Our bodies are filled with bacteria, many of which are living in our bodies and play important roles in digestion, nutrient consumption, and toxin neutralization. While many types of bacteria are good for your body, others can attack your system and cause serious illnesses, including strep throat, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Untreated bacterial infections can even cause more serious illnesses, such as sepsis. While typically, doctors prescribe antibiotics to fight these illnesses, there are some issues that can arise when relying too heavily on these medications. It’s why you should consider using oregano oil as an antibiotic.
The cons of medical antibiotics
Doctors use antibiotics as a tool to prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria. The problem with antibiotics used by doctors is bacteria can become resistant to them. When an antibiotic is used in treatment, resistance can begin to occur. The more an antibiotic is used, the greater chances of resistance.
Resistance can begin almost immediately as soon as antibiotics are used to treat a bacterial infection. Bacteria can be tricky; some can mutate, and those mutations bring with them antibiotic resistance. While antibiotics can be a life-saving drug, overuse, and the lack of regulation in antibiotics globally, can begin to cause major problems in the spread of deadly diseases.
Moving to a natural antibiotic for protection
Before the invention of penicillin in the 1940s, it was common to use oregano oil as an antibiotic. The body of positive evidence for oregano oil as a major antibiotic is growing. Among 52 plant oils tested in research from the University of Western Australia, oregano was considered to have “pharmacologic” action against common bugs such as Candida albicans (yeast), E. coli, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In fact, Pseudomonas, specifically, is a type of germ that is getting more difficult to treat as it has developed strains that are resistant to antibiotic drugs.
Consider the following studies that show how effective oregano oil can be against common bacterial infections:
- Oil of oregano at relatively low doses was found to be efficacious against Staphylococcus bacteria and was comparable in its germ-killing properties to antibiotic drugs such as streptomycin, penicillin, and vancomycin.
- Researchers at the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee reported that, among various plant oils, oil of oregano exhibited the greatest antibacterial action against common pathogenic germs such as Staph, E. coli and Listeria.
- British researchers reported oregano oil had antibacterial activity against 25 different bacteria.
- Of more recent interest are reports showing that carvacrol from oil of oregano kills spores, such as Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax).
The growing problem of antibiotic resistance has health authorities extremely concerned. It is already the case that various germs are showing resistance to vancomycin, particularly to intestinal bacteria (Enterococcal species) among hospitalized patients. Vancomycin is considered to be the most potent antibiotic available and is withheld from use as a drug of last resort.
The great news is that drug resistance does not develop against naturally occurring antibiotics such as garlic and oil of oregano. It’s why you should add oregano oil to your medicine cabinet and make it a part of your health routine.
Using oregano oil as an antibiotic
Oregano oil is a great prevention method to fight against bacteria. To stop bacteria before it begins wreaking havoc on your body, use it in one of the following ways:
- Mix three or four drops with a cup of warm water to reduce its potency, then drink it to keep bacteria overgrowth from occurring.
- Add a drop to a cup of warm herbal tea that aids in digestion, such as peppermint or ginger tea.
- Mix a few drops of oil with a small dollop of coconut oil, then put it under your tongue until it disappears. Repeat 2-3 times per day until you feel better.
Note that oregano oil is not the same as oregano essential oil. Essential oils are not made for human consumption, and they are more concentrated and not diluted, which means they may be potent. Healthy Health oregano oil, however, is 100% organic ECO certified Food Grade oregano oil and perfect for daily use. Essential oil should only be used topically or in an aromatherapy diffuser.
Finally, please remember, while the benefits of oregano oil are many, it should never replace the medical advice of your physician. Healthy Health suggests consulting with a doctor before use.