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Oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) is a strong oil that may have many benefits but also needs to be used cautiously. The fragrance creates a feeling of security, according to the Essential Oils Desk Reference.
Plant family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Production: Steam distilled from the whole plant.
Aroma: Herbaceous, sharp
Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle
Is oregano safe to use during pregnancy? No.
Is oregano essential oil safe for children? Do not use with children under age 2, according to Essential Oil Safety. Some sources suggest caution for children under the age of 10.
Cautions: Oregano can irritate skin and even burn if used improperly. Some sources recommend avoiding skin application, though Essential Oil Safety states up to 1.1% concentration is OK for non-sensitive skin.
Main components:
Carvacrol 61.6–83.4%
p-Cymene 4.8–9.7%
Gamma-Terpinene 3.8–8.2%
Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition
Use oregano oil in an essential oil diffuser during the winter to strengthen your respiratory system.
Oregano is useful to help relieve infections and muscle pain, according to The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.
Blend for diffusing if you have the flu:
Blend to use on ringworm (fungus):
Cleaning:
Add oregano essential oil to cleaning blends to disinfect and help prevent mold/mildew. Here's one blend:
Mix all ingredients together in an eight-ounce glass spray bottle. Shake well before each use.
Source: Loving Essential Oils
Steam inhalation and gargle:
Use a few drops in a steam inhalation or diffuser to help clear sinuses and loosen phlegm, according to Essential Oils: All-Natural Remedies.
The book also suggests this gargle to reduce bad breath:
Add a few drops of this blend to about a teaspoon of cold water. Swish around in your mouth for 3 to 5 minutes. Spit out the blend and then rinse your mouth.
Warts:
To get rid of a wart, Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential Oil Therapy suggests dabbing a small drop of oregano directly on the wart, making sure not to get the essential oil on surrounding skin.
Keep Out Bugs!
Blend all ingredients in a four-ounce spray bottle. Shake gently. Spray where bugs are a problem. Shake before each use. Adapted from Rocky Mountain Oils.
Other uses:
The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing: Spiritually, use oregano in a synergistic blend to open and clear the throat chakra. The essential oil is helpful for creating mental balance and a tonic for the nerves. Emotionally, the oil helps clear feelings of weakness and hopelessness.
Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume 2: Psychologically, oregano promotes willpower, courage, and self-confidence. The oil also simulates the mind and promotes alertness. Physically, the essential oil stimulates hypotonic/weak conditions and warms weak/cold conditions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the essential function of the oil is to tonify the Yang, warm the interior, and strengthen the Shen.
Photo Credit: Dezidor [CC BY 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons