Oregano: 10 Natural Health Benefits & Healing Uses
As part of our fall series on the healing powers of herbs, check out this week’s focus on oregano! (And don’t miss last week’s tips for lavender.)
Oregano
10. Recipes
Oregano means “mountain joy” and is a wonderfully aromatic, flavorful herb popularly used in Spanish and Mediterranean cooking. Oregano also goes by the name marjoram (though it is not to be confused with sweet marjoram). Oregano adds depth and savor to any dish, but goes particularly well with tomatoes, eggplant, and any meat. Sprinkle some in your scrambled eggs or salad dressings, too.
9. Vitamin Boost
Oregano is a rich natural source of vitamin K, an important vitamin that is often overlooked. Learn more about vitamin K.
8. Antibacterial Punch
Did you know that oregano has anti-bacterial properties? You can find oregano oil in many specialty and health food shops for this very reason. Oregano contains thymol and carvacrol, two oils which have remarkable bacteria-fighting power. In fact, researchers recently discovered that oregano is a better treatment for giardia than the prescription drug commonly prescribed to treat the illness.
7. Antioxidants, Too
Thymol and an acid called rosmarinic are potent antioxidants that oregano offers. Ready for a surprise? Research shows that “…On a per gram fresh weight basis, oregano has demonstrated 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries.”
6. Minerals
Oregano is high in iron, manganese, and other important minerals for health. It’s one of the healthiest and tastiest herbs you can try, so if you haven’t stopped reading yet to run out and buy some, scoot!
5. Fiber Full
Oregano is rich in fiber (the amount is similar to chicory). Fiber is necessary to provide bulk for better elimination. As Mark always says, fiber is king!
4. Go fresh!
When buying oregano, it’s best to purchase fresh leaves instead of the dried variety. Yes, a little shakity-shake is easier and more convenient, but you also miss out on those beneficial anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant oils. Fresh oregano is pretty inexpensive. In fact, it’s very easy to grow yourself!
3. Omega-3′s
Oregano is a natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Does it get any better?
2. Perfume
Oregano makes a lovely scent for your skin similar to patchouli. It is guaranteed to drive the ladies wild, gentlemen. Because it is a commonly used ingredient in pizzas and spaghetti, don’t be surprised if people, especially former carb addicts, bite you. Obviously, Mark’s Daily Apple cannot be responsible for this potential risk. But hey, maybe you like being bitten. No judgment here.
1. The Things We Get Away With Around Here…
#2 was completely made up.
Hey: What are your favorite ways to use oregano? You do use oregano, right?
Further reading:
Edible Flowers (they’re not for slugs anymore!)
Top Ten Fibrous Foods (must be pronounced fibb-russ in order to count)
Tonomura Flickr Photo (CC)
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Posted By: Worker Bee
Had no idea it was a source for Omega 3. Wow. That’s cool. Did know it had other health benefits, though.
Just use Oregano as a food spice… Italian.. that’s it. Boring, I know.. but….
Yes I also use it as food spice only. I have no idea that it’s also high in iron. Meat would be incomplete if it’s not marinated in spice and oregano yet. I love to top any sauce with oregano, it adds the scent and savory flavor. Regarding number 2# Add rosemary to the perfume mix and you’ll become nation’s hottest man
.
Do you receive the same benefits by drinking it as tea?
Oregano tea is a pleasantly bitter tonic for the digestion and for colds and flue. However, some people (as in the individual who commented on this page) may find it disagrees with them, so try a weak infusion first or mix it with other herbs like peppermint or chamomile. Oil of oregano is used for intensive purposes in treating infections and is much, much stronger than oregano as tea. The safest bet is to enjoy ample quantities of it in your cooking. Your taste buds will thank you!
does it have any negative affects? i seem to get a stomach ach when i cook with oregano.
Some people do indeed get mild stomach upsets when they consume oregano. Personally, I find it to be a good treatment for any form of indigestion, but I guess everyone is different!
may i ask if oregano is also a herb for yeast infection
I believe that oil of oregano can be used for the purpose of treating yeast infections, as it is an effective anti-macrobial agent. If you want to experiement with it, I would suggest taking it orally (follow package directions on any commercially available oregano oil product). Because of it’s irritant effect, I would not advise using it topically. Also, if you’re interested in alternative treatments to yeast infections you may wish to try an herb called Taheebo (or Pau D’Arco) as a tea or in capsules.
Yes can assist with yeast infections
One interesting thing I’ve found about the herb Oregano is that I still enjoy it immencely in food despite also taking it in medicinal quantities (as a strong tea or as oil of oregano) which render an intensely strong, almost unpleasant taste. The opposite can be said of Ginger, which I’ve come to dislike in food because I use this herb medicinally rather often and the smell or taste of it reminds me of feeling ill. Not the case with Oregano- a truely versatile herb which together with Rosemary, Thyme & Sage compliments nearly all savory foods and serves a multitude of medicinal purposes.
I use fresh oregano in salads with spring mix, parsley, and mint. I add dried cranberries, greek olives and feta cheese, also purple onions. The combo sounds wild, but the flavors combine as though it was part of a “plan”
I also make “pizza” with portobello mushroom as the base, add fresh oregano, spread on some homemade pesto, and sliced fresh mozzarella- slightly grilled (or nuked) to melt the cheese and YUMMY!
The only time I eat oregano is when I go out to restaurants. But you have definitely sold me on trying to eat more and add it into my daily eating plan.
Great article, thanks for sharing!
Oregano has to be the king of dried herbs. The taste and scent remains stronger than any other spice or herb. Fresh oregano still beats it of course.
Oregano makes me think of Italian flavours as well, but I also use it to make stir fries once in a while.
I heard it can be used for respiratory problems and decreases the need for the other medications over time. What comment do you have regarding this?
I heard on radio long ago, this health
fellow saying how great oregano was for respiratory problems… So, being a former smoker, I have taken oil of oregano in capsule form for 20 yrs.
Just recently had a chest X-ray which
showed I had excellant lungs, postively
no issues… I am 79 yrs old… so I’ll keep on taking oil of oregano !
That’s wonderful to hear! My herbalist wife always gives me oregano oil when I’ve got lung problems, and it really helps.
Who knew? To top it off it’s so easy to grow! I’ve had a pot of it growing for several years, even through freezes and snow. Just a few steps from the kithen and Viola!
We are only talking about wild mountain oregano.It seems to cure everything..The oil cures my teeth and gum issues and the capsule form is the only thing I found to heal sinus infections and stomach issues.It seems to attack mold fungis virus and bacteria and that seems to be the major factor in most of our health problems
How much per day or week should you eat?
Thank you for the information! I had no idea Oregano was such a powerful herb. I will add oregano to my raw banana ice cream for my next foodie experiment!
Sounds like oregano might be one of those elusive “perfect foods”. Of course in the right quantity.
A favorite recipe in my house is Chicken Kolandros (named for my grandparents’ friend Helen). It is very easy and very delicious! Four chicken breasts (bone and skin on for flavor), add salt & pepper and oregano [I use dried shaker] to both sides. Preheat oven to 350 or 375 if pcs are big. pour very light olive oil in baking pan. Lay chicken in bones down. Turn halfway thru baking. Bake at least 45 minutes, check & do 5-10 more if needed. Chicken comes out bones up and skin beautiful golden brown. Delicious and savory-makes the kitchen smell delish!
Hey, I just finished my smoothie. I actually have tons of oregano growing in my yard, so I make a green smoothie with a couple of sprigs of fresh oregano, throw in a couple of leaves of plantain and dandelion weeds and add a large banana with some water. It makes a nice light green smoothie and it taste a little herbally but mostly banana tasting. I love adding herbs to my smoothies. And it is a good way to make use of oregano as oregano grows like crazy.
if you have tones of oregano, try making juice out of it, you can use juice extractor or blender, if you use blender, just add 2 glasses of water to 100 grms of fresh oregano and use kitchen strainer to separate the pulp, a cold glass of oregano is a lot better than any SODA !!!
use it also in your veggie smothie, mix it with your other green fresh vegatables.
OREGANO HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!! Helps with digestive issues, helps sinus issues, gives you a burst of energy, helps arthritis( oil of oregano….amazing) under the tongue then down the hatch….helps lungs and any breathing issues……great ancient remedy;);)
can oregano help remove scar in the lungs for patients that has a history of minimal PTB?
Oregano Oil is awesome, it’s great to use when you have a viral or bacterial infection. If you have athletes foot you can rub some oil on there. It’s AWESOME stuff!
Very interesting and health giving herb.
I am told that oil of oregano is good for healing cold sores. Is this right? I just read all the comments on this website and no mention of cold sore remedy.
Can anyone advise me on this. Please reply to my email address. Thanks.
Oil of oregano on a bandage over a spider bite is by far the best remedy I have ever seen. The infection will be gone and no scar from bite or infection. It is being tested for cancer treatment also, I read. It will stop topical pain by mixing it with lotion so the smell is not to bad.
Oregano users, to use as a spice to your foods is great and health benificail, but rememeber the gut has both good and bad bacteria, and has to have a balance in order to work correctly. If useing the oil or natural Oregano take a Probitic with at least 10-14 different strains in it this balances the bacteria in your gut and keeps U healthy or an unbalanced flora will make U sick with diarrhea and weakness but with the Probiotic it keeps your gut flora healthy each strain is an enzymes and each one digest a different food one does fat one proteins one for carbs… and so on. It is always good t take Probiotics with all te junk foods and packaged food and sweets with artificial sweetners so do your self a favor and get rid of the soda and do water and keep healthy, disease can not grow in a healthy body! Spices are wondrful one of Gods ways to good health…
aren’t Gods creations just amazing !!!
I also understand that oregeno is now being experimented with for treating prostrate cancer – — Is this true?
is incredible all the oregano do. I add something to this.
if you have vomits nausea stomachache and headaches due to or after meals take oregano tea… 1/2 or 1 tsp. bring to boil in a 1 1/2 cup of water
I’m very curious about oregano. Suppose I steep a few tbsp of oregano in apple cider vinegar for several weeks and then strain out the oregano, will the vinegar retain the benefits of the oregano? Suppose I would steep garlic and clove along with the oregano, would the vinegar retain those benefits as well?
I do use it as a perfume additive. Since it has such great antimicrobial properties, I use a few drops in the batch. I mix an antimicrobial blend with Oregano, Marjoram, Tea Tree, Clove, Lemon, Basil (and I think a few others) too. That is what I use on my toes every day to keep funky feet away.
Works well as deodorant too.