Oil of Oregano - The Natural Antiseptic

Oregano is an aromatic herb that grows in the Mediterranean region, and is cultivated in many areas of the world. It is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family, a plant family recognized by square stems and opposing pairs of leaves. The ancient Greek's original name for this plant, "oreganos", translated to "Delight of the Mountains". It earned this name because of the fragrance that it exuded, which has been described as complex, warm and spicy. The Greeks believed that if their cows ae oregano, it gave the meat a better flavor. Today, Oregano is recognized internationally as a culinary spice. It is a popular herb with Americans, especially in the distinctive aroma of Italian style cooking. Aromatic spices have used throughout the world for centuries for both their distinctive flavor and aroma as well as for their medicinal qualities.

Oregano is rich in vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A and C, Niacin, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Potassium, Copper, Boron, and Manganese. In addition, the herb contains many active chemical constituents that provide beneficial support to our bodies, such as thymol and carvacrol. These components strongly discourage the growth of microorganisms, an action recognized by traditional herbalists throughout history as well as supported by modern scientific research. Oregano additionally provides antioxidant activities, useful to offset the effects of free radical damage.

There is a lot of confusion about oregano, because there are many plants throughout the world that are called oregano. Marjoram is often referred to as oregano, because it is a close cousin to true oregano, and the genus and species name of marjoram is Origanum majorana. To add to the confusion, the plant called oregano in Spain, Thymus nummularius, is different than Mexican oregano, Lippia graveolens. It is important to be aware of this because different species have differenet chemical constituents. The active ingredient, carvacrol, is found in high amounts only in true oregano, Origanum vulgare, the exact species that Nature's Answer® uses in its products.

Nature's Answer®'s Oil of Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is the finest quality of concentrated oregano oil available today, steam distilled, in a base of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It takes approximately 200 pounds of oregano to produce 2 pounds of oregano oil. This highly concentrated form provides you with a quality plant remedy containing all of the important volatile oils intact, thus remaining true to our philosophy of maintaining the plant in its Holistically Balanced™* state.

Oregano oil is exceptional in its aility to destroy many different kinds of pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms. It has a stronger effect than commercial preparations of phenol, a well-recognized medical antiseptic. Disease causing microorganisms including bacteria, fungus, virus and parasites are involved in illnesses ranging from colds and flues to gingivitis of the gums, athlete's foot and candida. Oregano oil has been shown in scientific studies to actively inhibit and destroy E. Coli, candida albacans and the bacterias that cause strep and staff infections. It has been used for diarrhea, intestinal gas, and digestive problems, as well as soar throats and minor breathing difficulties, in traditional herbology, Oil of Oregano can act as an immediate first aid for insect bites and minor cuts and scrapes as well as dandruff, diaper rash and other skin disorders.

Unlike pharmaceutical drug antibiotics, oregano oil does not cause the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Although it is always possible for an individual to have an allergic reaction to any substance, there are known adverse effects to Oil or Oregano.

Try Oil of Oregano on the skin for external conditions such as athlete's foot. A few drops can be diluted in a teaspoon of water and used to brush the gums to help gingivitis. Due to its high concentration, suggested internal use is just four drops, in a full glass of water, three times per day. Each four-drop dose of Nature's Answer® Oil of Oregano provides 13 mgs of oregano oil, which is guaranteed to contain a minimum 7 mg of Carvacrol. It is also available from Nature's Answer in softgel form.

There is a plethora of scientific research that has been done on the beneficial properties of Oregano. Here is alist of few of them for your educational information

*Holistically Balanced™ guarantees that the natural constituents of the herb are in the same synergistic ratios as in the plant; and herb of this type reflects the natural balance of the plant and all of its many micronutrients. Holistically Balanced™ is a registered trademark of Bio-Botanica®, Inc.