Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil has been around for a long time and has a lot of properties that result in big health benefits for us. It became famous in ancient Greece when scholars discovered how beneficial it was and begin using it in medicines. It grows in higher altitudes and in fact, the name oregano means the light of the mountains. If you think you aren’t familiar with oregano, think again. If you have ever had Italian food, then you are familiar with the herb oregano because it is used in a huge number of culinary dishes.
How is Oregano Essential Oil Manufactured?
Like other essential oils that are made from plants, oil of oregano is puke procured through the process of steam distillation from freshly picked oregano leaves. Harvesting for oregano oil is different than harvesting for other uses of the herb. The plants need to be harvested when the oil content is the highest if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck. The oil that is extracted is yellow ranging between dark to bright and has a very spicy fragrance.
Types of Oregano Essential Oil
When it comes to the types of oregano essential oil that are out there, there are only a few that are used from essential oil, even though there are more than 40 different species of the plant.. In fact, there are only a couple that give the best therapeutic benefits: Origanum vulgare Thymus capitatus many of the essential oils sold do not come from a species and therefore have very little therapeutic value unfortunately.
How to Use Oregano Essential Oil
There are several ways that you can use oregano essential oil. Unlike some essential oils, this particular oil can be ingested, but you want to be careful because the essential oil is a very concentrated form of the product. It can also be applied topically but the same warning applies because skin may be irritated and sensitive to such a high concentration of essential oil. The best bet is to mix it with a carrier oil. You can also diffuse it and inhale the fragrance.
Composition of Oregano Essential Oil Carvacrol
- Thymol
- Cymene
- Caryophyllene
- Pinene
- Bisabolene
- Linalool
- Borneol
- Geranyl Acetate
- Linalyl Acetate
- Terpinene
Aromatic Description of
You may be wondering what oregano essential oil smells like. Oregano oil has a very warm smell and you can definitely tell that the fragrance is from a plant because it is very herbaceous. It is also very spicy and when you use oregano essential oil without dilution on your skin, you may end up smelling like a pizza for a few hours.
Precautions & Side Effects of Oregano Essential Oil
There are a few precautions that you want to keep in mind when it comes to oregano essential oil. It is worth repeating that ingesting it or putting it on the skin without dilution can be somewhat dangerous. Ingesting too much can make you very sick and putting too much on the skin can make it irritated. Also you should always test a patch of skin before you start using it in large amounts, because some people are allergic to these types of herbs. Never give oregano essential oil to children and women were pregnant or nursing should never use it as there is a potential for miscarriage. Also, essential oils like these can be toxic to cats.
Attributes of Oregano Essential Oil
Besides the standards below, oregano essential oil has the following benefits: It is anti-allergenic and an antioxidant. It also protects against parasitic infections.
| Attribute | X | Definition |
| analgesic | Reduces pain in muscles and joints | |
| anti-arthritic | Reduces arthritis symptoms | |
| anti-infectious | Prevents infection | |
| anti-inflammatory | X | Reduces inflammation |
| antibiotic | Keeps biotic infections from developing | |
| antidepressant | Helps to alleviate depression | |
| antiemetic | Prevents nausea and vomiting | |
| anti-galactogogue | Reduces milk supply in the body | |
| antifungal | X | Kills harmful fungal life forms |
| antimicrobial | Kills microbial life forms that cause disease | |
| anti-neuralgic | Counteracts nerve pain | |
| anti-rheumatic | Counteracts pain from rheumatism | |
| antiseborrhoeic | Keeps the body from making an unhealthy amount of sebum | |
| antiseptic | Prevents growth of organisms which cause disease | |
| antispasmodic | Prevents spasms from occurring | |
| antiviral | X | Kills viral agents |
| aperient | Relieves constipation | |
| aphrodisiac | Increases sexual desires | |
| astringent | Causes skin tissue to contract – to counter lines and wrinkles | |
| bactericidal | X | Kills bacterial agents |
| carminative | Prevents formation of gas in the GI tract | |
| cholagogue | Assists with the discharge of bile | |
| cicatrisant | Assists in the formation of healthy scar tissue | |
| circulatory | Promotes healthy circulatory system function | |
| diaphoretic | Induces perspiration | |
| decongestant | Reduces or eliminates congestions of nasal cavities | |
| deodorant | Eliminates and prevents body odor | |
| depurative | Helps to detoxify the body | |
| Digestive | Helps with the digestion of food | |
| diuretic | Removes excess water from the body | |
| expectorant | X | Loosens mucous and helps clear it from the body |
| emenagogue | X | Promotes healthy menstrual discharge |
| febrifuge | Aids in the reduction of fever | |
| hepatic | Promotes healthy liver function | |
| hypotensive | Helps to lower blood pressure | |
| Insecticide | Kills certain types of insects or pests | |
| muscle relaxant | Relaxes tight muscles and prevents muscle spasms | |
| nervine | Reduces anxiety and calms the nerves | |
| sedative | Aids in calming or induces sleepiness | |
| stimulant | Increases physiological or nervous system activity | |
| stomachic | Aids in a healthy appetite or digestion | |
| sudorific | Promotes or aids in activation of sweat glands | |
| tonic | Tones the skin or muscles | |
| vermifuge | Kills parasitic worms | |
| vulnerary | Promotes rapid healing of wounds |
What is Oregano Essential Oil Used For?
There are a bunch of different things that oregano essential oil is used for. It is very effective for healing all sorts of respiratory problems including acting as an expectorant which will loosen and get rid of mucus but it also acts as a cough suppressant. In addition oregano essential oil is an anti-inflammatory so it is effective against headaches and all sorts of pain that is caused by inflammation as well as against other health problems because of inflammation.
Oregano essential oil is also antibacterial so you are protected against viral infections and it kills bacteria that may be harmful. Cholera, cellulitis, typhoid and other infections can often be treated with oregano essential oil. Unlike some antibiotics, essential oil does not have a detrimental effect on the immune system and does not weaken it in any way. Besides viruses and bacteria, oregano essential oil also helps protect you against fungal infections, eliminating three of the four possible causes for infectious disease.
Oregano essential oil is also effective at killing parasites. Parasites like lice and tapeworms or even mosquitoes and fleas can live on the human body or inside of it and have a detrimental effect on your health. Oregano essential oils also an antioxidant and helps repair damages that are done by free radicals as well as neutralizing them which can help with everything from antiaging to curing diseases and nervous disorders.
And oregano essential oil is also unique in the fact that it can help to properly control menstruation and women and it can even delay the stage of menopause. Even in menopause, oregano oil can help to reduce the symptoms and balance hormones that can sometimes get out of whack during this period in a woman’s life. In addition, oregano essential oil is anti-allergenic because of the sedative properties that this oil has. Oregano Oil also promotes healthy digestion, increasing digestive juices and food absorbing enzymes. From skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema to cold, flu, athlete’s foot and E. coli, oregano essential oil is a very useful tool to have in your arsenal.
Recommended Combinations Involving Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil can be combined with other oils which can result in added benefits for health as well as a unique aromatherapy profile. Here are some of the other essential oils that you can combine Oregano with and have good results but you can also try some of your own:
The Final Word on Oregano Essential Oil
You definitely should be using oregano essential oil for all of the reasons that are listed above. So many different diseases and illnesses – especially infections – can be prevented and treated with oregano essential oil and this is simply one of the most versatile and healthy oils that are out there. Smelling like a pizza or a plate of lasagna is well worth the price of all of the health benefits that oregano essential oil offers, plus you can use it in aromatherapy as well.
