What Are the Health Benefits of Oregano Oil? Read This Before You Add It to Your Medicine Cabinet

Ashley Lauretta
·9-min read

You’ve likely encountered oregano—even just out of a tiny jar—while whipping up something in the kitchen. What you may not know, however, is that oregano is sold in other forms, specifically as an oil, that is used in the world of functional medicine for multiple purposes, including as an antibacterial agent.

But what is oregano oil, exactly? Is it just another essential oil? And are there proven benefits to using it outside of the kitchen? Not all oregano oil is created equal, so read this before you stock up and start slathering it on your skin.

Related: How to Repurpose a Wine Rack Into a DIY Herb Garden

What Is Oregano Oil?

When it comes to oregano, Origanum vulgare is the variety you're probably most familiar with, as it is what is commonly sold in the United States. Making oregano oil involves an extraction process from the leaves, the makeup of which varies depending on the exact species used. While oregano oil contains multiple compounds, carvacrol and thymol are the two most referenced when discussing the purported medicinal properties of the herb.

"Oregano contains compounds called phenols, terpenes, [of which carvacrol and thymol are two], and terpenoids which are high in antioxidants and known to be helpful to the body and overall health," explains Erin James, a certified sports nutritionist. "The oil is made by drying the leaves and stems and several extraction methods can be used, depending on the usage."

There are two common forms of oregano oil: oregano oil and oregano essential oil, which is typically less concentrated (and at times mixed with other oil, according to James). The difference between the two is important, as oregano oil can be taken orally—as a liquid or pill—and in its essential oil form, it should only be used topically.

Related:  How to Grow Your Own Herb Garden

What Are the Benefits of Oregano Oil?

Because the scientific profile of oregano oil can vary based on the exact species used, the benefits themselves can vary. Additionally, researchers stress that many of the benefits of oregano are preliminary findings and more studies are needed—in humans, specifically—to confirm the research that has already been done, mostly on mice.

“The top benefits for oregano oil are anti-infective, so essentially it has antifungal, anti-viral, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties,” explains Juli Keene, BSc, CN, known professionally as the Los Angeles Nutritionist. "This is mainly from in-vitro and animal studies, but there are a lot of functional medicine practitioners and clinical nutritionists who recommend oregano oil and oregano supplements."

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) notes that common uses for oregano oil include wound care and pain relief, though it is noted there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness, especially for the alleged benefits you'll read about below:

Antibiotic

This is due to carvacrol, which has been found to be an antibacterial agent. One study specifically found oregano oil was as successful at preventing the growth of staphylococcus bacteria—the source of many infections—as antibiotics. However, this research was conducted on mice and the efficacy still needs to be confirmed for humans.

Related: What An Excessive Amount of Antibiotics Does to Your Body

Gastrointestinal Relief

One study, which looked at alternative therapies for people with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), states that oregano oil "directly kills or strongly inhibits the growth of intestinal microbes." In this case, oregano oil was one component of the herbal therapy used, and the sample of patients using this herbal therapy consisted of only 37 people. That is very small!

James, meanwhile, claims that oregano oil has been said to "kill parasites, bacteria and other toxins and fungal infections in the body."

Additionally, carvacrol has also been noted to possibly change genes involved in inflammation that are directly related to obesity in mice, but the study notes that diet and exercise are the best protection and treatment against obesity to begin with, so this isn't going to produce any real miracles. If you're having persistent gastrointestinal discomfort or symptoms, you should talk to your doctor or a gastroenterologist to see what's causing your problem and use whatever treatment plan they advise.

Related: Gastroenterologists Are Begging People To Pay Attention to the Side Effects of These Two Common Vitamins

Antioxidant

Oregano has noted antioxidant properties, which James notes can "protect your body from oxidative stress and free radicals," which can damage your cells. (One of the best ways to get antioxidants is through diet, and applying essential oils topically—or heaven forbid ingesting them—is unlikely to show benefits in this regard. Just eat some oregano in your food and you'll be better off here.)

What's more, a study conducted on mice noted, "This does not guarantee their capacity to neutralize oxidative stress and to prevent oxidative damage."

Related: 9 Foods That Have More Antioxidants Than a Blueberry

Lower Cholesterol

James notes oregano oil can help to "reduce LDL cholesterol levels, which are referred to as the bad kind, while helping increase the good cholesterol (HDL)," which was observed in a study conducted over a three-month period in patients with mildly elevated cholesterol levels. It's important to note, however, that this study was very small: There were only 32 patients, so much more research still needs to be done to determine if this is an actual benefit for the majority of users.

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—Here’s What I Want Everyone To Know about Borderline Cholesterol Readings'

Antifungal

One study found that thymol, when combined with nystatin (a common prescription antifungal medication) has an antifungal effect on certain Candida, meaning it may help treat fungal infections—but nystatin was still tremendously more effective than oregano oil.

Fungal infections tested in this study were oral infections; in additional research oregano oil was found to be the essential oil most effective at treating fungal and yeast infections—but still far less effective than mainstream treatments like nystatin.

Related: Candida Auris: Symptoms, What To Know, How It's Treated

Are There Any Side Effects of Oregano Oil?

According to the NLM, oregano oil is generally safe, though there are some precautions and warnings for individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have bleeding disorders or are about to undergo surgery, have allergies and/or have diabetes.

Before you do anything with oregano oil for any health condition, speak to a licensed physician to make sure you won't exacerbate any existing problems or have any unsavory interactions with any medications or supplements you may already be taking.

And if you do all that and still want to pursue it? "Make sure you aren’t consuming oregano essential oil as it can only be applied topically, not digested,” stresses James. "If used topically, less is more to start in case your body gets irritated. Everyone’s body is different, so if you are going to consume an oregano oil, start with a small dosage and see how your body reacts. Some may have a stomach ache while those who have an allergy to plants in the Lamiaceae family (mint) can have an allergic reaction."

Related: What Is Palo Santo? Here's Everything You Need to Know

What Should You Look for When Buying Oregano Oil?

As noted above, there are many different species of oregano. When buying oregano oil—especially if you plan to take it orally—James notes you want to make sure it only has one ingredient and is pure oregano oil.

"Look for a high-quality brand that has been around for at least 10 to 15 years," adds Keene. "I recommend to my patients and buy from companies who were studying, creating and selling herbal products to market when no one knew what they were. These companies know what is important to know and the commitment to quality is there, or they would not have survived."

Still, it's also really important for you to talk to your doctor about any oral or topical treatment you want to try out, because you never know if it may be really bad for you specifically—everyone's body is different. What's more, even supplements from companies that have been around for a decade or more aren't subjected to FDA rules and regulations, so you never quite know what you're actually taking. If you do proceed, we urge you to do so with caution.

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Related: Wait, Are Essential Oils Good or Bad for Your Lungs?

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