What Is Oregano Oil Used for Medicinally?

Origanum vulgare, an oregano species, is used to make a medicinal oil that has been used for thousands of years by herbalists to treat a variety of illnesses. It is a wild, flowering herb with fragrant green leaves and is native to the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. Origanum vulgare is different from the oregano spice sold in grocery stores.

Medicinal Uses

• Herbalists believe oregano oil has antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties. It is ingested to treat diarrhea, indigestion, anxiety, cold symptoms, headache, toothache, gum disease, rheumatism, earache, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sinus infections, bronchitis and allergies. The oil is used externally to treat insect bites, athlete's foot, skin rashes, acne, dandruff and eczema.

Active Ingredients

• The active ingredients in oregano oil are carvacrol (an isomeric phenol) and thymol (a phenol constituent). Carvacrol has been shown to destroy bacteria in test tubes and mice. Thymol boosts the immune system.

Nutritional Value

• Origanum vulgare is rich in iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, boron, copper and manganese. It also contains vitamins A and C, and niacin.

Side Effects and Drug Interactions

• There are no known side effects or drug interactions. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved oregano oil for use as a drug, and therefore, no official studies on its safety have been conducted.

Related Literature

• "The Cure is in the Cupboard -- How to Use Oregano for Better Health" by Cass Ingram, D.O., indicates that Dr. Cass cured himself of a blood-born fungal infection with oregano oil. The book also details many of the other medicinal uses for the oil.

Georgetown University Study

• A 2005 study of oregano oil by Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., notes oregano oil is capable of killing the bacterial organisms staphylococcus aureus, helicobacter pylori, E. coli, klebsiella pneumoniae and mycobacterium terrae. The study concluded oregano oil, "might prove useful in the prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections, especially those that are difficult to treat and/or are antibiotic resistant." (See Resources).