The herb is also applied topically to help treat a number of skin conditions, such as acne and dandruff.The herb is used to treat respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, menstrual cramps, and urinary tract disorders.

Oregano contains: fiber, iron, manganese, vitamin E, iron, calcium, omega fatty acids, manganese, and typtophan.

OREGANO IS ALSO A RICH SOURCE OF:

Vitamin K - an important vitamin which promotes bone growth, the maintenance of bone density, and the production of blood clotting proteins. Dietary antioxidants - a report published in the Journal of Nutritionrevealed that oregano contains very high concentrations of antioxidants1 (i.e., >75 mmol/100 g). Antioxidants help protect your cells against the effects of free radicals and improve your ability to fight infection.

ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Oregano has shown antimicrobial activity in a number of studies. A group of Portuguese researchers found that Origanum vulgare essential oils were effective against 41 strains of the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes2.

Oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, because it contains an essential compound called carvacol. A team of British and Indian researchers reported that the essential oil of Himalayan oregano has strong antibacterial properties that can even kill the hospital superbug MRSA. Professor Vyv Salisbury, who was part of the research, said "We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000. The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapor and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water."

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES

Scientists at Bonn University, Germany, and the ETH Zurich, Switzerland, identified an active ingredient in oregano - known as beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - which may possibly be of use against disorders such as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis.

PROTECTING AGAINST CANCER

Biologists at the United Arab Emirates University reported in the journal PLoS ONE that oregano exhibits anticancer activity by encouraging cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (cancer cells commit suicide) of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancerline.

The scientists concluded "Our findings identify Origanum majorana as a promising chemopreventive and therapeutic candidate that modulate breast cancer growth and metastasis." Put simply, they believe components in oregano may help slow down or prevent the progression of cancer in patients with breast cancer.

According to The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, oregano is also used for the following illnesses and conditions:

Cold

Muscle pain

Acne

Dandruff

Bronchitis

Toothache

Bloating

Headaches

Heart Conditions

Allergies

Intestinal parasites

Earache

Fatigue

Repelling insects

Menstrual cramps

Medicalnewstoday