Oregano has been used as an herbal medicine for thousands of years and excitingly modern science is now starting to understand just how beneficial this amazing herb is! Oil of oregano contains active ingredients with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and although more research is needed to fully understand it’s potential to human health, studies have found it to be beneficial for a wide variety of common ailments from gastrointestinal infections to depression. The natural antibiotic qualities of oregano may also help to clear out stubborn yeast infections and bacterial infections.
Antimicrobials like oil of oregano are useful as extra help to balance digestive health but are not your first line of gut defence, before introducing oregano try making improvements to your diet and introducing probiotics. Importantly, make sure the oil of oregano you choose is suitable for internal consumption.
For more extensive information on the benefits of using oil of oregano read the following article which includes links to research supporting these findings.
This article is by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC
Oil of oregano extract has a long history of use in the human population as an herbal medicine.
Science is only just starting to validate the traditional uses of oregano. More research is needed from human clinical trials to fully understand the health benefits of oregano oil. However, we already have enough studies to give a good insight into the probable benefits of oregano oil in people.
Benefits Found in Human Studies
The following studies have noted these oil of oregano benefits in human patients.
Gastrointestinal infections: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) found that oregano oil was associated with significant improvements in Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and E. coli infections in patients with metabolic syndrome [1].
Notably, oregano oil improved gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and flatulence. Additionally, oregano did not lead to significant disruption of the gut microbiome of the patients, indicating a more gentle effect than antibiotics.
Lung function: Two separate RCTs found that carvacrol from oregano oil helped improve lung function, inflammation, and respiratory symptoms in asthma patients and people with lung damage [2, 3].
Intestinal parasites: A small human study examined patients with fatigue and chronic GI symptoms who tested positive for fecal parasites [4].
With oregano oil taken daily over a period of six weeks, 93% (13 out of 14 patients) were able to eliminate their parasites.
Wound healing: An RCT found that oregano oil helped enhance wound healing and reduce pathogenic skin microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus) in patients who had undergone surgery [5].
Other Research
The following are findings about oregano oil that come largely from animal or in vitro studies (performed on cells or tissues in the lab). They cannot be given as much credence as human clinical trials, but are interesting nevertheless. These studies suggest oregano oil, or its active ingredients, may improve:
Skin ageing, acne and wound healing [6]
Respiratory tract symptoms, including cough, bronchitis, and sore throat [7, 8]
Mould conditions (by inhibiting the growth of certain mould species and mycotoxins) [9]
Vaginal infections [10]
Indigestion and diarrhoea [7]
Athlete’s foot [11]
Sperm motility [14]
Read the rest of this in depth article by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC here.
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