In the recent articles regarding oregano oil, we’ve touched on the benefits of oregano oil for treating respiratory issues such as bronchitis, sinus and mild asthma as well as it’s ability to act as an expectorant.  What a great herb to discover, particularly if you’ve been suffering from a debilitating cough as many have.           

As you can now see, when it comes to herbs that do more than spice up your food, oregano is kind of a rockstar. In oil form, oregano turns into a bit of a health hero, especially when it comes to digestion.

Oregano oil comes from the leaves of the Origanum vulgare plant and is packed with two major compounds: carvacrol and thymol. As we now know these guys are known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant superpowers.

Basically, they help fight off nasty bugs in our gut, calm inflammation, and support better digestion overall.

If our tummy’s been acting up - think bloating, gas, or general discomfort - it might be due to an overgrowth of bad bacteria or yeast like Candida albicans. Good news: oregano oil has been shown to help!

• One study found that carvacrol can actually break down the membrane of Candida, making oregano oil a natural antifungal (1).
• Another study showed it can knock back E. coli and Salmonella (2), which are common culprits in gut infections.

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is when too many bacteria hang out in your small intestine - cue the bloating and cramps. While antibiotics are often used to treat it, some people turn to herbal options like oregano oil. One clinical study even found that a blend of herbs including oregano oil worked just as well as a common antibiotic called rifaximin (3). Pretty cool, right?

Struggling with IBS or leaky gut? These conditions usually involve a lot of inflammation. The compounds in oregano oil can help calm that down. In one animal study, oregano oil reduced gut inflammation and oxidative stress in rats with colitis (4). While we still need more human research, the early results are looking good.

Oregano oil is strong - so don’t go chugging it from the bottle. Capsules are the easiest and safest way to take it. If you’re using drops, dilute them in water or mix with a carrier oil. Start slow just 1 to 3 drops is plenty.

Don’t take oregano oil long-term without medical advice. It can disrupt your microbiome if overused. So, if your gut’s been feeling a bit off lately, oregano oil might be worth a try!

For more information call down to see the team at Go Vita your health shop at 5 North St, Batemans Bay or phone on 44729737.  Don’t forget to tune in to Marianne and Sofia chatting with Kimmi every Wednesday after 12.30pm on 2EC.

References:

1.       1. Manohar V, Ingram CW, Gray J. Antifungal activities of Origanum oil against Candida albicans. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2001;228(1–2):111–117.

       2. Moore‑Neibel K, Gerber C, Patel J, Friedman M, Jaroni D, Ravishankar S. Antimicrobial activity of oregano oil against antibiotic‑resistant Salmonella enterica on organic leafy greens at varying exposure times and storage temperatures. Food Microbiol. 2013;34(1):123–129. doi:10.1016/j.fm.2012.12.001

3.       3. Chedid V, Dhalla S, Clarke JO, Roland BC, Dunbar KB, Koh J, Justino E, Tomakin E, Mullin GE. Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Glob Adv Health Med. 2014;3(3):16–24. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.019

4.       4. Gülçin I, Oktay M, Küfrevioğlu ÖI, Aslan A. Effects of intra‑rectal and intra‑peritoneal application of Origanum onites essential oil on TNBS‑induced colitis in rats: comparison with dexamethasone. Phytother Res. 2007;21(4):340–347. doi:10.1002/ptr.2064