Oregano Health Benefits

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Oregano Health Benefits

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a common species ofOriganum which is a member of the mint family. The plant is a perennial herb that grows to around 20-80 cm tall, with olive-green leaves and pink flowers that are produces in erect spikes. It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Oregano is sometimes called wild marjoram and is closely related to sweet marjoram.

History:

Oregano is native to northern Europe and has been recognized for its distinct aroma. Greek mythology dictates that the goddess Aphrodite invented the spice and gave the herb to man to make his life happier. The word “oregano” is actually derived from the Greek phrase “joy of the mountains”.  Hippocrates also used oregano as an antiseptic. The Greeks and Romans give high regard to the herb, making it a symbol of joy and happiness. It has become a tradition for the Ancient Greeks and Romans to crown newlyweds with a laurel of oregano.

Oregano has been cultivated in France and other parts of Europe since the Middle Ages, but was only brought to the US in the early 20^th century, when GIs returned from Italy.  Today, oregano is being enjoyed by those who love Mediterranean food.

Health Benefits of Oregano

During the Middle Ages, oregano was used as a cure for rheumatism, toothache, indigestion, and as a cold remedy. The spice then found its way to China via the spice road and since then has been used to relieve fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and itchy skin.  Today, we can find oregano mostly on pizza and other European dishes, but what we don’t know is that it has its share of health benefits.

Oregano is actually a good source of vitamin K, vitamin E, tryptophan, manganese, iron, calcium and fiber. Oil extracted from the herb is considered as an effective anti-bacterial because of its potent thymol and carvacrol content which have been shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa which can cause septic shock, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal infection, and Staphylococcus aureus which can cause septic arthritis and staphylococcal endocarditis. One research conducted in Mexico compared oregano to tinidazol, a prescription drug that treats amoeba infection. Researchers found out that oregano is more effective than the drug.

Oregano is also rich in phytonutrients including thymol and romarinic acid which function as potent antioxidants that can prevent oxidation of the cells throughout the body. A particular study found out that oregano has stronger antioxidant capacity than the two most synthetic antioxidants commonly added to processed food. In addition, the study also concluded that one gram of fresh oregano has 42 times more antioxidant activity than those in apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries.

Cautions:

Oregano is not known to contain measurable amounts of oxalates and purines and is therefore generally recognized as safe, though oregano has been known to cause allergic contact dermatitis and eczematous rash to a handful of individuals.