What are the health benefits of oil of oregano?

Health Benefits of Oil of Oregano

Oil of oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, with clinical evidence supporting its use against enteric parasites, but lacks sufficient high-quality evidence for other health claims. 1, 2

Antimicrobial Properties

Oil of oregano contains active compounds that have demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity:

• Carvacrol and thymol are the main active compounds responsible for oregano oil's antimicrobial effects 3, 4
• Effective against:
  • Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with stronger effects against Gram-positive bacteria 5, 4
  • Fungi/yeasts, with particularly strong activity (MIC = 0.06-0.25 mg/mL) 3
  • Enteric parasites - a small clinical study showed complete elimination of Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba hartmanni, and Endolimax nana in many patients after 6 weeks of supplementation 2

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

• Oregano oil demonstrates potent antioxidant activity (71.42-80.44% in recent testing) 3
• May help retard lipid peroxidation in fatty foods and scavenge free radicals 4
• Has shown anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory studies 1

Potential Health Applications

1. Parasite treatment: The strongest clinical evidence supports oregano oil's effectiveness against certain intestinal parasites 2

2. Oral health applications: While not specifically for oregano oil, other herbal oils have shown effectiveness in reducing plaque and gingivitis comparable to chlorhexidine mouthwash 6

3. Potential metabolic effects: Some research suggests anti-diabetic properties, though clinical evidence is limited 1

Important Considerations and Limitations

• Dosage and quality: The concentration of active compounds (carvacrol and thymol) varies based on:

  • Plant species (Origanum vs. Lippia)
  • Geographical source
  • Harvesting season 4

• Safety concerns:

  • No major safety guidelines exist for oregano oil supplementation
  • May interact with medications or cause digestive upset in some individuals
  • The clinical study for parasites used 600mg of emulsified oil daily for 6 weeks 2

• Limited high-quality evidence: Most benefits beyond antimicrobial effects lack robust clinical trials

Comparison to Other Natural Oils

Unlike oils such as olive oil or avocado oil, which have established cardiovascular benefits through their monounsaturated fat content 6, 7, oregano oil is primarily used for its bioactive compounds rather than as a dietary fat source.

Bottom Line

While oregano oil shows promising antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in laboratory studies, clinical evidence is strongest only for its antiparasitic effects. More research is needed to validate other potential health benefits before making broad recommendations for its use beyond antimicrobial applications.