Oregano Oil Australia

Oregano oil (also known by the name ‘oil of oregano’ when concentrated into an essential oil) contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties and has even been praised as a natural antibiotic. Made from the oregano plant, the oil is rich in two health promoting compounds: carvacrol and thymol. Carvacrol has been the subject of many studies, researched for its ability to alleviate, reduce or reverse a range of common health complaints. Thymol may be an effective way to fight fungal infections and protect the body against harmful toxins. As such, oregano oil and oregano essential oil are widely used as alternative natural ‘medicines’ to treat bacterial infections, inflammation, fungal infections, indigestion and more.

What is oil of oregano?

Oil of oregano is a concentrated extract of the oregano plant, a perennial herb that is part of the mint family. The oregano plant grows worldwide but it’s the wild oregano and extracted wild oregano oil that holds the most interest for natural health enthusiasts. Wild oregano oil is thought to be the most potent, growing organically in their endemic regions and allowed to flourish naturally without human intervention. 

Oregano oil is made from the dried leaves and shoots of the oregano plant. Typically, and in its purest form, the oil is extracted through a steam distillation process. This pure form oregano essential oil can then be mixed with a carrier oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil and used topically or orally. A highly concentrated version, oregano essential oil, can be used topically but should not be ingested. 

Health benefits of oregano oil

At this point, you may be wondering what the health benefits of oregano oil are. Rich in antioxidants with two powerful compounds inside, oregano oil has an impressive health-promoting profile. So let’s take a look at what you can use oregano oil for and what the potential health benefits are. 

Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants play an important role in the body, helping to protect against damage caused by free radicals. Oregano is thought to contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants compared to other popular herbs like thyme and St. John’s Wort.

Antioxidant compounds found in oregano include rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, with the oil of oregano a concentrated version with powerful antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants have been shown to include immune boosting properties with studies revealing antioxidant supplementation as an effective defence against free radicals. Research has also found antioxidants to be effective in improving certain immune responses.

With such a rich antioxidant profile, the immune boosting properties of oregano oil are of great interest to anyone looking for natural therapies.

Helps fight bad bacteria

This study, which looked at the antibacterial properties of oregano, found oregano essential oil inhibited the growth of all strains of texted bacteria. It concluded, ‘O. vulgare extracts and essential oil from Portuguese origin are strong candidates to replace synthetic chemicals used by the industry.’

Potential natural antibiotic

As a bacteria-fighting powerhouse, it makes sense there are murmurs in the health sphere around the potential of oregano oil and oregano essential oil as a natural alternative to antibiotics. The potential is there with this article from the Journal of Medicinal Food noting oil of oregano has a ‘high yield of oils rich in carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene with a high antibacterial activity.’ 

A lot more research needs to be done around oregano oil’l potential as a natural antibiotic but what is out there shows promising results, particularly in antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

What can oregano oil be used for?

Oregano oil may help improve digestion

Using oregano oil to help promote healthy digestion is as simple as added a few drops of oregano oil to water. This study showed promising results for oil of oregano (mediterranean) as an effective treatment for parasitic gut issues. While this study showed promise for sufferers of leaky gut syndrome.

Oil of oregano may be a natural way to treat common yeast infections

Studies have shown very promising results for oil of oregano as an effective natural way to treat a number of common yeast infections, such as candida. The compound carvacrol, which is abundant in oregano oil, is thought to be very effective against oral candida in particular.

Use oregano oil to help treat fungal infections

With high levels of the compound thymol, oregano oil is a potent natural antifungal ointment. Used to fight common fungal infections, thymol may just be nature’s antidote to pesky candida fungal infections like toenail fungus. To treat toenail fungus, soak a swab with a few drops of oregano oil and rub it all over the toenail.

Conclusion

Oregano oil and oregano essential oil (also known as oil of oregano or oil of wild oregano) is a natural health supplement praised for its potential medicinal properties and associated health benefits. Wild oregano oil extracted from wild oregano is said to be most potent. Oregano oil is rich in three important compounds: carvacrol, thymol and rosmarinic acid. It’s rich in antioxidants, which are effective at fighting free radicals, and contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties.

Oregano oil and oregano essential oil can be used as a natural tincture, mixed with olive oil or other carrier oil, to treat various health complaints topically, including fungal infections. Oregano oil can also be diluted in water and taken orally as a natural elixir for common digestive issues among other things.

If you’re wondering where to buy oregano oil in Australia, a reputable online health store like Aussie Health Products can help take the hassle out of the buying process. We source the highest quality certified oregano oil available, including wild oregano oil extracted from Mediterranean-grown wild oregano (Origanum vulgare) plants, and deliver it straight to your door.