Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum Compactum)
- Color: Pale Yellow
- Oil Consistency: Thin
- Perfumery Note: Medium
- Initial Aroma Strength: Strong
- Scent: Herbaceous, sharp.
Action: Powerful anti-infectious agent (for respiratory, intestinal, genital, nerves, blood, and lymphatics) with large-spectrum action against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiviral. It is a general tonic and immunostimulant.
Benefits, Indications: Asthma, bronchitis (chronic), mental disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism, whooping cough. May help with respiratory infections, digestion problems, viral and bacterial pneumonia, balance metabolism, and strengthen the vital centers. Studies have shown its usefulness against Candida, Aspergillus, staph infections, vaginal infections, pseudomonas and Listeria.
A study from the US Department of Agriculture showed that the essential oil presented antimicrobial activities against Salmonella and E.coli. Other research holds the same, stating that oregano oil is such a powerful antimicrobial that it can be used to preserve food.
Studies from the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee and the University of the Algarve found similar results for oregano’s antibacterial action on pathogenic germs.
Chemical Constituents: carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, cis-ocimene, caryophyllene, linalool
Companion Oils: Bay, bergamot, camphor, cedarwood, chamomile, citronella, cypress, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, oakmoss, orange, petitgrain, pine, rosemary, tea tree, thyme
Precautions: High phenol content can burn the skin – dilute 1 drop essential oil to 50 drops vegetable or massage oil for topical application other than the bottom of the feet. Use extra caution to avoid contact with all mucus membranes.
Oregano oil from Origanum vulgare, as well as oil extracted from Thymus capitatus (Spanish oregano), is a dermal toxin, skin irritant, and mucus membrane irritant and should not be used in aromatherapy and should also be avoided in pregnancy.
Spanish oregano is aka Thymus capitans, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureja capitata, Israeli oreganum, Cretan thyme or thyme of the ancients.
Science and Research
