Whole Formulas offers five potent oregano oil formulas for both internal and external use (depending on the product). Learn more about this incredible herb below.
The Whole Formulas Oregano Oil Line
Healthy Feet with Oregano Oil, 1 fl oz
Healthy Gums with Oregano Oil, 1 fl oz
Healthy Nails with Oregano Oil, 1 fl oz
Oregano at a Glance
Oregano (Origanum vulgare), a member of the mint family, is native to Asia and the Mediterranean. Its name is derived from the Greek words “oros,” meaning mountain, and “ganos,” meaning joy. This fragrant herb is used extensively in cooking, and is typically dried or extracted through steam distillation for medicinal purposes.
Oregano is packed with antioxidants and may display powerful antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and antiseptic activity. It's theorized that carvacrol, its active chemical component, may work by inhibiting the growth of yeast and several bacteria strains, including Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus.
In alternative medicine oregano is popular for infections, including parasites and candida albicans (yeast). It's also used for respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tract issues that are microbial in nature.
If you're considering oregano oil for internal use, please speak with your physician. If using externally, discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Studies
According to studies done by Georgetown University Medical Center:
Oil from the common herb oregano may be an effective treatment against dangerous, and sometimes drug-resistant bacteria, a Georgetown researcher has found. Two studies have shown that oregano oil—and, in particular, carvacrol, one of oregano’s chemical components—appear to reduce infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics.
They combined oregano oil with staphylococcus bacteria in a test tube, and compared the oil’s effects to those of standard antibiotics streptomycin, penicillin and vacnomycin. The oregano oil, at relatively low doses, was found to inhibit the growth of staphylococcus bacteria in the test tubes as effectively as the standard antibiotics did.
Fungi
A study reported in the June 27, 2011, issue of "Natural Product Research" found that oregano oil shows strong antifungal effects against two common food-borne fungi. Applying oregano oil to the surface of fermented, dry-cured sausages reduces the growth of mold, says a study published in the September 2011 issue of the journal "Meat Science."
Sources
US National Library of Medicine "Effect of Essential Oils on Pathogenic Bacteria"
Science Daily "Oregano Oil May Protect Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria"
