Oregano is best known as a hallmark herb of Italian cuisine.
But the leafy plant offers more than flavor.
It contains phytochemicals with antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds that canfight bacteria and inflammation1when consumed as an oil.
What is oregano oil?
Note: it’s different than oregano essential oil.
It’s important to note that oregano oil is not the same thing as oreganoessentialoil.
But it should not be eaten on its own.
Essential oils are very potent, and ingesting them in an unencapsulated form candamage the intestinal lining.
Benefits of oregano oil.
The potential benefits of oregano oil range fromacneand asthma to psoriasis and wound healing.
However, scientific literature has not caught up to support these uses in humans.
In animal studies, oregano extract improvedenhanced intestinal health5and immune response while reducing oxidative stress in the intestine.
And in a different animal study, itincreased beneficial gut bacteria6while decreasing disease-causing strains.
It’s antibacterial.
Oregano oil has been shown to have antimicrobial properties in preliminary research.
In one study, oregano oil showed significantantibacterial activity7against 11 microbes that were resistant to multiple antibiotics.
Both carvacrol and thymol have also been studiedto work with antibiotics8to overcome resistant bacteria.
It may improve acne.
Oregano oil’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and gut-modulating effects may work in tandem to improve acne.
Goldsborough said she often sees clients taking oregano oil for gastrointestinal reasonsgo on to experience skin improvements.
However, most of the research on oregano and acne has been done using topical tool oforegano essential oil.
It eases inflammation.
Antioxidants found in oregano oil can combat inflammation and potentially help mitigate related diseases.
Oregano’s ability to temper inflammation shows promise in cancer treatment studies.
In anothermouse-model study13, oregano suppressed tumor growth and appearance.
And inhuman breast cancer cells14, the oregano species with the most antioxidant activity significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation.
It might improve mood.
Does oregano oil boost brain health?
According toone study15, oregano extract can elevate mood and have an anti-depressive effect in animals.
But again, these are preclinical animal studies, so more research in humans is needed.
Components of oregano oil.
Large doses of oregano might also increase risk of bleeding and therefore areunsafe for surgery patients.
If you’re scheduled for surgery, stop all oregano oil supplementation at least two weeks before.
Oregano oil can also interact with diabetes medications and blood thinners.
Oregano oil may also cause the following side effects in some people, Majumdar says.
It’s best to stop andtry an alternativeif side effects occur.
