Oregano is a member of the mint family. The whole herb extract has more than 30 active compounds; the most active compounds are 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 your body heal in many ways.

A team of British and Indian researchers found that oil of oregano 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.

Mushrooms:

Oil of oregano can help kill Candida which is a yeast overgrowth in the gut and can also cure toenail fungus.

Parasites:

It is effective in eliminating the amoeba giardia in the gut, which is a microscopic parasite and even kills lice when applied topically.

Foodborne illnesses:

Oil of oregano can kill bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as e-coli, salmonella, and listeria.

Skin:

It helps heal contact dermatitis like skin rashes like poison ivy and helps relieve 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. It may smell like oregano, but it’s better than smelling like DEET, if you ask me!

Oil of oregano effectively cures cold sores and even acne.

Mouth:

Rinsing 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. Shake the oils in your mouth for about 5 minutes, then spit them out 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 levels of glutathione (3), which is the body’s master antioxidant that helps boost your immune system, eliminate 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. (two)

What Kind of Oil of Oregano 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 they usually won’t be good either because they usually have synthetic carvacrol added to them. You want to buy a wild Mediterranean brand, 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 (i.e. coconut oil or olive oil) on the soles of your feet or on your chest if you have a respiratory illness. You can put a few drops under your tongue, which helps it enter the bloodstream faster, but it will burn! 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 mentioned skin ailments.

Since good oregano oil is a food, it is safe to take it daily 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) Pubmed, October 2014

3) Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, April 1991