Oregano Oil for Candida and Parasites
January 07, 2022
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic herb native to the hills of the Mediterranean region. It is best known as an ingredient in Italian food. It is a flowering plant from that is a part of the same family as mint, and is often used as a culinary spice.
The name oregano comes from the Greek words “oros,” meaning mountain, and “ganos,” meaning joy or delight. It was given this name by the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations because of its many uses as an herbal medicine.
In itself, oregano offers many health benefits. The concentrated oil of oregano, however, is loaded with antioxidants and powerful compounds that have many proven health benefits and medicinal uses.
Oregano oil is the extract of oregano concentrated in a carrier oil. It is different from oregano essential oil, which is not meant to be consumed internally (unless it is extremely diluted and comes from a pure source). Oregano oil extract can be produced by several different extraction methods using compounds like carbon dioxide or alcohol. It’s widely available as a health supplement and can often be found in pill or capsule form.
What Makes Oregano Oil So Powerful?
Oregano’s many health benefits are attributed to the bioactive compounds found within the plant. Oregano contains compounds called phenols, terpenes, and terpenoids that have powerful antioxidant properties. These compounds are also responsible for the powerful aroma of oregano.
Carvacrol is the most abundant phenol in oregano, and has been studied extensively for its many health benefits. Research on carvacol shows that it can inhibit the growth of several different types of bacteria. Thymol is a natural antifungal compound with immune-boosting properties. Rosmarinic acid is an antioxidant that helps to protect the body from free radical damage.
To learn more about the benefits of carvacrol, read our blog "Carvacrol: The Powerful Compound Found in Oregano Oil."
Antimicrobial Properties of Oregano Oil
Among oregano oil’s many health benefits are its powerful antimicrobial properties. Oregano oil is powerfully antibacterial, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic. This makes it a great herbal medicine for a number of pathogenic infections, including Candida infections and parasite infections—two very common infections that many people suffer from unknowingly.
Does Oregano Oil Kill Candida?
Candida is a type of yeast or fungus that lives on and inside the human body. In small amounts, Candida are harmless and cause no symptoms. In fact, they may even play a necessary role in our body’s microbiome—the community of trillions of microorganisms that live on and inside the body, and that help to regulate our health and immunity.
Typically, the bacteria living on and in the body, combined with the efforts of the immune system, help to keep Candida populations under control. However, certain dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors can cause an imbalance in the gut microbiome that allows this fungus to multiply out of control, resulting in a Candida infection known as “candidiasis.”
Candida infections are notoriously difficult to treat. Part of the difficulty in treating Candida infections is that Candida forms a biofilm that protects it from antibodies, antifungal compounds and other substances that may harm the Candida yeast.
In order to get rid of Candida infections, you have to get rid of the biofilm that protects it using certain compounds that can act as biofilm disrupters. A biofilm disrupter can break down the protective biofilm. Once the biofilm is gone, Candida are vulnerable and are able to be killed more effectively by antifungal compounds.
This is one of the primary reasons people use oil of oregano for Candida. Carvacol, an active compound found in oregano oil, is a powerful biofilm disruptor that has been shown in numerous studies to be effective at breaking down Candida biofilm, regardless of the maturity of the biofilm. With biofilm disruptors like carvacol, one can break down Candida biofilm, making antifungal compounds like those found in the herbs in our Candida Cleanse tonic more effective at killing Candida.†
Furthermore, oregano oil contains the compound thymol, which is a potent antifungal agent. This is another reason that oregano oil is a powerful defense against Candida. The antibacterial compound carvacol in oregano oil disrupts the biofilm protecting Candida, and the antifungal compound thymol in oregano oil kills Candida—especially when used alongside other potent antifungal compounds and when following an anti-Candida diet.
So does oregano oil kill Candida? Yes it does, but you may still need to take a more holistic approach to treating Candida to fully get rid of it.
What Is The Best Oregano Oil for Candida?
The best oil of Oregano for Candida is one that has a high carvacol content, as this is one of the unique properties that stands out among oregano oil for Candida. There are many herbs and compounds that act as antifungal agents, but not as many that can act as biofilm disrupters. Oregano is a rare and unique herb in this regard as it acts as a biofilm disrupter as well as an antifungal agent.
Does Oregano Oil Kill Parasites?
In addition to Oregano oil’s anti-Candida properties, you can also use oil of oregano for parasites. A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. In humans, parasites that live inside us use up our vitamins, proteins and other nutrients, depriving us of optimal nutrition. Not only do they steal nutrients from our body, they also eliminate waste inside us, releasing their toxic bacteria and viruses.
Contrary to popular belief, parasites do not only exist in tropical countries or in areas with poor sanitation. Parasites are abundant in nature, and they exist in temperate climates and more developed countries as well. In fact, parasites are a major health issue in the United States that many people suffer from—most unknowingly. It is very easy to get a parasite, as there are many ways that you can become infected with parasites.
Typically, parasites are treated by using an antiparasitic formula like our Parasite Detox tonic.† Additionally, other supplements may be used to support a parasite detox cleanse. Oregano oil is one supplement that can be a great support for killing parasites.
Researchers studying the effects of using oregano oil for parasites found that when they added oregano oil to a culture, the number of parasites being replicated was significantly reduced. The researchers attributed this to oregano oil’s carvacol content. Therefore, if you intend to use oregano oil for killing parasites, the best oregano oil for parasites will be one that has a high carvacol content.
Carvacol is naturally high in oregano oil, but as a result of different extraction methods, some oregano oil health supplements will have more carvacol than others. Often, companies will state how much carvacol content is in their oregano oil on the product’s label.
How to Use Oregano Oil for Candida
There is no universal standard on exactly how to use oregano oil for Candida. In general, most supplements will recommend only using a few drops of oregano oil (typically between 3 to 5) diluted in a glass of water or juice. Since oregano oil is very strong, it is best diluted, and only a few drops are necessary. Some people, however, recommend higher doses of oregano oil (between 10 to 20) for treating infections. It is best to speak with your health care provider to find out if oregano oil is a good fit for you, and if so, what dose might be the best for you to take.
Keep in mind that treating Candida is often difficult, and typically requires one to follow an anti-Candida diet. Oregano oil for Candida will be much more effective when paired with an anti-Candida diet.
How to Use Oregano Oil for Parasites
Similar to Candida, there is no universal standard on exactly how to use oregano oil for parasites. The recommended dose of 3 to 5 drops diluted in a glass of water or juice is a good place to start. Again, it is best to speak with your health care provider to find out what will work best for your particular circumstance.
Also, just like Candida, getting rid of parasites usually requires one to follow a specific anti-parasitic diet. Oregano oil for parasites will be much more effective when paired with an anti-parasitic diet.
Summary
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic herb native to the hills of the Mediterranean region that is commonly used as a culinary spice. Oregano itself offers many health benefits, but the concentrated oil of oregano, is even more loaded with antioxidants and powerful compounds that have many proven health benefits and medicinal uses.
These many health benefits are attributed to the active compounds found in oregano—namely carvacol, thymol, and rosmarinic acid. Carvacol and thymol, in particular, are beneficial against Candida and parasite infections. Rosmarinic acid acts a supportive compound as well due to its antioxidant properties.
When using oregano oil for Candida and parasite infections, it is important to follow the proper protocol and diet for getting rid of these infections. Oregano oil is powerful, but it usually requires more than just one herbal compound to clear these persistent infections.
To use oregano oil for parasites and Candida, it is recommended to start out with a smaller dose and to pay attention to any affects you may notice from taking it. If you feel any pain or burning sensation in your stomach, then cut back on the dosage.
To get rid of parasites or Candida can be difficult, but the chances of success are much higher when using potent compounds like those found in the oil of oregano.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6152729/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6182053/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461309/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1899/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560624/
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