There have been countless research efforts that prove Oregano is a potent bacterial and virus killer. I challenge you to research this for yourself. I have been using Oregano for several years and I can without a doubt tell you that it works. The following is a summary of the health benefits for oregano.
As most of us know, an antibiotic prescription given at the doctor’s office is useless against viral infections which is what causes colds and the flu. The flu virus mutates constantly. Although labs cook up an antiviral cocktail containing several previous flu viruses, chances are slim that those same viruses will attack again and thus your body will not have resistance to new ones lurking around the corner.
Daily doses (three drops three times a day) will help keep your immune system strong enough to fight off most cold and flu viruses. Should one sneak in, conduct a full frontal attack by getting lots of sleep, drinking plenty of water and taking frequent dosages of oregano oil to stop it in its tracks. Hepatitis and Herpes are two other viral infections which have responded well to treatment with Oregano oil.
Oregano oil also works as an antibiotic, meaning it doesn’t just protect against viruses but also against bacteria. It has been shown in lab tests to be as effective as one of the strongest antibiotics (Vancomycin) in killing staph, E.coli and other bacteria. It does this without creating mutant strains of drug resistant bacteria and it has none of the debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics.
For AIDS and cancer patients, diabetics and those bedridden in hospital, oregano oil is a defensive weapon against potentially deadly bacteria. It is easy to take and effective against many known forms of pathogens.
North Americans suffer from a virtual epidemic of candida infection. Candida albicans is a form of fungus that occurs naturally in the gut. Antibiotics kill some of the good flora in the intestinal tract. This allows the candida to multiply unchecked. Candida feeds on sugar and refined grains. With the North American diet being high in both of these, candida quickly multiplies and ends up in the bloodstream.
Nail fungus, thrush, skin disorders, vaginal yeast, allergies and chronic fatigue are only a few of the annoying symptoms caused by candida infection. Oregano oil is also effective to treat fungal infections.
Oregano oil is a powerful antiparasitic. In studies done in Mexico it was shown to be effective against giardia, a water borne parasite that our Ontario readers may be familiar with. Pinworms and other nasty creatures that often inhabit our intestines are subject to termination by oregano oil.
Travel in public carriers can be hazardous to your health even if no terrorists are aboard. The closed environment and recirculated air give a good guarantee that breathing the effluvia under such conditions will result in a vacation flu, just what you don’t want. So carry your oregano oil with you on the plane, train or bus. When you arrive in those warmer climates you can avoid food poisoning and Monteczuma’s revenge by taking a few drops before or after meals and by adding a drop or two to the water.
Teeth and gums benefit greatly from oral application of oregano oil since it destroys the bacteria that form plaque and cause gum disease. You may put a drop or two under the tongue and then swish it around in your mouth before swallowing or put a drop on your toothbrush when you clean your teeth.
Inflammation is a component of not only of many infections but also diseases, especially those involving joints and tendons. An article published in Phytotherapy Research describes how Oregano oil superseded anti-inflammatory drugs in reversing pain and inflammation and is nearly as powerful as morphine as a pain killer. It has the ability to penetrate the skin and reach as far as the sinovial fluid in joints. It may help to alleviate arthritis, carpal tunnel, sports injuries and even backache. Rub the oil on the skin to cover the affected area in addition to taking it internally.
Do not confuse the medicinal wild Mediterranean oregano for what is sometimes called oregano in the marketplace. What you find on the grocery store shelf is usually Spanish marjoram and does not share the true wild oregano’s therapeutic qualities. The best therapeutic oregano grows wild in the Mediterranean and has been known since Hippocrate’s time to be a powerful medicinal plant.
Olive oil is used to dilute pure oregano oil because, in its pure form, the oil is far too caustic. This is primarily due to the predominant phenol carvacrol, which accounts for a large percentage of the composition of oregano oil. Please beware of taking the pure essential oil as it could harm you. It must be properly diluted to be effective and safe. Tests show that most people respond best to one part oregano to four parts olive oil. Extra strength products are not more effective. They are difficult for the body to assimilate and are extremely unpalatable as well as being potentially hazardous.
Recently, the FDA has started to allow vendors of olive oil to make qualified statements concerning its health benefits. However, these benefits only occur when at least two tablespoons of oil are taken a day. Whether the edible oil is olive, flax seed, coconut, palm or hemp seed oil, the same intake level of two tablespoons daily is required to produce results.
As an average dose of oregano oil is about nine drops (or one third of a milliliter) per a day, do not expect to derive any benefit from the edible oil that it is mixed with. Do ensure that the edible oil is fresh and certified organic to remove the possibility of rancidity or pesticide contamination. If you have a health challenge, you certainly don’t need further assault from chemical contamination.
The next cold you get—try Oregano instead and see the difference!
