Oregano: A Powerful Herb in Your Kitchen

Health Benefits of Oregano: A Powerful Herb in Your Kitchen

I discovered the healing properties of oregano during the pandemic when my family and I started selling plants in Bacolod City. As we explored various herbs to offer, oregano stood out to me—not just for its culinary uses but also for its remarkable health benefits.The name “oregano” comes from the Greek words “oros,” meaning “mountain,” and “ganos,” meaning “joy,” which translates to “mountain joy.” This joy resonates deeply with me, as I realized that oregano is not just a flavorful herb used in Italian, Mexican, or Mediterranean dishes; it also carries a wealth of medicinal properties.Oregano has been cherished for centuries for its warm, balsamic, and aromatic flavor. However, it gained significant popularity in the United States after World War II when American soldiers brought it home from their travels. Today, I appreciate oregano not only for its delightful taste but also for its potential to support health and well-being.

The Health Benefits of Oregano:

Here are the health benefits of oregano and the science behind it.

This herb was already used for medicinal purposes before it became famous as a culinary spice. Oregano’s chemical compounds can repel insects, which is the main reason why it’s been commonly used as a mosquito repellent.

During the Greek and Roman eras, oregano leaves were used to treat sores and muscle pain. They’re also considered as a remedy for stomachache.

Since this herb has numerous benefits, let’s discuss them briefly one by one.

What’s inside this magical herb? | Oregano Health Benefits

Oregano contains various vitamins and minerals, such as:

Vitamin A
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
Potassium

Awesome! Who would’ve thought that these plain green leaves could provide these nutrients? There’s more! This herb is also rich in antioxidants and other compounds that can treat and prevent many diseases and health problems.

These are the protective antioxidant compounds from the oregano leaves:

Phenols
Triterpenes
Rosmarinic acid
Oleanolic acid

However, the most significant benefits came from the oil of oregano. It contains two powerful compounds, carvacrol, and thymol.

Carvacrol is an antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial agent that has been used throughout history to treat bacterial, parasitic, viral, and fungal infections.

Research has proven that carvacrol can kill certain harmful bacteria. The two compounds, carvacrol and thymol, have also been studied that they can inactivate the herpes simplex type 1 virus with a success rate of 90% in just an hour. Carvacrol has also inactivated hepatitis A in previous tests.

So now, can we call him “Superman?”

Well, maybe “Superman” isn’t enough! Carvacrol is an anti-inflammatory drug that can prevent heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

How to use oregano [ Oregano Health Benefits ]

This herb is commonly used as a spice in homemade salads, dressings, sauces, meats, and other recipes. It is the easiest and tastiest way to consume a significant amount of oregano.
Some dishes where adding this herb is perfect are Margherita Pizza, Pesto, Roasted Chicken, Tomato Salad, Grilled Pork, and Vegetable Soup.

When using oregano to treat congestion, cough, or cold, simply make facial steam and mix the herb with other healing herbs, such as lavender. Stand over the pot, cover your head with a blanket or any piece of cloth, and deeply inhale the steam for a couple of minutes.

Oregano oil can be easily purchased and used as a supplement or essential oil. To use it for sore muscles, headaches, or painful parts, mix the oil of this herb with a carrier oil ( you may use coconut or olive oil ) and rub it gently on the affected area. If taken orally, follow the directions on the bottle for the correct dosage.

After knowing everything about this herb, check your kitchen if you have some!

References

Singletary, Keith PhD Oregano, Nutrition Today: May 2010 – Volume 45 – Issue 3 – p 129-138 doi: 10.1097/NT.0b013e3181dec789
Nayely Leyva-López, Erick P. Gutiérrez-Grijalva, Gabriela Vazquez-Olivo, and J. Basilio Heredia*, Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties, doi: 10.3390/molecules22060989
Jacob P. Veenstra and Jeremy J. Johnson, Oregano (Origanum vulgare) extract for food preservation and improvement in gastrointestinal health, doi: 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2703