Essential Oil

Oil Of Oregano: Contraindications, Medicinal Properties, Benefits And Uses

3 years ago
Read Time: 14 minutes
by Kathie Sand
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Index

What is oregano oil?

Oregano is widely used for all kinds of common recipes in the kitchen, Italian cuisine, it is a spice that is used to give and enhance the flavor of many foods, being one of the most popular when cooking.

However, oregano cannot be confused with its essential oil , since in this case oregano oil has other types of elements that go more towards caring for health and fighting certain conditions of the body.

Origin of oregano oil

Organ oil is distilled from the leaves and some buds of the oregano plant itself. In botany it is known as Origanum vulgare, and a plant that has flowers that come from the same large mint family.

Originally from Europe , but can now be found all over the world, it is believed to have been used by Greeks and Romans and ancient times for medicinal uses. Its name even comes from the Greek word “gold” which means mountain and “ganos” which can mean joy or pleasure.

What are other names for oregano oil?

As such, oregano has a large number of types , however, not the most used is still the common oregano, however in some regions of the world, they tend to choose or prefer other types of oregano.

For example, in Asia Minor, marjoram is used , which despite being familiar from oregano differs a lot in its flavor, and that its oil does not contain phenolics. There is even a cross between the two called golden marjoram or golden oregano.

Regarding this we recommend you read Oregano: Contraindications, Properties and Benefits

Oregano oil characteristics

The main characteristic of oregano oil is its strong smell , this is due to the phenols it contains. It also has a very powerful purifying function, and this has been shown in many studies.

This purifying property makes oregano stand out from all other oils, especially for its thymol compound that can attack a large number of microorganisms that can be harmful to health.

Chemical composition of oregano oil

Oregano oil has a large number of compounds called phenols, terpenes, and terpenoids. These have antioxidant properties that are responsible for giving the characteristic fragrance of this oil.

The main components of oregano oil are the following:

Carvacrol: it is a phenol that is found in greater abundance in oregano oil. It can stop the growth of many bacteria in the body.
Thymol: it is a natural antifungal that can help and improve the immune system that can protect against toxins that can attack the body.
Rosmarinic Acid: It is a great powerful antioxidant that can help protect against damage caused by free radicals.

Recommended dose of oregano oil

In the case of adults , about 2 or 4 drops can be administered , which can help considerably in health, as long as under the verification of a doctor and diluted with another carrier oil, and according to the condition, infection or disease that is trying.

As for children, the doses of diluted oregano oil can vary according to age:

6 months 2 years: 1 drop of juice is added to milk once a day. It cannot be used for more than ten days.
2 to 5 years: 1 drop in milk or juice, once a day, for a little more than ten days.
6 to 10 years: 1 or 3 drops with milk or juice, once a day, for as many days as necessary.
Over 10 years: 1 or 2 drops under the tongue, 3 times a day.

Check our article on YES or NO? Is it good to drink natural or artificial juices?

How is oregano oil extracted?

Obtaining oregano oil is very easy and simple , its preparation can be made even from home, you only need to have the plant, and the utensils are the most common and can be found in the kitchen.

To extract the oil from the flowers and the dried leaves of the plant, they are cultivated, and then distilled, these must be at the highest point in terms of oil content. The result is an oil of a golden or dark yellow color, which gives off a somewhat spicy aroma.

Benefits and properties of oregano oil

Oregano oil brings great health benefits, all due to the great properties it has to improve the body and health. These are some of the benefits and properties:

It can kill fungi, such as candida albicans, salmonella, E. coli, ringworm, staph, vaginal infections, and many other problems that bacteria and fungi can cause.
Fight viruses like colds and flu.
It has an anti-inflammatory action.
May relieve cough.
It improves the conditions and infections that may be in the skin.
Improves the immune system.
It becomes a very powerful antibiotic.
It can fight free radicals, this slows down aging thanks to its antioxidant power.
Prevents intestinal parasites from developing.
It can kill germs that may be on the skin or in the body.
It calms the pain due to the analgesic effect it has, relieving pain from sprains, low back pain, arthritis or many toothaches.

Oregano oil has vitamins A, B, C and E, it also contains minerals such as magnesium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc.

Discover more information about The Top 10 Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for our health

It is good for hair, how to use it?

Oregano oil has a host of benefits for your hair that can make your hair much stronger and healthier. These are all the properties that oregano can provide to hair:

Itchy scalp: you can mix 3 drops of oregano oil with any hair oil, be it olive, coconut or almond oil. It is applied to the scalp and the hair is washed after 45 minutes. It will not harm your hair if it is colored.
Dandruff: 3 drops of oregano oil should be mixed with the shampoo, applied throughout the hair and left to act for three minutes. Hair should be washed with lukewarm water and the procedure repeated.
Hair loss: 2 tablespoons of dried oregano are mixed, if it is fresh oregano, ½ cup should be applied. With vanilla extract and a cup of water. It is heated for about 45 seconds on a fairly low heat. The mixture is allowed to cool and then poured into an airtight container with a spray nozzle. It is stored in the refrigerator and is applied after having washed the hair well. It should not be used for more than 7 days.

What benefits does it bring for the skin and face?

Oregano has a host of benefits for the skin, whether it’s for removing pimples or acne . This because it is an incredible antifungal, antiseptic and antioxidant. It can be combined or used in creams and tonics for the feet and face.

There is a mask that can be applied to improve the skin, you should mix ¼ cup of aloe vera, along with cucumber juice and a tablespoon of three drops and a little oregano oil. It mixes very well and is applied to the affected area. Let it rest for five minutes and rinse with cold water.

In the case of having oily skin and acne, they should be combined with three cups of drinking water and boiled for three minutes. After this time it is removed from the heat and allowed to cool and poured into an airtight container with the help of a strainer. It is refrigerated and toner is applied to the face. This treatment is used for a week and then the skin is allowed to breathe.

Read the article we have on How to Take Care of Oily Skin and Dilated Pores

Serves to lose weight oregano oil

Oil of oregano is quite good for weight loss , as it can attack body fat that you do not want to have on the body. Recent studies were able to show that oregano oil can burn fat thanks to carvacrol, which modifies genes and reduces irritation that can occur in white adipose tissue.

This causes the genes to change and stop producing fat cells , causing a decrease in fat in certain areas of the body, which will cause the person to constantly lose weight. However, this is still part of various studies, so it is not something that is 100% verified.

Is it recommended for diabetes? Why?

Studies have determined that in the world there are 387 million people suffering from diabetes , a figure that is increasing every day, that is why currently one of the best remedies that can be used to treat this is oregano.

Oregano has a lot of benefits that can reduce the amount of glucose in the blood, it has high levels of phytochemicals which can fight inflammation and vitamins that are antioxidants A and C that make it much more effective in fighting diabetes.

Safe during pregnancy to use oregano oil

Oregano is not recommended for pregnant women , because it can cause a large number of problems in the body, among them, since increasing the doses of oregano in the body can cause a lot of sleep, nervous disorders or heart excitations.

In the same way, it can cause a lot of damage in pregnancy , since it can cause spontaneous abortions when exceeding the recommended dose of oregano, damaging the fetus in the same way.

More details on the topic with Miscarriages: Causes, Symptoms, Types and Possible Treatments

Cosmetic uses of oregano oil

There are many benefits that can be obtained thanks to oregano oil, the amount of vitamins it has makes it ideal for treating and caring for the skin and hair in depth. Oregano oil has many cosmetic uses , here are some of them:

It works to treat and fight acne in depth.
It can regenerate the skin, since it often has a large amount of sebum, which can end up affecting the skin considerably.
It can combat hair loss, it also stimulates and regenerates hair follicles, allowing it to grow much stronger and healthier.

Is oregano oil good for babies?

Internally the oil can be consumed by children of five years , however it is recommended that it be combined with another liquid, such as juice, water or milk. It is necessary to consult with a doctor the quantity of drops that the child can consume.

In the case of using it externally, oregano oil can be placed on the feet or on the spine, it can be mixed with olive oil, or it can be used a little directly on the skin. Children under 6 months of age should not consume or use this oil.

Medicinal properties of oregano oil

Oregano works as a medicinal plant which is very beneficial to eliminate all kinds of conditions that may be in the respiratory system. Since it has many anti-inflammatory , analgesic and antiseptic effects . You can make several baths with the drops of oregano oil.

You can massage various areas to eliminate arthritis , muscle aches, low back pain, sciatica, trauma, and certain open wounds. It can also calm and improve blood circulation, externally and internally.

For gas and flatulence , oregano can eliminate inflammation and the discomfort that these cause. Oregano can stimulate female hormones, this can reduce common menopausal symptoms over time.

Do not miss this article Evening Primrose Oil in Menopause

Why is it a natural antibiotic?

Oregano oil has a large number of properties and benefits that has been considered one of the most powerful antibiotics that exists, it has eight times more oxidants than an apple and three times more than blueberries.

The body needs antioxidants to defend itself against free radicals, the oil has allowed researchers on this oil to have determined that carvacrol, a compound that is included in this oil, is one of the most efficient antibiotics discovered by science.

It is an anti-inflammatory and antifungal

Studies have shown that oregano contains beta caryophyllin , which can help and prevent inflammation. Oil of oregano can help treat osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis.

In addition, it also has the ability to act as an antifungal , since several investigations determined that it can stop the growth of candida. Since it contains agents that can dehydrate and fight yeast cells from candida. Which deduces that oregano oil has a strong antifungal power.

Used against allergies, how?

Oil of oregano provides a host of soothing and therapeutic properties that can soothe allergies. In the same way, it can produce a sedative effect in case the allergy is due to hypersensitivity, providing a great amount of relief for this problem.

Instead of many drugs that have great side effects, using oregano can serve as a natural alternative to eliminate strong effects that can worsen the state of allergies.

Aromatherapy and oregano oil

The aphenolated molecules that the aroma of oregano oil has, the carvacrol which appears in most of this aroma, also contains thymol, these two combinations can end many infectious diseases in the body.

It also has a relaxing effect, which allows to calm stress and provide general relief in the body, for that reason it is really necessary to improve the health of the body in general.

You may also be interested in 8 Ideas to relax after a hard day at work / homework

Oil of oregano against cancer, is it good?

New research has determined that oregano oil can become a powerful nutrient to fight cancer, because it can eliminate and kill the bacteria that usually cause this disease.

This is once again carvacrol, which becomes a good antioxidant that can inhibit antimicrobial activity , which not only works when consumed, but also when consumed with food.

How is oregano oil used for massages?

Due to the fact that oregano has a large number of anti-inflammatory properties , it can relieve all kinds of pain that can be in certain parts of the body, and that are due to various problems such as muscle or joint pain such as arthritis.

The best thing to do is take a little of the oil and apply it to the painful area, then a small massage is carried out for at least 15 minutes, so that in this way the oregano oil takes effect and can soothe the pain.

How to make homemade oregano oil?

Preparing fresh oregano oil is one of the best solutions you can have, using fresh oregano is the best option you have to obtain all the benefits. These are the ingredients that are needed:

½ cup of oregano.
½ cup of olive oil.

preparation:

Wash very well and dry the oregano.
Place some leaves in a glass jar.
Mash the leaves with a similar meat mallet to release their oils.
The oil is heated until warm, it cannot be boiled.
Add to the jar and stir until well mixed for a minute.
The bottle is placed in a cool, dry place for about 2 weeks.
After 2 weeks the oil is strained and used.

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Contraindications of oregano oil

These are some of the adverse effects that oregano can have:

Poisoning the body: a high dose of oregano can damage the internal system, this is because it has many amounts of thymol, and this in large quantities can end up being very toxic to the body. For this reason, it is recommended to use a dose recommended by a specialist.
Allergic reactions: if you are hypersensitive to oregano, it is best to eliminate this type of oil, both in internal consumption and to use it topically. Irritation, itching, swelling of the lips, tongue and face can occur.
Iron absorption: oregano oil considerably reduces the possibility of absorbing iron, this causes problems with the minerals that the cells of the body can obtain.
Pregnancy: pregnant women should not consume this product because it can cause miscarriage, because the womb can be very weakened.
Anticoagulant: if you are going to perform a surgery, you should stop using oregano oil at least 2 weeks before said operation. Because it is a natural blood thinner.
Hypoglycemia: oregano oil can reduce blood sugar, however high doses of this oil can reduce it too much which can lead to hypoglycemia, being very harmful to health.
Digestive problems: oregano oil can cause many digestive problems, for that reason it is necessary to combine it with a carrier oil indicated for consumption.
Die Symptoms: Excess oregano can cause a host of problems such as fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, it is best in this case to consume a lot of water to flush toxins from the body.

Check in this article Water: Contraindications, Benefits, Components and Ionized Alkaline Water

Oregano Oil afety Data Sheet

These are the safety data that should be known and taken into account:

Appearance: LIQUID
Color: PALE YELLOW – RED BROWN
Smell: PHENOLIC, HERBACEOUS
Density: 0.935 – 0.970 g / cm³ (20 ° C)
Optical Rotation: -3.00 – 3,000 °
Refractive Index: 1,500 – 1,528 (20 ° C)
Flash point: 84 ° C

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Kathie Sand

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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.