Oregano Oil Benefits
Recently I came across oregano oil for a sore throat I had. One drop of the oil in a glass of water and gargle 3 times a day by the second day my throat was just as clear. Many believe that oregano oil benefits are even better than echinacea.
It sounds like it belongs on a spice rack, or spaghetti not in the medicine cabinet, but an oil from a common culinary herb is challenging echinacea’s supremacy among herbal cold and flu remedies. Increasingly Canadians are reaching for oregano oil instead of echinacea to ward off cold and flu viruses.
At some health food stores, oregano oil is selling better than echinacea for the cold and flu season. Sales of oregano oil took off during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and it seems that people who tried it then are back for more to help control colds and flus this season.
In the U.S., oregano oil sales took a jump after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent anthrax scare. Many believed that oregano oil’s ability to kill germs would protect them from anthrax. Studies have since shown that it doesn’t kill the anthrax bacterium, but it does slow its growth. The same research has shown that it kills staphylococcus, a bacterium that causes a type of pneumonia often associated with influenza. If staphylococcus gets in the blood stream it quickly becomes deadly.
- Antibacterial properties
Since 2000, over a dozen research reports have been published on oregano’s antibacterial properties. It has been shown to kill a variety of harmful bacteria, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, the bacterium that caused the Walkerton water disaster in May 2000 that made 600 people sick, killing 7, and left others permanently injured.
Not only is oregano effective against bacteria, it also kills pathogenic fungi and even kills the water-borne mollusk that causes the debilitating tropical disease, schistosomiasis.
Oregano possesses a potent mixture of antimicrobial compounds. A current focus is on carvacrol, a thick oily substance that has strong antiseptic properties. But like most herbs, there are many other compounds in oregano that likely contributes to its medicinal effects.
- Antioxidant Properties
Probably the most interesting development in recent years is an emerging picture that oregano possesses potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to preserve the integrity of bodily structures, preventing the damaging effects of free radicals and other harmful chemicals. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants, and now research is showing that oregano is as well.
A class of compounds called phenols are thought to be responsible for oregano’s antioxidant effects. The main phenol is rosmarinic acid, a phenol found in rosemary, sage and basil. It is especially high in rosemary, to the point that rosemary is being used as a natural food preservative in the food industry – but oregano has more. Oregano’s particular mix of phenols may be contributing to oregano’s growing popularity as a supplement for maintaining good health.
- Folk Literature
In Crete and other parts of Greece, oregano is a long-time folk remedy that is still in wide use. The intriguing thought is that oregano, like other herbs and spices, may have been added to food originally for medicinal reasons long before it become known as a culinary herb.
- Consumer Advice
In the last decade, certain companies have been saying that only their brand of oregano oil is effective; we believe that this is pure marketing hype intended to justify high prices. There are many species and varieties of oregano. Research is showing that many of them have the same or similar properties. Some varieties are grown more for their looks than for their flavor and probably are not as effective medicinally. But high oil varieties such as Greek oregano no doubt possess the same medicinal properties that have been reported in the scientific literature.
- Suggested Use
1 drop of oregano oil is often enough in a glass of water. Gargle and repeat three times a day. I often drink the solution after I gargle and it has a pleasant tingling taste.
If flu persists please seek medical advice from a qualified medial professional.
They Don’t Believe in Herbs? So Why Are They Selling Them?
A survey of pharmacists shows that few believe in the organic herbal products sold in their stores.
The real estate in pharmacies are the racks next to the dispensary where clients wait while their prescriptions are being filled. Here is where clients kill time looking at items that they might not have planned to buy. But chances are, as marketing experts know well, they will pick something up during their minutes waiting and a dig a bit further in their pockets to pay for it.
In many pharmacies those racks in front of the dispensary are not supplied with over-the-counter non-prescription medication such as aspirin and acetaminophen but with natural health products, including a range of organic pills and potions. In the past several years, drug stores silently have become the biggest submission route for organic herbs in Canada and the United States, far exceeding the share of health food stores, the traditional source for consumers.
Despite racking up $5 billion in annual revenue for organic health products in the U.S., most pharmacists do not believe in the organic herbal items they are selling, according to market research of 533 licensed pharmacists in Minnesota interviewed, only 19% said that they believe organic health products are effective. What’s more surprisingly is, 44% of pharmacists felt that their knowledge of organic herbs and other organic health products is inadequate. If this is representative of North America, then millions of customers are getting their organic herbal products from someone who does not know enough about herbs or does not believe that herbs work.
Why then do pharmacies sell herbal products if they do not believe in them?
Probably because they earn more money with the herbal products on the racks instead of medication. The revenue from herbal products have grown to more than 10% of prescription medication. According to recent Canadian industry reports, drugstore owners and managers said that herbal remedies were one of the top three areas that they wanted to expand in their stores.
But were they also thinking of hiring someone with herbal expertise? Ninety-five percent said no. It seems that consumers do not need or want help with herbs, or they do not expect their pharmacist to be able to answer their questions. According to the Minnesota survey, pharmacists are asked for help on herbal products on average only once a day.
Are consumers getting the information they need to use herbs safely and effectively when they purchase them at their local pharmacy? We wonder.
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