Oregano is a member of the mint family. Oregano herb is light green in color with strong, aromatic odor and pleasantly bitter taste. Oregano goes well with tomato sauces, pizza, and vegetable and fish salads.

Compounds in Oregano
There are dozens, including thymol, sabinene hydrate, aristolochic acid, and carvacol. 

Oil of Oregano Supplement
Source Naturals

Oregano Supplement Facts:
Serving Size 4 Drops
Servings Per Container 275

Amount Per Serving:                                                   
Wild Oregano Oil - 37.6 mg*
    (Origanum vulgare herb)
    Yielding approximately 22.6 mg carvacrol
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 70 mg*
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Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including oregano oil supplement, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Suggested Use or dosage : 1 to 4 oil of oregano drops in water, juice or milk once or twice daily.  Oregano oil may also be used topically.

* Oil of Oregano dosage or daily value not established.
 

Zaatar
Delicious Middle Eastern herbal mix with Thyme leaves, wild oregano leaves, sesame seeds, salt, soy oil, and sumac. One of Dr. Sahelian's favorite snacks.
6 ounces

Suggested Use: Mix Zaatar with olive oil, or a combination of olive oil and a small amount of flax seed oil. This can be spread on any kind of bread for a healthy and tasty snack. Zaatar can also be added to many different dishes, including egg omelet, salads, soups, stir fries, etc.... use your imagination.

Zaatar herbal mix daily value not established.

Click Zaatar to order or to see a complete list of discounted herbal supplements

Oil of Oregano benefit
Many studies have been done with oregano over the years, but I could only find one involving a human trial. Numerous laboratory and animal studies indicate the health benefit of oregano include immune stimulating effects, blood sugar control properties, antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-parasite, and anti-bacterial activities. However, since human trials are lacking, the benefit of oregano oil or oregano herb in terms of human disease prevention and treatment is difficult to say.

Wild Oregano and Oil of Oregano Plant Research Update
Oregano: properties, composition and biological activity
Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2004 Mar;54(1):100-11.
The wild oregano spice includes various plant species. The most common are the genus Origanum, native of Europe, and the Lippia, native of Mexico. Among the species of Origanum. their most important components are the limonene, gamma-cariofilene, rho-cymenene, canfor, linalol, alpha-pinene, carvacrol and thymol. In the genus Lippia, the same compounds can be found. The oregano composition depends on the specie, climate, altitude, time of recollection and the stage of growth. Some of the properties of this plant's extracts are being currently studied due to the growing interest for substituting synthetic additives commonly found in foods. Oregano has a good antioxidant capacity and also presents antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms like Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, among others. These are all characteristics of interest for the food industry because they may enhance the safety and stability of foods. There are also some reports regarding the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effect of oregano; representing an alternative for the potential treatment and/or prevention of certain chronic ailments, like cancer. Oregano oil herb.

Performance of rabbits and oxidative stability of muscle tissues as affected by dietary supplementation with wild oregano essential oil.
Arch Anim Nutr. 2004 Jun;58(3):209-18.
The effect of dietary supplementation with herb oregano essential oil on the performance of rabbits, and the susceptibility of the produced raw and thermally treated muscle tissue to lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage, were investigated. A total of 96 weaned rabbits were separated into four equal groups with three subgroups each. One group was given the basal diet and served as control, two groups were administered diets supplemented with oregano essential oil at levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg diet, whereas the remaining group was given a diet supplemented with alpha-tocopheryl acetate at 200 mg/kg. During the 42-day experimental period, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. Feeding the experimental diets to rabbits, performance parameters were not affected. Therefore, dietary oregano essential oil exerted no growth-promoting effect on rabbits. With increased supplementation of oregano essential oil, malondialdehyde values decreased in both raw and thermally treated muscles during refrigerated storage. This finding suggests that dietary oregano essential oil exerted a significant antioxidant effect. Dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil at the level of 200 mg/kg was more effective in delaying lipid oxidation compared with the level of 100 mg/kg, but inferior to dietary supplementation of 200 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate per kg. This study indirectly provides evidence that antioxidant compounds occurring in oregano essential oil were absorbed by the rabbit and increased the antioxidative capacity of tissues.

Anti-hyperglycaemic activity of the aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare (wild oregano) growing wild in Tafilalet region.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jun;92(2-3):251-6.
The effect of an aqueous extract of wild oregano leaves on blood glucose levels was investigated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. In normal rats, the blood glucose levels were slightly decreased 6 h after a single oral administration as well as 15 days after once daily repeated oral administration of aqueous wild oregano extract (20 mg/kg). After a single dose or 15 daily doses, oral administration of the wild oregano aqueous extract (20 mg/kg) produced a significant decrease on blood glucose levels in STZ diabetic rats. In STZ rats, the blood glucose levels were normalised from the fourth day after daily repeated oral administration of aqueous wild oregano extract (20 mg/kg). However, this effect was less pronounced 2 weeks after daily repeated oral administration of wild oregano extract. In addition, no changes were observed in basal plasma insulin concentrations after treatment in either normal or STZ diabetic rats indicating that the aqueous Oregano extract acted without changing insulin secretion. We conclude that an aqueous extract of Oregano exhibits an anti-hyperglycaemic activity in STZ rats without affecting basal plasma insulin concentrations.

Immunostimulatory effect of dietary oregano etheric oils on lymphocytes from growth-retarded, low-weight growing-finishing pigs and productivity.
Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 2004 Mar 15;129(6):178-81.
The present study was designed to evaluate the possible effect of dietary oregano etheric oils as non-specific immunostimulating agents in growth-retarded, low-weight growing-finishing pigs. Forty-nine growth-retarded (> 10% under average weight in a group) growing-finishing pigs of the same age were assigned to two groups and treated as follows: Group 1 (n = 25): the animals weighed 58 kg and were fed until slaughter ad libitum with a commercial fattening diet supplemented with 3000 ppm commercial oregano feed additive (Oregpig Pecs, Hungary). Oregpig is dried leaf and flower of oregano, enriched with 500 g/kg cold-pressed essential oils of the leaf and flower of oregano. Analysis of Oregpig: 60 g carvacrol and 55 g thymol/kilogram. Group 2 (n = 24): the animals weighed 57.9 kg and were fed until slaughter with the same diet without Oregpig supplementation. Oregano-receiving pigs showed a significantly better average daily gain and feed conversion rate than the non-treated animals (Oregpig group 788.1 +/- 31.3 g, control animals 709 g; 2.96, vs. 3.08, respectively). Mortality was significantly higher in the non-treated animals (oregano group, 1 animal = 4%; control, 8 animals = 33.3%). The proportion of CD4, CD8, MHC class II antigen, and non-T/non-B cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher in the oregano-receiving pigs than in the control animals. The proportion of CD4+ CD8+ double-positive T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and mesenteric lymph nodes was higher in the oregano-receiving pigs than in the control animals. Implication: Dietary oregano improves growth in growth-retarded growing-finishing pigs and has non-specific immunostimulatory effects on porcine immune cells.

Effect of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on performance of broilers after experimental infection with Eimeria tenella.
Arch Tierernahr. 2003 Apr;57(2):99-106.
A study was carried out to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil on performance of broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella at 14 days of age. A total of 120 day-old Cobb-500 chicks separated into 4 equal groups with three replicates each, were used in this study. Two groups, one infected with 5 x 10(4) sporulated oocysts of E. tenella and the other not, were given a basal diet and served as controls. The other two groups also infected with E. tenella were administered diets supplemented with oregano essential oil at a level of 300 mg/kg, or with the anticoccidial lasalocid at 75 mg/kg. Following this infection, survival rate, bloody diarrhoea and oocysts excretion as well as lesion score were determined. Two weeks after the infection with E. tenella supplementation with dietary oregano oil resulted in body weight gains and feed conversion ratios not differing from the non-infected group, but higher than those of the infected control group and lower than those of the lasalocid group. These parameters correspond with the extent of bloody diarrhoea, survival rate, lesion score and oocyst numbers and indicated that oregano essential oil exerted an anticoccidial effect against E. tenella, which was, however, lower than that exhibited by lasalocid.

Antithrombin activity of some constituents from Origanum vulgare - wild oregano plant.
Goun E. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
Fitoterapia. 2002 Dec;73(7-8):692-4.
Aristolochic acid I, aristolochic acid II, and D-(+)-raffinose were isolated from oregano plant. Their inhibition of thrombin and activity against leukemia were evaluated. Aristolochic acid I and II have high inhibition of thrombin activity and were confirmed to possess activity against cancer.

Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo.
Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):213-4.
Oil of Mediterranean oregano plant - Oreganum vulgare - was orally administered to 14 adult patients whose stools tested positive for enteric parasites, Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba hartmanni and Endolimax nana. After 6 weeks of supplementation with 600 mg emulsified oil of oregano daily, there was complete disappearance of Entamoeba hartmanni (four cases), Endolimax nana (one case), and Blastocystis hominis in eight cases. Also, Blastocystis hominis scores declined in three additional cases. Gastrointestinal symptoms improved in seven of the 11 patients who had tested positive for Blastocystis hominis. Oregano oil research wild oregano plant.

Oregano Emails
Q. What is the safety record of using oil of oregano daily as an immune booster?
     A.  We are not familiar with any long term studies regarding supplement use of oil of oregano. Breaks from use of supplements are often recommended in order to minimize any potential problems that may exist with daily use for prolonged periods. 

Q. Is it okay to use wild oregano oil 6 months of the year during the winter flu season?
     A. I really don't know if oil of oregano use is safe to use for prolonged periods or whether prolonged oregano use leads to side effects. Oregano used reasonably, is probably side effect free, but I prefer taking at least 2 days a week off from an oregano supplement and to avoid continuous use of oregano for more than 2 months at a time.

Q. Can you tell me about oregano and essential oils
     A. I am still learning about essential oils and click the link for more information.

Q. Is Mexican oregano plant different than herbal oregano plant grown other places?
     A. The chemical composition of an herbal plant can be slightly or moderately different depending on which kind of soil it is grown in, the type of fertilizer used, sun exposure, temperature, etc.

Q. Is oregano useful in skin cancer?
     A. I could not find a study on Medline when i placed the key words " oregano skin cancer "

Q. I am the administrator of a web site on cystic fibrosis. We have had forums for the past 10 years. I notice the forum members are beginning to use Oil of Oregano with good results. I wonder if you can point me in a direction for a study of oil of oregano and people with cystic fibrosis.
     A. I have not come across any research regarding the use of oil of oregano for cystic fibrosis.

Q. I enjoy your site. Just a comment about the use of oregano in respiratory
ailments. I have a decades-long history of severe sinus infections and
continued to get these 4 or 5 times a year despite surgery to correct a
deviated septum and improve drainage. Needless to say, I was concerned about
the continued, repeated use of strong antibiotics to address this issue.

Q. About 18 months ago a friend recommended oil of oregano to me. After trying short-term oregano therapy I am happy to report that I have not needed an antibiotic to cure a sinus infection since discovering this method. I use Oregacyn (softgels and capsules) 4 times day (one capsule, one softgel each time). It consistently wipes out sinus infections within four to five days, and works especially well when combined with a twice-a-day warm saline sinus rinse with a neti pot or other rinsing device. The softgels have the equivalent of about 6 drops of wild oregano oil and I believe this could also be used successfully, though Oregacyn has a few complementary herbs that may provide some additional benefits. Oregacyn is not cheap, but it's been a Godsend after all these years of antibiotic use. I only use it when an infection is present (green gunk), not on a continuous basis. I have no connection with the manufacturer of this Oregacyn product but wanted to post a plug for it because it has really worked wonderfully for me when conventional medicine had little to offer but repeated courses of ceftin, augmentin, biaxin ad infinitum.
     A. Thank you for sending your anecdote.

Q. Dear Dr. I've read all you write on the Oil of Oregano and the daily dosage, but how long do we take it for. 10 days, 2 wks, 3 wks. etc. Thank YOU for all you do.
     A. There is no right or wrong answer on how to take oil of oregano. Each person is unique in their requirement depending on what they treating or preventing or what other supplements they are taking, or what kind of diet they have. For general immune health maintenance, using oil of oregano 2 or 3 times a week seems safe.