Oregano ~ Packs a Punch

In the plant-based healing world, oregano is often touted as one of the most powerful herbs available to us for keeping ourselves and families healthy! It has been used for centuries for a reason. A natural antibiotic and strong antioxidant, oregano is commonly used in natural remedies for colds, coughs, croup, asthma, bronchitis, congestion, sinus pain, sinusiis, soar throats, flu as well for for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, candida, heartburn and bloating and some skin conditions like psoriasis. It is even thought to assist with increasing the flow of bile aiding our digestion.

This powerful aromatic plant has to be one of my all-time favorite healers. Sometimes called mountain mint or wild majoram, this herb provides benefits both when consumed and applied topically. I highly recommend it having this herb in your pantry and oil in your medicine closet!

Oregano contains potent antioxidant compounds – Carvacrol (a phenol), thymol and rosmarinic acid.  Distilled from the shoots and leaves of the plant, these natural compounds are thought to underlie oregano oil’s many health benefits - supporting our immune system with antibacterial, antiviral and antiparastic properties. Oregano oil is wowing the plant-based health world with recent experiments that repeatedly confirm the efficacy of carvacrol against Salmonella, e. Coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria. It’s had so much success, researchers decided to pit it against an even more serious problem – antibiotic resistant Salmonella. When tested on Salmonella infected celery, carvacrol eliminated Salmonella colonies immediately. Studies also indicate that carvacrol may help fight Staphyloconcluding food poisoning and skin infections.

One study compared the antioxidant content of 39 commonly used herbs, and found that oregano contained 3–30 times more antioxidants present than other herbs-including  thyme, marjoram and St. John’s wort. Oregano has the highest concentration of antioxidants per gram – with 42 times the antioxidant level of apples and four times that of blueberries.

I'm not going to tell you that carvacrol is a cure for cancer but it certainly is demonstrating some interesting activity in preliminary research for breast, prostrate and other cancers showing that it expedited cancer cell death, while being non-toxic (Long Island University) to the human body.

Oregano is a key ingredient in my Common Cold Blend for Immune Support, which helps you confidently and proactively fight sickness.