Oregano is a well-known medicinal plant. Due to its intense aroma, the leaves are also used as a spice.
The plant is rich in essential oils, especially carvacrol and thymol, which have antibacterial and antifungal properties. For this reason, oregano and the oil extracted from it are often referred to as natural antibiotics.
Here we take a closer look at the effects of oregano oil.
Antibacterial
The carvacrol contained in oregano has an antimicrobial effect. It can inhibit the growth of staphylococci, enterococci, E. coli, and salmonella, for example.1
Against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Oregano oil is particularly interesting for infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is because even bacterial strains that are resistant to conventional antibiotics are sensitive to oregano oil.2
However, further research is needed regarding the specific duration and dosage for such infections.
Antifungal
Oregano also has an antifungal effect, which is mainly due to the thymol it contains. This active ingredient is very effective at inhibiting fungal growth. This has been particularly well researched in Candida albicans.3
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
Oregano oil has antioxidant properties and can therefore scavenge free radicals and counteract oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress promotes inflammation, oregano oil also has an anti-inflammatory effect and is of interest in inflammatory diseases. However, its specific application still needs to be investigated in more detail.
For respiratory diseases
Oregano oil is often used in naturopathy for respiratory diseases such as coughs, bronchitis, and asthma.
In vitro, oregano oil can actually reduce inflammation in lung cells.4
For digestive problems
Oregano oil is traditionally used for digestive problems. It is said to aid digestion, relieve flatulence, and help with gastrointestinal infections.
Oregano oil is also often recommended for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Although oregano oil is promising in this regard due to its antibacterial properties, there is unfortunately no concrete data to show that oregano oil can actually help with SIBO.
For intestinal dysbiosis
In animal studies, oregano oil has a positive effect on the intestinal flora. Treatment with oregano oil increased beneficial intestinal bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria and decreased pathogenic germs such as E. coli and Shigella.5
However, the dose is crucial: if the dosage is too high, oregano oil also acts against beneficial intestinal bacteria. href="#sdfootnote6sym">6 The optimal dose for humans has yet to be determined.
For intestinal parasites
Oregano oil also shows promise for intestinal parasites, although here too, the data available for humans is very limited.7 However, there is good data on animals: oregano oil is effective against intestinal worms in sheep, for example.8
Side effects of oregano oil
Oregano oil is generally well tolerated, but it is very pungent and irritating. It can therefore easily irritate the skin and mucous membranes. For this reason, it should never be taken undiluted, but diluted with a carrier oil.
Oregano oil from Viktilabs
The oregano oil capsules from Viktilabs contain cold-pressed, virgin olive oil as a carrier oil in addition to oregano oil. This makes these capsules well tolerated and does not irritate the digestive tract.
The product is free from unnecessary additives such as colorants, anti-caking agents, sweeteners, and binding agents. To guarantee maximum purity, the preparation is tested for heavy metals and other harmful substances by an independent laboratory.
Click here for oregano oil from Viktilabs.
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