Most people know oregano as a staple in Greek and Italian cooking. Perfect for pastas, pizzas, and kabobs, this herb is found in pantries across the world. What many don’t realize is just how incredible it is for your health, too, especially when its oil is extracted from the plant. The oil of oregano has been used throughout the globe, beginning with the ancient Greeks, for centuries for its medicinal properties. To best understand the benefits of oregano oil, it helps to understand what it is.
What is oregano oil?
Oregano, a member of the mint family known in the botanical world as Origanum vulgare, is a flowering plant native to Europe. While the dry herb is largely used for cooking, it’s oregano’s oil that contains the largest levels of compounds that may offer health benefits.
To make oregano oil, most manufacturers dry the leaves and stems, then steam-distilled to extract these compounds. At Healthy Health, we steam distill the flowering leaves only from the wild Mediterranean variety of oregano, found in the mountains in Turkey. Once distilled, our concentrated oregano is mixed with olive oil, making it a spicy, flavorful supplement for everyday use.
What is in oregano oil that makes it so powerful?
Healthy Health’s organic mountain grown oregano is the only kind that is naturally rich in carvacrol, flavonoids, and terpenes, which give the oregano tremendous strength.
- Carvacrol is an abundant phenol found in oregano that has unique antimicrobial properties. It has been known to stop or prohibit the growth of around 25 different bacteria, fungi, and viruses, as well as for its anticancer properties.
- Flavonoids are compounds found in foods that are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from toxins while regulating cellular activity. These compounds can help you stay healthy and decrease your risk of chronic health issues.
- Terpenes are compounds that give oregano its fragrance, taste, and color. It’s also known for its ability to slow chronic diseases and for its antimicrobial properties.
In short, the compounds pulled from oregano and concentrated into oil form may do everything from help prevent major health issues to alleviate the symptoms of colds or the flu to kill off a fungus.
What are the benefits of oregano oil and how is it used?
If you’re looking for natural health solutions, oregano oil can be used in a variety of ways, including the following:
- Mix one drop of oregano oil with a couple Tablespoons of coconut oil to use as a joint and muscle rub for pain relief
- Add one drop of oil to a hot cup of tea to aid digestion
- Mix one to two drops with warm water to boost your immune system
- Create a mixture of 1 part oregano oil to 2 parts jojoba oil for acne prevention or to heal minor cuts and scrapes
The benefits of oregano oil are many. From immune support and its anti-inflammatory properties to its anti-aging and antibacterial offerings, there’s a reason it’s been a part of both kitchens and medicine cabinets for centuries.
It’s important to note, despite the many benefits of oregano oil, it should never replace the medical advice of your physician. We always recommend consulting with a doctor before use.