Oregano Oil

This article was first published on the Vitamin Views website.

Oregano Oil benefits

Oregano Oil is the essential oil of the Oregano herb. The Latin name of Oregano is Origanum Vulgare. Oregano Oil has powerful antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Some studies done on mice have also shown anti inflammatory properties of Oregano Oil. However, human studies have yet to be done. Oregano Oil also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.

Active Ingredients

The main active ingredient in Oregano Oil is called Carvacrol. This is the one that has been identified as having antimicrobial effects. You need to carefully check how much Carvacrol your chosen supplement contains. This is calculated by the strength of the Carvacrol multiplied by the Carvacrol content per capsule. For example, capsules that contain 60% Carvacrol might contain 200mg of it. This means 60% of 200mg, which equals 120mg Carvacrol per capsule. While another brand might have only 32mg Carvacrol per capsule. So it pays to read the label and do some simple math.

Another active ingredient in Oregano Oil is Thymol. Thymol has antimicrobial properties, just like Carvacrol. And as its name suggests, Thymol is also found in the Thyme herb.

What is the best way to take Oregano Oil?

Capsules are the best way to take Oregano Oil, in most cases. They are convenient and portable. And they are also difficult to open. That’s because Oregano Oil usually comes in fully sealed gel capsules. Oregano Oil doesn’t come in the usual hard plastic two piece capsules. Regular capsules are not suitable for an essential oil.

It’s also possible to buy Oregano Oil in a glass dropper bottle, usually 1 oz in volume. Since they have a glass dropper, such bottles are more fragile than capsules. Oregano Oil drops are great for treating sore throats and mouth problems. That’s because the drops can be mixed with water, then swished or gargled. But the downside of drops is that Oregano Oil has a very intense flavor. And some people like it while others…don’t.

Why not just eat the fresh herb?

There is nothing wrong at all with consuming oregano by adding fresh or dried oregano to cooked food. But you probably don’t want to eat oregano all day, every day. Taking capsules is an easier way to consume Oregano.

My experiences with Oregano Oil

I first took Oregano Oil from a dropper bottle. One or two drops in a glass of water. I don’t know what was worse — the taste or the die off reaction I experienced. Mixing it first with a carrier oil like olive oil might have softened its impact. But your mileage may vary. Since that time, many years ago, I’ve taken Oregano Oil in capsules.

How long should you take Oregano Oil for?

Most people recommend taking Oregano Oil for a maximum of two weeks. After that, it can wipe out too many friendly bacteria in your digestive system. Others say that they take Oregano Oil daily for months without problems I’ve never managed to take it for more than two weeks without feeling bad. So I stick to that time limit.