Description
English Name: Oregano
Leaves
Botanical Name: Origanum Vulgare
Description: Organic +
Conventional
Details:
Oregano is an important culinary and medicinal herb that has been
used in medicine and cooking for thousands of years - with a number
of potential health benefits. It is a species of Origanum,
belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae).
Its name comes from the Greek words oros (mountain) and ganos
(joy).
Oregano typically grows 50 cm tall and has purple leaves around 2
to 3 centimeters in length.
The chemicals that give the herb its unique and pleasant smell are
thymol, pinene, limonene, carvacrol and ocimene.
Not only does oregano provide food flavor, there are also a
substantial number of health claims associated with its potent
antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties.
Possible health
benefits of Oregano:
- The herb is used to treat respiratory tract disorders,
gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, menstrual cramps, and urinary
tract disorders.
- The herb is also applied topically to help treat a number of skin
conditions, such as acne and dandruff.
- Oregano contains: fiber, iron, manganese, vitamin E, iron,
calcium, omega fatty acids, manganese, and typtophan.
Oregano is also a
rich source of:
- Vitamin K - an important vitamin which promotes bone growth, the
maintenance of bone density, and the production of blood clotting
proteins.
- Dietary antioxidants - a report published in the Journal of
Nutrition revealed that oregano contains very high concentrations
of antioxidants1 (i.e., >75 mmol/100 g).
Antioxidants help protect your cells against the effects of
free radicals and improve your ability to fight
infection:
1) Antibacterial
properties:
Oregano has shown antimicrobial activity in a number of studies. A
group of Portuguese researchers found that Origanum vulgare
essential oils were effective against 41 strains of the food
pathogen Listeria monocytogenes2.
Oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, because it contains an
essential compound called carvacol.
A team of British and Indian researchers reported that the
essential oil of Himalayan oregano has strong antibacterial
properties that can even kill the hospital superbug MRSA.
Professor Vyv Salisbury, who was part of the research, said
"We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the
essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000.
The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a
vapor and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating
in boiling water."
2)
Anti-inflammatory properties:
Scientists at Bonn University, Germany, and the ETH Zurich,
Switzerland, identified an active ingredient in oregano - known as
beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - which may possibly be of use against
disorders such as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis.
3) Protecting
against cancer:
Biologists at the United Arab Emirates University reported in the
journal PLoS ONE that oregano exhibits anticancer activity by
encouraging cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (cancer cells commit
suicide) of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line.
The scientists concluded "Our findings identify Origanum majorana
as a promising chemopreventive and therapeutic candidate that
modulate breast cancer growth and metastasis." Put simply, they
believe components in oregano may help slow down or prevent the
progression of cancer3 in patients with breast cancer.
Other possible
health benefits of oregano
According to The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database4, oregano
is also used for the following illnesses and conditions:
Cold
Muscle pain
Acne
Dandruff
Bronchitis
Toothache
Bloating
Headaches
Heart Conditions
Allergies
Intestinal parasites
Earache
Fatigue
Repelling insects
Menstrual cramps
