Benefits of Oregano: Have you ever realized how beneficial a herb can be? Well, in this document, we are going to update you about a herb called Oregano.
It’s quite a popular name in the world of herbs used at the time of Romans and Greeks. Oregano was mainly used both for medicinal and culinary purposes.
The scientific name of Oregano is Origanum vulgarae and it belongs to the family ‘Lamiaceae’.
The presence of Oregano is in the form of 17 genera and about 60 species. It’s found in different flavors and colors.
Although, we know that Oregano is mostly used in Italian cuisine, it was first known to have originated in the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia.
Today, this herb is addressed with some unique names like wild oregano, wild marjoram, Spanish thyme, and Greek oregano.
As per a deep research conducted in this regard, it was found that oregano holds significant medicinal properties in addition to giving a flavor to your food.
Throughout history, oregano and its different plant components have been utilized as traditional remedies for ailments such as skin sores, colds, toothaches, kidney stones, diarrhea, cramps, asthma, jaundice, rheumatism, and flatulence.
The presence of antioxidants, volatile oils, and various health-promoting bioactive agents in oregano leaves is credited with providing these health benefits.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Oregano
The most benefits of Oregano comes from oregano leaves and their extracts. From addressing skin conditions to preventing cancer, it has consistently been recognized for its positive impact on health.
Antidiabetic Properties
The compounds present in oregano are known to help control your blood sugar levels by improving insulin resistance and regulating the activity of genes involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism. In addition to the above, oregano helps in repairing damage to kidney and liver tissues.
Anti-Bacterial Properties
It’s a well known fact that herbal remedies have played a significant role in treating bacterial infections throughout human history.
Oregano stands out among these herbs due to its antibacterial properties. The key bioactive compounds responsible for its antibacterial effects are carvacrol and thymol.
These compounds present in the herb help to manage bacterial proliferation in food items like dairy and meat products.
Treats Gut Problems
Since Oregano herb is rich in fiber, it assists your digestive health by improving your digestive tract movement (also known as peristaltic movement).
Likewise, the most crucial benefit of Oregano oil which aids in digestive health includes constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and more.
The herb is loaded with Thymol which is known to eliminate gut parasites and checks harmful bacteria growth. As per studies conducted in this regard, oregano is a inhibitor of Helicobacter pylori, which is known for its role in the ulcer treatment.
Further research conducted clearly indicates that most essential oils derived from oregano herb may aid in fighting bacteria as well as reducing infection.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Like other beneficial properties of oregano, the herb is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It’s mainly because of the presence of compounds like rosmarinic acid, thymol, and carvacrol.
Similar studies have also been conducted in animals that clearly suggest that oregano extracts have the power to reduce inflammation in conditions like asthma, autoimmune arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Anti-Cancer Properties
A number of researchers conducted on oregano indicate that the herb has anti cancer properties. In this regard, oregano oil has been found to cease growth in human breast cells and prevent other issues liek colon adenocarcinomas.
In the same ways, oregano is also known to have antioxidants that aids in creating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress up to a certain extent. Lastly, they can also help prevent cancer.
Antioxidant Properties & Immunity
The presence of conditions like oxidative stress can mainly lead to lower immunity levels. It adversely affects the overall health issues including Alzheimer’s disease, some heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and more.
Oregano extracts have shown the ability of the herb to neutralize radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide activity, and safeguard DNA from oxidative damage.
The herb is loaded with antioxidant property due to some bioactive agents like ursolic acid, thymol, rosmarinic acid, and more.
Heals Wounds
Due to several benefits of Oregano, it is also being used in the form of ointment, especially to those who just underwent surgery.
Once applied, the person may get rid of problems like pliability, pigmentation, and scar color. The herb can also be used to relieve pain.
Fights Cold, Cough, & Flu
As oregano is rich in Carvacrol, it has the potential to ease symptoms like sore throat and running nose. To alleviate these symptoms, all you need to do is to take a little oregano oil in drinking water.
Please make sure that you don’t go ahead with excess dose of oregano oil as excessive amounts of carvacrol can be cytotoxic and unsafe.
Cures Dental Caries
As long as you continue to intake sugar rich foods, it’s likely to cause dental caries problem. Now, once you try using Oregano extracts, it will help you combat both dental caries and any other oral infection.
It has been shown through studies that Oregano extracts exhibit antimicrobial properties against oral species of Enterococci, Lactobacilli, Candida, and Streptococci bacteria.
Prevents Muscle Damage
A similar study was conducted to check the benefits of oregano oil capsules against any kind of oxidative stress and muscle damage, especially among soldiers who had to had to perform army combat readiness test.
The army personals were tested with 500 mg capsules of oregano extracts right after ACRT. The results were surprising as their plasma and blood samples revealed that their muscle damage was reduced after they had to go through Oregano supplement which further increased oxidative capacity.
Cooking with Oregano
Although, there are several benefits of Oregano outlined above. For long, the use of Oregano leaves are advocated mainly because of the kind of flavor they bring to a dish. Due to this, most Italian chefs make use of dried oregano in cooking.
Dried Oregano: In order to store dried oregano safely, experts recommend Airtight containers. For best results, it is used to store in a cool and dry place. Due to its flavor enhancing properties, Oregano is extensively used in vegetables, seasoned potatoes, soups, pizza, and pasta. .
Fresh Oregano: Fresh oregano boasts superior flavor and taste compared to its dried counterpart. To maintain its freshness, the herb in the form of its leaves can be stored safely in a plastic bag.
You can also wrap them in a damp paper towel before storing in a refrigerator. Take a look at some of the below given cooking ideas that require fresh oregano.
Oregano Tea
This aromatic tea offers a refreshing taste. Oregano leaf tea is noted for its ability to address sore throats, coughs, digestive troubles, and colds.
Ingredients:
- Sugar- 1 tsp
- Water- 1 cup
- Oregano leaves- 10
Preparation:
First, you need to wash the herb and then cut them so as to release their ingredients. Simply, boil the leaves for about 2 minutes.
Next, steep for another 5 minutes. Here you can add lime juice or ginger to enhance flavor. Finally, you can add any sweetner and serve it hot.
Oregano Pesto
If you intend to make oregano pesto at home, you can well serve it in the form of a pizza sauce or pasta salad.
Ingredients:
- Salt- ½ tsp
- Black pepper- ¼ tsp
- Olive oil- up to ½ cup
- Walnuts- 1/4 cup
- Graded cheese- ¼ cup
- Garlic clove- 1
- Fresh oregano leaves- 1 cup
Preparation:
- First, take some oregano leaves
- Next, take other ingredients like oil, salt, pepper, walnuts, cheese and some garlic to make a paste
- Pulse the ingredients until they form a paste.
- You need to keep adding oil to maintain the consistency of the paste.
- Finally, take an airtight container to store your oregano pesto in refrigerator.
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References:
- Oregano: Overview of the Literature on Health Benefits – (//www.researchgate.net/publication/232240488_Oregano_Overview_of_the_Literature_on_Health_Benefits)
- A Review on Miracle Plant Oregano – (//www.researchgate.net/publication/377364227_A_REVIEW_ON_MIRACLE_PLANT_OREGANO)
- Savory, Oregano and Thyme Essential Oil Mixture (HerbELICO) Counteracts Helicobacter pylori – (//www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/5/2138)
- Essential oil of Origanum minutiflorum exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in human bronchial cells and antimicrobial activity on lung pathogens – (//www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210803323000295?via%3Dihub)
- Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties – (//www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/6/989)
