Top 10 Health Benefits of Oregano Oil That Make You Healthier and More Beautiful

Oregano is an important part of some cuisines across the world. The herb is well known for its strong flavor and adds warmth and a light sweetness to any dish. Even the oil used for salad dressing has been found to have some major health benefits. Oregano oil is widely available and can be used in a supplement form. It offers antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, and antifungal effects.  

Oregano is mostly used for flavoring and hence is used sparingly, in very small amounts. Even then, regular use of one teaspoon of dried oregano can provide you with 8% of daily vitamin K requirements. From fighting bacteria to reducing inflammation, there are several impressive benefits of oregano.

Nutritional Facts Of Oregano

Every 100 grams of Oregano contain 25mg (convert mg to mcg) sodium, 4.3 gm fat, 9gm protein, 1,260mg potassium, and 69gm carbohydrates. It also includes vitamin A (34%), vitamin C (3%), calcium (159%), iron (204%), magnesium (67%), and vitamin B6 (50%).

Popularly Used In Natural Remedies

Oregano oil is popularly used in alternative medicine or natural remedies for treating various health problems including arthritis, allergies, fatigue, colds, sinusitis, migraines, flu, and sore throat. Oregano oil is taken orally and is also applied topically on the skin for treating athlete’s foot, acne, psoriasis, canker sores, varicose veins, rosacea, and warts. 

Steam inhalation is a popular remedy that uses Oregano oil for alleviating the symptoms of common cough and cold. In this treatment, Oregano oil is combined with hot water and the blend is then added to a steam inhaler. According to alternative practitioners, it helps to keep the congestion clear. 

Health Benefits Of Oregano Oil

So far, very few studies have been made on the Oregano oil health benefits. Here are the top 10 such benefits:

1. Promising Results In Colitis Treatment

An animal-based study published in 2007 in Mediators of Inflammation showed that the blend of Oregano and thyme oils gave promising results in Colitis treatment. The scientists tested the effect of this blend on mice and discovered that the animals afflicted by colitis experienced a major reduction in inflammation.

2. Restrict Growth Of Candida

Laboratory research revealed that Oregano Oil can restrict the growth of Candida which is a type of yeast normally found in the vagina and digestive tract of the body. Candida can lead to several infections including skin infections, oral thrush, and vaginal yeast infections. Such infections many times go unchecked. 

3. Protection Against Bacterial Infections

Preliminary research has revealed that Oregano oil can be helpful against bacterial infections. Studies published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods in 2005 and in the Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2004 revealed that Oregano Oil can be effective in treating bacterial infections that cause dysentery. 

4. Prevents Damage To Cells

Oregano oil is enriched with antioxidants that fight the harmful free radicals in the body known for causing chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. Oregano oil has a high content of thymol and carvacrol antioxidants that protect the body from the damage caused by the free radicals. When Oregano oil is used in combination with fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidant it helps to improve your overall health condition.

5. Anti-Cancer Properties

Since Oregano oil is rich in antioxidants they can help in preventing cancer by neutralizing the damage done by free radical. Some test tube studies have also revealed that the components in Oregano Oil can help to kill cancer cells. A test tube study used an extract of Oregano for treating human colon cancer cells and found that the components in Oregano stopped the growth of cancer cells and also killed cancerous cells. Another study revealed that Oregano can suppress growth as well as the spread of colon cancer cells.

6. Reduces Viral Infection

Some studies have also revealed that the thymol and carvacrol compounds in the Oregano oil have antiviral properties. A test-tube study revealed that the carvacrol in Oregano inactivated a viral infection norovirus that leads to nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain within an hour from treatment. Another study indicated that carvacrol and thymol both inactivated 90% of the virus herpes simplex within one hour from treatment. However, more research is needed to confirm the impact of Oregano oil on viral infections.

7. Can Decrease Inflammation

More often, an injury or an illness causes inflammation. It is a normal immune response from the body. But chronic inflammation can develop diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune conditions.  Since Oregano oil is enriched with antioxidants, it can neutralize free radicals as well as help in reducing inflammation. Carvacrol in Oregano has anti-inflammatory properties and has been found to reduce inflammation in an animal study conducted on mice. 

8. Rich Source Of Vitamin K

Oregano contains vitamin K in a good amount which is known to promote cardiovascular health and keeps the calcium out of the arteries. Vitamin K in Oregano oil is effective in helping with bone development and promoting proper blood clotting. 

9. Gives Relief In Congestion

Oregano oil is extremely helpful in relieving nasal congestion. To get the desired result, add three drops of Oregano oil in warm water or a glass of juice. Drink this blend daily for 4 to 5 days. It is also excellent for treating cold and sore throat, especially during winter. You can witness the results within a couple of hours. 

10. Natural Skin Healer

Oregano oil cures infections, itches, and irritated gums. Always mix Oregano oil with coconut oil or olive oil in the ratio of per drop of Oregano oil to one tablespoon of other oil. You can also prepare a face mask by adding three drops of Oregano oil to one tablespoon of cucumber juice and ¼ cup of Aloe Vera. Leave this mixture for five minutes and then rinse off using cold water. 

For oily skin, you can prepare a skin toner by boiling dried Oregano leaves in 3 cups of drinking water or adding 2 to 3 drops of Oregano oil to the water and boiling it for 10 minutes.  

A lot of research is now being done on the health benefits of Oregano oil. But a lot more is required to be done to confirm the impact of this oil in exact proportion or various health problems. 

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