If you’re a foodie, you no doubt recognize the dried version of oregano (Origanum vulgare) as a flavor enhancer for everything from pizza and pasta to stews and meat dishes. Now folks are harnessing oregano oil (from the same plant) for its medicinal properties, which were recognized as far back as Ancient Rome and Greece.

Where Does Oregano Oil Come From?

Oregano hails from the mint family, and its dried shoots and leaves are beloved the world over for use as a culinary spice for flavoring foods. Oregano oil is extracted from these same shoots and leaves through a process known as steam distillation. Oregano oil in this form is not edible, but it is commonly blended with a carrier oil and then applied as a topical treatment for a variety of ailments. Extract of oregano oil differs slightly from oregano oil and is obtained from the same plant using alcohol or carbon dioxide compounds. The extract format is available in supplement form.

Antiviral, Antifungal, Antibacterial Oregano Oil

Potent compounds in oregano oil—terpenoids, terpenes and phenols—provide the wonderful fragrance you recognize as oregano. These compounds are also behind the many benefits of oregano oil. Oregano oil may work as:

• An antibiotic. The compound carvacrol in oregano may battle bacteria in the body. In one study, oregano essential oil was found to be nearly as effective against Staphylococcus aureus as antibiotics.
• An antioxidant. It is thought that the antioxidant properties of oregano oil fight free radical damage in the body.
• An anti-inflammatory agent. Scientific understanding of the role inflammation plays in disease has greatly evolved in recent years, and now researchers say that oil of oregano may be helpful in reducing the body’s level of inflammation.
• A pain reducer. Some research suggests that oregano oil may be an effective painkiller, with effects in mice similar to those of common pain relievers such as morphine and fenoprofen.
• A cholesterol reducer. Some studies suggest that oregano oil may be helpful in reducing LDL cholesterol levels and raising HDL levels.
• A gut health improver. Gut parasites that cause symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain may be treated with oregano, according to studies. It may also be beneficial for leaky gut problems.
• A treatment for yeast infections. Five separate types of Candida, the most common yeast that causes yeast infections, were vulnerable to oregano essential oil in test tube studies.

Research aiming to unlock the mysteries of oregano oil is ongoing. The true scope of oregano oil’s benefits remains to be seen but seems quite promising. Oregano may pan out to be a cheap, readily available natural treatment for a variety of purposes.