 101
Oregano’s a flowering plant that’s part of theLamiaceaefamily. It’s been used as a tasty herb and holistic remedy for centuries. Thanks to its highantioxidantcontent andanti-inflammatoryeffects, it’s been used to treat:
Oregano oil can come as an extract but it can also come in the form of an essential oil.Oregano oil extract(aka oil of oregano) is a diluted form that comes in a liquid or in tablet form. You can use this oil when you’recookingor take it orally.
Oregano essential oilis also extracted from the oregano leaf, but it’s much more concentrated. It’s not safe to ingest, so it’s a better option foraromatherapy. There’s not a lot of research specifically focused on either of these oils, but the studies that currently exist seem promising.
1. Provides antioxidants
Oregano is a solid source of antioxidantslike:
Thesepowerful compoundscan help protect your body from free-radical damage. Why’s that exciting? This type of protection can helpreduce your riskof heart disease and certain types of cancer.
According to anolder study, fresh oregano has 42 times the antioxidant levels of apples. The same study also found that oregano contains up to 30 times the level of antioxidants in the other herbs they analyzed, too. Woo-hoo!
2. Contains antimicrobial properties
Some of the compounds found in oregano oil might have antimicrobial properties.Researchsuggests that oregano essential oil might help stave off potentially antibiotic-resistant bacteria likeE. coliandPseudomonas aeruginosa.
An olderstudyfound that oregano essential oil helped mice survive aStaphylococcus aureusinfection. The rats who were given oregano essential oil had a 43 percent 30-day survival rate. Compare that to the rats who were given actual antibiotics had a 50 percent survival rate. Not too shabby.
A2019 lab studyalso found that oregano essential oils that were high in carvacrol and thymol prevented strains ofStaphyloccus aureus (S. aureus)bacteria from forming in dairy and meat products. But these compounds seem to be more effective on their own without the oil, and we def need more research on humans to show this is legit.
3. May work as an anti-inflammatory
The powerful compounds in oregano might also help calminflammation. According to an older2010 research review, some of the stuff in oregano oil (like thymol and rosmarinic acid) seem to have some anti-inflammatory properties.
Anotherstudyalso found that concentrations of carvacrol in essential oil helped reduce swelling in the ears and paws of mice. This might help reduce the symptoms of certain inflammatory conditions like:
Keep in mind, we need more research on humans. We also need more studies that show the effects of high concentrations of oregano compared to using it as an oil.
4. Could support gut health
Oregano might help reduce your risk ofleaky gut. This condition happens when the walls of yourgutbecome damaged. That can allow toxins and bacteria to get into your bloodstream. Yuck.
A2016 studyon pigs found that oregano essential oil helped protect their gut walls. It also lowered the number ofE. colibacteria in their guts. But TBH, we need more research on humans 🐷. Reminder: Never ingest any essential oils.
5. Might help fight yeast infections
Candidais a common fungus among us. It’s normally harmless, but an overgrowth can lead to ayeast infection. A2010 studysuggests oregano essential oil can be effective against 16 differentCandidastrains.
A2008 test-tube studyfound oregano essential oil kicked butt against five different types ofCandida. Anothertest-tube studyfound that carvacrol was also very effective against oralCandida.
But that doesn’t mean you should skip the doc if you have signs of a yeast infection. It’s also important NOT to shove fresh oregano up your vag. Seriously. Until there’s more research on this one, stick to prescription antifungals.
6. May help lower cholesterol
Oregano oil might help lower LDL (bad)cholesteroland increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. A2013 animal studyput two groups of mice on ahigh fat diet. The mice that were also given carvacrol had significantly lowercholesterollevels than the mice that didn’t.
In anotherstudy, 48 folks with mildly high cholesterol were put on a diet and lifestyle plan to help them lower their levels. Thirty-two of the participants were also given 25 mL of oregano oil extract after eating. At the end of 3 months, peeps who took the oregano oil had lower LDL cholesterol than those who didn’t.
7. May help with weight loss
Carvacrol is building someweight losscred. That’s because it might help reverse the chain of events that lead to fat cell growth. In a2012 study, mice that were given carvacrolgained less weightandbody fatthan the mice that went without.
Just keep in mind, research on oregano on its own as aweight loss methodis super limited. We also don’t know if eating oregano as part of a balanced diet would work better than oils or capsules.
8. May help relieve pain
A sprinkle oforegano oil(the extract, not the essential oil) on yourpastawon’t replace an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever. But some studies have found oregano oil has some pain-killing properties.
A2013 studyfound that oregano extract helped reduce pain in rats. It was dose-dependent which means the more extract the rats consumed, the more pain relief they got. But despite these promising results, we 10/10 need more studies on humans.
How to use oregano oil
Oregano oil comes in capsule and tablet form. You can find it online or in most health food stores. But the quality strength of supplements can vary a lot. So it’s super important you stick to top-notch supplements from reputable brands and read the directions before use.
You can also use oregano essential oil as a topical treatment as long as you dilute it first. Most folks mix 1 teaspoon of carrier oil with one drop of oregano oil and put it on the skin.FYI:It’sNOTmeant to be consumed orally.
While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research thequalityof a brand’s products. Always do apatch testbefore trying a new essential oil.
Who shouldn’t take oregano oil?
Def talk with your doc before adding a new supplement to your diet. It might conflict with certain types of prescription medications.
Also, you shouldn’t take oregano oil if you’repregnantorbreastfeedingunless your doc says it’s OK.
Oregano is a deliciousherbthat boasts some pretty impressive health benefits. Studies show it might help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, fightyeast infections, aid gut health, relieve pain, stave off cancer, and help you lose weight. But overall, we still need more research to prove all of these perks.
You can find oregano supplements at most health food stores or online. Just be sure to stick to high quality products that aren’t packed with harmful chemicals or other fillers.
Reminder: Always talk with your doctor before adding an oregano supplement to your routine.
