The Medicinal Uses of Oregano

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

Precious few clinical trials have been conducted to study the medicinal uses of oregano, Origanum vulgare.  However, it's got a long history of use in folk remedies.

Oregano, an easily grown perennial, is a fabulous addition to the garden as it repels insects.  You can start your own from seed or buy plants at the nursery.  And once you get to the store to pick out your plants or seeds, you realize there are several different kinds of oregano.  And you get mad, because you don't know which kind is best.  So here you go:  Mediterranean oregano, Origanum vulgare, is the most medicinal.  Origanum marjoram is closely related and more often used in seasoning Italian dishes, but is a bit less medicinal.

Only the leaves are used, and as soon as you've got some leaves, you can start using it.  Of course, you don't want to strip all the leaves at once, or you'll kill the plant. 

Of course, most of the world's oregano is grown and used for cooking and in salads.  It's one of the few herbs that is stronger when cooked.  Adding it to your foods is like getting tiny, tiny doses of preventative medicine in each bite you take.  And that's because one of the best properties or medicinal uses of oregano is to strengthen the immune system.  Who doesn't need more of that?

In vitro studies have demonstrated that oregano extracts are active against enterovirus 71,  Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcous aureus, Helicobacter pylori, and Penicillium.  That's pretty impressive, but as noted above, not a lot of clinical trials have been performed.  Researchers are still at the stage of conducting studies on mice.
And these studies on mice have shown that oregano oil can reduce cholesterol, inflammation, and pain.

FRESH OR DRIED HERB

Infusion:  Steep 1-2 teaspoons of fresh or dried herb for 10 minutes in one cup of hot water, three times per day.  Use for heartburn, bloating, and intestinal parasites.

OIL OF OREGANO

Oil of oregano capsules are not the same as oregano essential oil put into capsules.  Oregano essential oil is much more concentrated and powerful.  Oil of oregano is diluted and less potent.  And there there is also oregano oil, which is simply oil infused with oregano and used strictly for cooking.  They are all different animals used for different purposes and are not interchangeable.  Yes, it can be very confusing.

In one of the very few clinical trials on oregano, it was shown that six weeks of supplementation with 600 mg of oil of oregano daily eliminated  Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba hartmanni and Endolimax nana in 10 out of 14 patients, with the remaining four showing a significant decrease in B. hominis. For those who have never heard of these protozoa and amoeba (I certainly hadn't until I started researching oregano), they are very commonly found parasites, even in first world countries.  They are also generally non-pathogenic, meaning they don't cause symptoms in most people.  People with compromised immune systems are another matter.  Oil of oregano is a common supplement sold in most grocery stores and online.

ESSENTIAL OIL

However, most of the recent experience with oregano is in the form of oregano essential oil.  According to Dr. Joseph Alton, author of The Survival Medicine Handbook, oregano essential oil is safe to ingest.  For a natural pain reliever around wounds, Dr. Alton also advises 2-4 drops of oregano essential oil diluted in a 50-50 concentration with a carrier oil and spread around the edges of the wound.  It can also be used to relieve the pain of insect and spider bites.  When diluted to a strength of four drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil and rubbed on the affected area, it is used to relieve menstrual cramps, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle pain. 

Something that's been circulating on the internet for awhile, and with which we have personal experience here, is called the morphine bomb.  It is touted for treating chronic, serious back pain.  No, it is not going to get you high or anywhere near that.  I came across the formula when looking for relief for my adult son who is plagued by incapacitating abdominal pain that doctors for the past six years have been unable to diagnose or treat.  He's at the point where he's willing to try anything legal and non-mind-altering.  After it helped him, my two daughters tried it for menstrual cramps as well.

The formula is five drops each of oregano, frankincense, copaiba, and balsam fir essential oils in a capsule, taken every four hours, or as needed.  It helps my son until he develops a tolerance to it.  For my daughters, the one who has excruciating menstrual cramps can't function without it.  For the other daughter, she said it worked, but it wasn't worth the Pine-Sol breath so she wasn't going to take it anymore.

UPDATE (7 October 2019):  Further research has found that most essential oils, even those that are food grade, should not be ingested, and that includes balsam fir. Food grade essential oils are safe to use as flavorings; the person eating the food with the essential oil flavoring is getting a very dilute, minute amount overall.  Taken in the quantities above for the morphine bomb is significant and could have a substantial effect on the liver or kidneys.

For respiratory conditions such as coughs, asthma, croup, bronchitis, cold, sinus, and flu, put a few drops in boiling water and inhale deeply for five minutes. 

For relieving stress and anxiety, again, put a few drops in boiling water and inhale deeply.

Contraindications:  Oil of oregano and oregano essential oil should not be taken by pregnant women in medicinal amounts or treatments.  Culinary usage is perfectly safe.  Oil of oregano and oregano essential oil are not to be taken by individuals who take lithium or by those allergic to mint, marjoram, hyssop, lavender, or basil.  These products may increase bleeding in individuals with bleeding disorders.

Cautions.  Because of the risk of increased bleeding, discontinue the use of medicinal oregano products two weeks before surgery.  Do not use undiluted essential oil directly on the skin as it may burn.  Even when diluted it may cause an allergic reaction.  Oregano may also cause a decrease in the absorption of zinc and/or iron.

Links to related posts:
Herbs and Spices
Herbal Antivirals (book review)
Rosemary
Coconut Oil
Dill Weed

For further reading:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5068374/ (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0510079%20 (accessed on 21 January 2019)
https://steptohealth.com/medicinal-uses-oregano-oil/ (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23498188 (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/10-uses-organic-oregano-oil/#references (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16010969 (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266259.php (accessed on 21 January 2019)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3769578/ (accessed on 22 January 2019)
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-oregano-oil-benefits-and-uses#section11 (accessed on 22 January 2019)


© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com
  8 july 2024

The Medicinal Uses of Honey

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

A simple online search for the medicinal uses of honey yields dozens of hits, if not hundreds, including all the health benefits of honey.  It's touted for helping with all manner of problems, from acne to weight loss.  We'll stick with what honey is most especially used for in a true medicinal sense when our society has collapsed.  After all, our honey supply may be limited and taking a teaspoon every day for allergies or in the evening to sleep better will exhaust our stores quickly.

First off, studies have shown that honey is more effective at quieting a cough in children than any over-the-counter cough syrup. Parents also reported that their children slept better.  (However, honey should never, under any circumstance, be given to a child under 12 months of age.)  In addition, it should be noted that the FDA has recommended removing many children's OTC cough syrups from the shelves because of adverse reactions.  Fortunately, we have honey, which is safer, more effective, and cheaper.  Just a teaspoon or two is all that is needed.  And it works for adults as well.  Also, honey tea does a tremendous job soothing sore throats.  Just remember, when making your tea, boil the water first, remove from heat, and then add the honey.  Boiling the honey itself will reduce or entirely negate many of its medicinal qualities.

Dr. Joseph Alton, author of The Survival Medicine Handbook, notes that honey was used to treat asthma in the 19th century.  Patients were directed to breathe deeply from a jar of honey, and improvement usually occurred within a few minutes.  To decrease the number of future episodes, doctors advised drinking one teaspoon of honey in twelve ounces of water three times per day.

As far as healing wounds goes, honey works in much the same manner as sugar, which was discussed last week.  Wounds, especially chronic wounds that aren't healing, have an alkaline pH, which provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, especially MRSA.  Honey (and sugar) are acidic, so they alter the pH and this kills the bacteria.  Honey may be spread directly on a wound and over the surrounding edges, but it will probably be more comfortable for the patient if the honey is spread on some gauze first and then applied to the wound. 

Honey is also an excellent treatment for burns, whether first- or second-degree, and may even be used with third-degree burns when there is no higher care available.  After the burned area has been cooled with running water for 15 minutes (not just immersing the wound in water, but running water), apply a generous amount of honey.  For third-degree burns, make sure this is very thick and covering the entire burn.  Per Dr. Alton, cover the honey with cling plastic wrap (the colored stuff found around Easter and Christmas is thicker and easier to manage) or a waterproof dressing and tape in place.  If the dressing begins to fill with oozing fluid, change the dressing.  The worse the burn, the more often the dressing will need to be changed, but make sure to change the dressing at least three times per day.  Continue for at least seven to ten days.  Do not wash off the honey for at least 20 days (unless the burn has healed).  Add more honey as needed, always making sure that there is a thick layer that goes beyond the edges of the burn to prevent infection and promote healing. 

So what kind of honey should you use?  What is best?

You can buy ridiculously over-priced manuka or Medihoney if that makes you more comfortable.  Manuka is what is most often used in medical studies.  But regular doctors like Dr. Alton and those who have taught the classes I attended say we can use any pure, raw honey.  Your best bet for getting real raw honey is going to be from a local beekeeper.  An awful lot of grocery store honey is adulterated with high fructose corn syrup, glucose solutions, or even just water.  There are numerous tests you can perform at home to determine if your honey is pure or adulterated, but I'm not going to go into those.  For me, the true test, the easy test, is if the honey has crystallized either partially or completely.  The fake stuff will never crystallize.  The real stuff almost always will eventually.

A couple of years ago my in-laws were going through their old food storage and were getting rid of two forty-year-old four-gallon tins of honey.  They were planning to give it to their youngest daughter to feed her livestock.  Fortunately, my husband stopped by first and brought them home for us.  (We have livestock, too, but not as much as his sister.)  And to heck with the livestock, that honey was for us.  So I asked Dr. Steve about using this really old honey medicinally on wounds.  His reply was that as long as it was pure (the honey was completely crystallized), there was no problem at all.  

In our trailer this summer, I found some older, unopened one-ounce jars of honey that I had totally forgotten about.  They're the little jars that come in gift baskets, or with room service in a hotel.  Anyway, they had partially crystallized, so I knew they were pure and put them in our medical kit.  If you have some jars or packets of honey lying around at home and you're wondering about whether they're pure, try putting them in the fridge or freezer.  If they are pure honey, they will crystallize.

Note, again.  Honey should never be given to children under the age of twelve months. 

For further reading:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18666717
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15944502
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216146
https://www.livescience.com/7446-honey-works-cough-medicine.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293638941_Medicinal_Uses_of_Honey

30 january 2023