Oregano can heal everything from urinary to fungal infections

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is usually thought of as a culinary herb used primarily in Italian, Greek and Mediterranean cooking, but it has also been used for many centuries as a medicinal plant. Traditionally, oregano oil has been used to treat a wide range of conditions from urinary infections, asthma and coughs to indigestion, diarrhoea and vomiting. The ancient Greeks were among the first to take advantage of its curative qualities, and made compresses from the leaves to treat sores and aching muscles.

However, it has only been recently that scientists have taken an interest in the herbs medicinal properties, and evidence is now in the process of being gathered which backs up many of its traditional therapeutic uses and also reveals additional benefits linked to the herb.

With regards to the latter, oregano has been found to contain several powerful antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonoids which protect your tissues against harmful toxins like cancer-causing free radicals (Tian H, Lai DM. Zhong Yao Cai. 2006;29(9):920-1; Hazzit M, et al.  J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54(17):6314-21).

In fact, oregano was found to come up tops in another related study conducted by Canadian scientists from the University of Quebec. The researchers compared several herbs, including cinnamon and sage, in terms of their ability to fight harmful chemicals, such as free radicals and nitric oxide, which are known to increase the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, heart disease, dementia and cancer. The oregano extracts were found to possess by far the strongest activity against these harmful toxins (Salmieri S, Lacroix M.: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 27;54(26):10205-14).

Scientists confirm what many traditional healers have known for centuries

With regards to evidence backing up oreganos traditional medicinal uses, the area that has received the most attention by scientists to date, relates to the herbs ability to combat infections.

Scientists have discovered that its benefits for alleviating urinary tract infections are mainly a result of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties oregano contains an active ingredient called rosmarinic acid that is known to inhibit inflammation.

In addition, Greek scientists from the Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, University of Athens, have found that essential oils from oregano contain a substance called carvacrol, which is also able to prevent inflammatory processes from taking place in the body (Karioti A, Vrahimi-Hadjilouca T, et al. Planta Med. 2006 Nov;72(14):1330-4).

The herb has also been found to act as a powerful fungicide and can be used to treat fungus and yeast infections like thrush, which, as mentioned on page X, is caused by a yeast overgrowth.

Oreganos infection-fighting benefits extend to protecting against food poisoning

Japanese scientists from the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science in Yokohama, have reported that oregano can block the growth of an infectious bug called Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which contaminates food and can cause food poisoning (Yano Y, Satomi M, Oikawa H. Int J Food Microbiol. 2006 Aug 15;111(1):6-11).

In addition, researchers from the Agricultural Faculty, Selcuk University in Turkey studied essential oils from several different plants, including oregano, laurel, marjoram and mint. They tested these oils on certain bacteria (including Bacillus, which can cause bowel infections and diarrhoea) in the laboratory. All of the herbs, including oregano, were found to successfully block the growth of the bacteria studied (Ozcan MM, Sagdic O, Ozkan G. J Med Food. 2006 Fall;9(3):418-21).

In an animal study, performed by scientists at the National Agricultural Research Foundation in Greece, oregano was found to be just as effective as the prescription-only antibiotic neomycin for curing diarrhoea caused by the E.coli bug, which is notorious for causing bowel infections.

Commenting on the findings the scientists said: This study indicates that dried oregano leaves may be as effective in the treatment of coli infection as neomycin (Bampidis VA, et al. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2006;53(3):154-6). This finding is important because it indicates that oregano extracts could prove to be a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics, which can cause several unpleasant side effects including vomiting, allergic rash, and ironically diarrhoea.
 
Scientists believe that one way oregano successfully fights infections is by destroying the protective outer shell of the infectious bacteria. Another theory is that it may work by interrupting the energy supply to the bacteria, so starving them to death. But it is likely that there are many other mechanisms by which oregano works, which still need to be investigated.

What to take for best results

There are different ways of benefiting from oregano:

Oregano oil for products intended for internal use (please check the label carefully) add four drops to a small amount of water and take up to three times a day. For external use apply liberally up to three times a day.

In supplement form take one oregano capsule one to three times a day with water.

Dried oregano herb can be mixed with boiling water to make a tea, which can then be drunk two or three times a day.

You can also take advantage of the herbs anti-inflammatory properties to relieve tired joints and muscles by putting a handful of oregano leaves in a coffee filter, mesh bag, or cheesecloth bag and running steaming bath water over it. Allow it to steep in the tub with you as you relax in the warm, fragrant water.

In Cass Ingrams book Supermarket Remedies, he states that oregano is one of Nature's finest preservatives. He suggests that if oregano is used with foods such as meat, eggs, milk, or salad, you will greatly halt the growth of microbes and, thus, reduce the risk of food poisoning.

There are no known contraindications associated with oregano. However, some people may have an allergy to the extract, resulting in a mild rash. This should clear up a few days after stopping the treatment.