Most of us dream of traveling to Greece and Italy to see the ruins as well as eat the food and drink the wine. Those two cultures set the pace for Western civilization and we owe a debt of thanks for their discoveries and insights. These old cultures had a special relationship with nature. They spent a lot of time in the mountains searching for things to eat and for health remedies that could relieve the common ailments that could linger for weeks at a time. When they discovered oregano oil they called it, ‘oros ganos’ or ‘the joy of the mountains’ and the oil has lived up to that name over the years.
The Greeks were the first group to use the oil of oregano to treat an assortment of health issues, but they also used it to flavor their meat. When the Romans arrived they fell in love with oregano, and that love affair is never ending. Italian food wouldn’t taste or smell the same without oregano, and the health benefits of the oil wouldn’t be recognized and studied as much now if it weren’t for ancient revelations about the chemicals in the oil.
Oregano oil contains some powerful compounds that have the ability to impact the cells in all organs in the body. The two active volatile oils in oregano are called thymol and carvacrol. Modern research tells us those oils give the oregano antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Carvacrol also has antifungal properties and it can be used to eliminate parasitic infections. Thymol has antiseptic properties and it’s a natural fungicide. Thymol is one of the active ingredients in Listerine mouthwash; it kills germs and reduces plaque.
The terpenes in oregano also give it antibacterial properties, and the rosmarinic acid in the oil is an antihistamine and an antioxidant. Rosmarinic acid prevents free radical damage, and that lowers the risk of cancer and atherosclerosis. Allergic reactions and hay fever symptoms can be relieved when a few drops of oregano oil are inhaled during aromatherapy.
Other Oregano Oil Ingredients Can Inhibit Cancer Cell Growth
The naringin in the oil helps stop the growth of cancer cells, and it’s a proven antioxidant so there is a great deal of research being conducted on how oregano oil can be incorporated into different cancer treatments. The tocopherols in the oil are vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, boron, copper, and manganese as well as a dose of vitamins A & C plus niacin so the immune system gets some help when the oil is inhaled.
When all these chemical compounds in the plant are pressed into oil and used on and in the body, several common ailments begin to disappear. Acne, canker sores, yeast infections, foot and nail fungus, and gum disease as well as other infections can be successfully treated with a few drops of oregano oil.
