Whenever necessary to use an antibiotic for any infection, the only antibiotics you should turn to are the safe and natural ones. One of the best natural antibiotic is the oil of oregano. Oil of oregano is a potent steam distilled extract of the oregano plant. Oregano oil benefits includes it’s strong aroma and antiseptic properties that kill a wide variety of pathogens, breaking through the cell membranes of disease-causing microbes like nothing else could. It is a natural substance and contains two key compounds carvacrol and thymol which are directly involved in inhibiting harmful micro-organisms that cause many illnesses and complications. These activities help boost the immune system, neutralize free radicals, repair and heal cells and tissue damages.

Oregano oil is unlikely to cause many of the harmful side effects that are commonly attributed to high use of antibiotics, such as increased risk for antibiotic resistance, poor gut health due to destroying beneficial probiotic bacteria, reduced vitamin absorption and leaky gut syndrome due to damage of the GI tract’s lining. Found in the Mediterranean, throughout many parts of Europe, and in South and Central Asia, medicinal grade oregano is distilled to extract the essential oil from the herb, which is where a high concentration of the herb’s active constituents are found. It takes over 1,000 pounds of wild oregano to produce just one pound of oregano essential oil. The oil’s active ingredients are preserved in alcohol and used in essential oil form both topically and internally. The oregano oil has a wide range of uses and health benefits.

10 Oregano Oil Health Benefits You Didn’t Know

1. Pain Relief

Rub oregano oil mixed with olive oil (or other carrier oil) on sore muscles and joints for pain relief and to aid in reducing inflammation. Place drops of diluted oregano oil on your neck, temples and forehead to help reduce the pain of headaches and migraines. Smelling full strength oil of oregano is also helpful in easing head pain.

2. Treating Infections

Because most sicknesses and diseases are caused by micro-organisms, it makes sense that oregano oil that is used to kill these harmful microbes, are effective to be used to prevent and treat infections such as:

• Yeast infections: Bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans
• Lung infections: Streptococcus, staphylococcus
• Parasitic infections: Flatworms, tapeworms
• Urinary tract infections: E.coli, chlamydia
• Food poisoning: Salmonella, listeria, botulism.

3. Reduce Side Effects From Medications/Drugs

In recent years many studies have found that one of the most promising oregano oil benefits is helping to reduce side effects from medications/drugs. These studies give hope to people who want to find a way to manage the horrible suffering that accompanies drugs and medical interventions, such as chemotherapy or use of drugs for chronic conditions like arthritis.

4. Prevents Cancer

The antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of oregano oil help in prevention of cancer.

5. Skin Care

Mix 1-2 drops of oregano oil to a small cup of coconut oil and apply on acne, cold sores, nail fungus, shingles or psoriasis skin condition. Do not use oregano oil on broken or sensitive skin as it may burn. Use a clean cotton pad with every application to avoid spreading the bacteria. The tingling sensation observed after the application of this oil stops the herpes virus from manifesting all together. Discontinue using it if you discover redness or irritation.

6. Fight Pneumonia and Bronchitis

For this purpose, diffuse it and inhale from a bowl of steaming water. It should also be applied on the soles of your feet. For external infections, apply 2 to 3 diluted drops to the affected area; to prevent internal bacterial overgrowth, ingest 2 to 4 drops twice daily for up to 10 days.

7. Treat Athlete’s Foot

One study found that a combination of heat, salt and use of essential oils (including oregano) had inhibitory effects against bacterial strains that commonly cause the fungal infection known as athlete’s foot. After testing the fungicidal activity of 11 essential oils against the bacteria known to cause athlete’s foot, oregano oil was found to be the most powerful.

8. Stimulates Hair Growth

Oregano oil can be mixed with other essential oils such as olive oil, jojoba oil or tea tree oil and used on scalp once a week or every two weeks. This will result in improving the conditions of thinning hair and stimulate hair growth. Oregano oil can be used weekly or bi-weekly as part of a hair and scalp cleansing regimen to combat the problems of hair loss, balding, dandruff, head lice, ringworm, dermatitis, scabies or scalp inflammation.

9. Improve Immune System

Oregano oil is an excellent option for increasing the body’s defense mechanism against cold or sore throat. You can simply take 3 drops of oregano oil in a day or mix it into a glass of orange juice and notice results within a few hours. Oregano oil should be taken up to 5 days to totally eliminate the symptoms.

10. Cures Gastrointestinal & Bronchial Infections

This oil helps in curing gastrointestinal and bronchial infections. Carvacol and Thymol compounds act as antibacterial and antispasmodic agents to stimulate bile flow in the gall bladder. Hence, it is effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections, respiratory tract ailments, menstrual cramps, arthritis, dyspepsia and bloating.

If you purchase concentrated oil of oregano be sure to dilute it before placing it on your skin or ingesting it. The oil is too potent to be used as is. Take oregano essential oil internally for a maximum of two weeks in most cases because it’s so powerful. Young children, pregnant and nursing women, individuals with high blood pressure or a heart condition; and individuals who are on medications or undergoing medical treatments should take precaution with Oregano Oil. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.