Wild Oregano Oil General Information

r e s e a r c h information

certified organic oil of oregano Immune-enhancing, antimicrobial, and antioxidant

Oil of oregano for your health is guaranteed to contain 80% carvacrol. The oil is extracted Hippocrates, the father of scientific medicine, used oregano from the hand-picked leaves using gentle steam distillation, to prevent infections and to treat stomach and respiratory ensuring that the oil is chemical free. Research shows that ailments. He advised, “Let food be your medicine.” This culin- steam temperatures do not diminish the effectiveness of ary herb, central to Mediterranean cuisine, has been receiving oregano oil. renewed scientific interest. Hundreds of studies have identified its active ingredients and confirmed their powerful synergistic Pure oregano oil is too potent to be used full strength, so it is effect in killing bacteria. Though Hippocrates was not aware of blended in a one-to-four ratio with olive oil. This is the ideal bacteria as the cause of infections, the healing power of the ratio for enabling the body to assimilate the oregano oil. Org- oregano’s volatile aromatic oils were well-known in antiquity. anic, cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil is used to ensure the product is 100% organic and free from chemical contaminants. Many plants are called oregano, and the one sold for cooking in North America is usually a species from Mexico. But the The benefits of oil of oregano oregano species with the proven healing properties is Origanum Research has shown oil of oregano has the following beneficial vulgare and grows wild in the mountains of Greece, Crete, characteristics: Turkey and the Himalayas. • Antiseptic • Antibacterial Recent research has also discovered that oil of oregano has other • Antimicrobial powerful healing qualities. It is effective against yeast, parasites, • Antifungal and even the so-called “superbugs.” It is a potent anti-inflamma- • Antiparasitic tory and antioxidant, and can reduce the risk of several degene- • Anti-inflammatory rative diseases. The safety and effectiveness of oregano oil has • Antioxidant been demonstrated by thousands of years of traditional use as a • Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic herbal remedy. Now, modern science confirms oil of oregano as • Analgesic (topical) an important natural health supplement. Antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiparasitic How oil of oregano works As more and more antibiotic drugs lose their effectiveness The antibacterial effects of oregano oil are likely due to its against life-threatening bacterial infections, research is showing ability to penetrate cell membranes and disrupt their integrity. the oil of Origanum vulgare has potent antimicrobial actions Studies have shown that if bacteria cells come into contact that can give our immune systems some needed reinforcement. with oregano oil – or one of its active ingredients, carvacrol or thymol – then fluids leak out of the bacteria. The pH inside the Many of oregano oil’s active constituents, including carvacrol bacteria also becomes more acidic, impairing metabolism and and thymol, are phenolic compounds. They are responsible for replication (Lambert). These findings are consistent with oregano’s demonstrated ability to inhibit the growth of, or kill, electron microscope observations that reveal damage to the many harmful microbes that infect humans. Several laboratory cell membranes of bacteria exposed to oil of oregano. studies have shown oil of oregano to be effective against a range of problematic food-borne pathogens, including Escherichia coli Pure, natural, and organic O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and Natural Factors Certified Organic Oil of Oregano is derived Staphylococcus aureus (Dadalioglu). from the wild-crafted Mediterranean oregano species Origanum vulgare. Carvacrol is the predominant phenol and most impor- Studies have also found oil of oregano to be effective against a tant component of wild oregano. The oil from Origanum vulgare variety of fungi and yeasts including Candida albicans, which has the highest naturally-occurring carvacrol content, at 80%. becomes an infectious agent if there is a change in the body Brands that contain significantly more than 80% carvacrol are environment that allows it to grow out of control. In vitro “spiked”, which may disturb the delicate synergistic balance of research has shown that oregano oil completely stopped the the individual phytochemicals as found in nature. By using the growth of C. albicans in culture, inhibiting both its germina- whole herb, rather than just some of its individual compounds, tion and its mycelial growth. This effect was dose-dependent, that synergy is maintained and potency greatly enhanced. The meaning that the oregano oil was responsible for the effect oregano oil in Natural Factors Certified Organic Oil of Oregano (Manohar).

This information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment of conditions that should be assessed and treated by your health care practitioner. While the information contained in this document has been carefully reviewed and reflects current clinical and scientific knowledge, it is subject to change. © All rights reserved – Natural Factors Nutritional Products Ltd. • Enquiries: [email protected] • 39544 • September 4, 2009 • Pg 1 of 2 Where Great Health Begins r e s e a r c h information Certified organic oil of oregano

Significantly, researchers with theUni- Antioxidant Pregnancy and lactation: Oil of oregano is versity of West England recently found Oil of oregano also provides effective not recommended during pregnancy or that oil of oregano is effective against the antioxidant protection against cellular while breastfeeding. drug-resistant “superbugs” found in damage caused by free radicals. Free hospitals. They studied Origanum vulgare radicals oxidize some of the molecules Children: Children under two years of age growing in the Himalayas and found its that make up the body’s cells. This should not use oil of oregano topically or potent antibacterial properties were more oxidation is a process similar to rusting internally. Internal use by children 2 to effective than 18 antibiotic drugs. It and it damages the cells. Free radicals are 13 years old should be guided by a health killed the methicillin-resistant superbug a factor in inflammation and degenera- care practitioner. Staphylococcus aureus even when diluted tive diseases, including arthritis, cancer, Drug Interactions: As oil of oregano may 1000:1 (Paddock). and heart disease. contribute to blood thinning, consult a health care practitioner prior to use if A human clinical trial also found daily Oil of oregano contains powerful anti- you are taking blood-thinning medica- supplementation with 600 mg of emul- oxidants such as rosmarinic acid and tions, aspirin, or NSAIDs. sified oil of oregano completely elimi- quercetin. A 2001 study of various medi- nated a variety of intestinal parasites for cinal herbs found that oil of oregano has Contraindications: Use with caution if you most patients during a six-week treat- an oxygen radical absorption capacity are allergic to the lamiaceae family (inclu- ment regime (Force). (ORAC) four times greater than blueber- ding basil, sage, mint, hyssop, lavender, ries, and at least 12 times that of oranges thyme, rosemary, and other herbs). Anti-inflammatory and other fruits and vegetables. Oregano’s Used traditionally for thousands of years ORAC value was higher than even Inflammation is part of the body’s nor- as a herbal remedy, the health benefits of vitamin E (Zheng). The ORAC test has mal response to injury or infection. But oil of oregano are now supported by become one of the standard methods to sometimes inflammation can be exces- modern medical research. Oil of oregano measure antioxidant properties in foods. sive or unnecessary, and actually causes a can assist the immune system in com- The higher the ORAC value, the higher disorder, such as certain cardiac condi- bating an array of pathogenic microbes, the concentration of antioxidants. tions or seasonal allergies. improve inflammatory conditions, and reduce the risk of many degenerative In an animal study, pre-treatment with Oil of oregano is rich in the polyphenol diseases. rosmarinic acid, which has been shown rosmarinic acid before exposure to a car- to have an anti-inflammatory action. In cinogenic chemical resulted in a reduc- a human clinical trial, patients with sea- tion in reactive oxygen species that cause Key REFERENCES free radical damage (Osakabe). Labora- Arcila-Lozano C.C., et al., “Oregano: properties, composition sonal allergies were treated daily with and biological activity”, Arch Latinoam Nutr, Mar; 54 (1): rosmarinic acid or a placebo for 21 days. tory tests showed the antioxidant com- 100-11; 2004 Compared to placebo, supplementation pounds in oregano oil had a strong Dadalioglu I., Evrendilek G.A., “Chemical compositions and with rosmarinic acid resulted in a signifi- protective effect against the oxidation of antibacterial effects of essential oils of Turkish oregano LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, a key factor in (Origanum minutiflorum), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), Spanish cant improvement in symptoms. The lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.), and fennel (Foeniculum vul- researchers also investigated how the heart disease (Kulisic). gare) on common foodborne pathogens”, J Agric Food Chem, rosmarinic acid worked. They took nasal Dec 29; 52 (26): 8255-60; 2004 swabs from the patients and discovered Some research has also found antimuta- Force M., et al., “Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo”, Phytotherapy Research, May; 14 (3): the rosmarinic acid had decreased the genic and anticarcinogenic effects of oil 213-214; 2000 number of neutrophils (the white blood of oregano, suggesting it may be useful in Kulisic T., et al., “The effects of essential oils and aqueous tea cells that form the bulk of inflammatory the prevention and treatment of cancer infusions of oregano (Origanum vulgare L. spp. hirtum), thyme (Arcila-Lozano). (Thymus vulgaris L.), and wild thyme (Thymus serphyllum L.) on congestion) and eosinophils, another the copper-induced oxidation of human low-density lipopro- type of white blood cell that produces teins”, Int J Food Sci Nutr, Mar; 58(2): 87-93; 2007 harmful reactive oxygen species, inclu- Dosage Lambert R.J., “A study of the minimum inhibitory concentra- ding free radicals (Osakabe). tion and mode of action of oregano oil, thymol and carvacrol”, Four drops daily directly under the J Appl Microbiol, Sep; 91 (3): 453-62; 2001 tongue, mixed with water, applied Manohar V., et al., “Antifungal activities of origanum oil against These natural anti-inflammatory effects topically, or as directed by a health care Candida albicans”, Mol Cell Biochem, Dec; 228 (1-2): 111-7; of the active compounds in oil of ore- practitioner. A sensation of warmth is 2001 Osakabe N., et al., “Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effects gano may be the basis for its historical normal. Do not apply to raw or broken use as a herbal remedy for inflammatory of rosmarinic acid (RA); inhibition of seasonal allergic rhinocon- skin. junctivitis (SAR) and its mechanism”, Biofactors, 21 (1-4): disorders, such as coughs, asthma, croup, 127-131; 2004 bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, dys- Paddock C., “Himalayan Oregano Effective Against MRSA”, pepsia, and dysmenorrhea. Anti-inflam- Safety Medical News Today, Nov 24; 2008 matory action may also underlie the use Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare) is Zheng W., Wang S.Y., “Antioxidant activity and phenolic generally well-tolerated. Gastrointestinal compounds in selected herbs”, J Agri Food Chem, 49 (11): of oregano as a herbal remedy for acne, 5165-70; 2001 insect and spider bites, canker sores, gum upset may occur if the recommended disease, toothaches, psoriasis, seborrhea, dose is exceeded. If topical use is rosacea, and muscle pain. excessive, skin irritation or rashes may occur. Avoid contact with the eyes, and flush immediately with water if eye contact occurs.