ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS OF GREEK OREGANO
Greek oregano, known scientifically as origanum vulgare, is considered one of the most beneficial plants in the world. It’s a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. It’s abundant in Greece and can be found in mountainous and rocky areas, where people are still known to gather wild oregano nowadays. The ancient Greeks used it for its therapeutic properties, while in modern day it is still one of the most used spices used in the Mediterranean diet due to its powerful taste and aromas.
This powerful plant is a rich source of many nutrients, such as vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin A, manganese, iron, calcium, carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. Additionally, Greek oregano contains pinene, limonene, ocimene, caryophyllene, thymol and carvacrol, which contribute to its intense flavor and antibacterial properties. The rosmarinic acid is another antioxidant found in oregano, with additional antibacterial action.
GREEK OREGANO HAS ANTIBACTERIAL BENEFITS
Greek oregano contains volatile oils such as thymol and carvacrol, which have been shown to inhibit the growth of the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus. These pathogens are associated with respiratory diseases and tend to increase intolerance to antibiotic treatments. This makes them extremely dangerous to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, which is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body.
In a comparative study of Greek oregano with tinidazole, a prescription drug for the treatment of giardiasis caused by the parasitic microorganism Giardia Lamblia, it was discovered that oregano has more effective antibacterial action than tinidazole, in combating the parasite. Giardiasis is a common gastrointestinal infection that causes diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, but such infections can be easily treated with oregano essential oils. Greek oregano essential oils are considered to be the best in the world due to rosmarinic acid and their high concentration on carvacrol and thymol, which are two of their major components.
GREEK OREGANO HAS ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS
Greek oregano contains numerous phytonutrients, including thymol and rosmarinic acid and each of them has been proved to function as a powerful antioxidant against oxidative stress from free radicals in cellular structures throughout the body. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals and protect the cells, maintaining the necessary physiological and biochemical functions of our bodies.
In laboratory studies, Greek oregano has been shown to have a much stronger antioxidant capacity than the two synthetic antioxidants commonly added to processed foods, BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene-E321) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole-E320). Synthetic antioxidants have been questioned over the years due to their toxic side effects and zero nutritional value, leading to heart diseases, carcinogenesis, mutations and rapid aging of the cells. According to Dr. Daniel G. Amen, dried Greek oregano has 30 times the brain - healing antioxidant power of raw blueberries, 46 times more than apples, and 56 times as much as strawberries. This makes it one of the most powerful brain cell protectors on the planet.
OTHER GREEK OREGANO HEALTH BENEFITS
This amazing medicinal plant is valuable for many stomach problems as well, especially gastric atony, also known as gastroparesis. It’s caused by the inability of the stomach to contract normally, leading to problems maintaining the appropriate balance of microorganisms and proper function within the gut. Greek oregano also helps with diarrhea, if one or two cups of oregano tea are consumed with honey. It works against gas, intestinal disorders and abdominal pains.
Moreover, Greek oregano is a good source of fiber. In the large intestine, fiber helps drawing bile salts and carcinogenic toxins away from our body. This results in the decomposition of cholesterol which is known to cause the formation of more bile salts. This is just one reason that high-fiber diets have been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels and lower risk of colorectal cancer.
Hippocrates from ancient Greece was known to use Greek oregano as an antiseptic and as herbal medicine for various conditions. Greek oregano is a miracle plant that was given to us by mother nature.
However, as any other herbal remedies, it should be used with caution and should be avoided in people allergic to thorny angiosperms, such as oregano, basil, lavender, mint and sage. It should also be avoided by people with iron deficiency as it tends to interfere with iron absorption. Greek oregano should be used with caution during pregnancy as well. Always, consult your doctor if you plan to use herbs long term as treatment for various conditions.
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