5 Amazing Benefits of Oregano Oil

 Oregano oil works for more than drizzling on pizza. It also comes with a number of health benefits.

The common pizza spice even showed promise in killing norovirus, a foodborne disease notorious for plaguing cruise ships, according to research from the University of Arizona.

 Oregano oil contains carvacrol—a plant compound that broke down the outer protein layer of a virus to help destroy it, according to an animal lab study.

Oregano oil also contains thymol and rosmarinic acid, an antifungal and powerful antioxidant respectively.

Traditionally used as a culinary oil, oregano oil can be found at most health food stores and can be packaged into capsules or taken in its oil form by the spoonful.

You can also add oregano oil to soups, broths, or curries, or drizzle it over over salads, breads, meats, seafood, pasta and vegetables. If used as an essential oil, it should be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil

Since oregano oil isn't an FDA-regulated supplement, there isn't a recommended daily dose to add to your diet, if any, depending on what your health needs at the time.

Oregano oil shouldn't be used to replace or supplement medicines unless prescribed by your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement to your diet.

Oregano oil has been purported to have multiple health benefits ranging from improving gut health to pain relief. As an essential oil mixed, it even showed promise as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agent, according to a 2017 review in Molecules.

Here is a list of five scientifically reviewed health benefits of oregano oil.

High in antioxidants

"Oregano oil has has high levels of antioxidants," says Brian St. Pierre, R.D. a Men's Health nutrition advisor. The antioxidants in oregano oil have the power neutralize free radicals that cause stress on the body according to a 2015 study in piglets.

Anti-bacterial

"Oregano oil is thought to be an anti-microbial and to help with immunity, but human studies are lacking," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. Essential oils of herbs and spices have shown antibacterial properties. Mexican oregano essential oil showed antimicrobial properties in a 2015 review and may be influential in an anti-malaria treatment.

Possible anti-inflammatory

"Some limited animal research has shown powerful anti-inflammatory properties," says St. Pierre. A 2007 study in mice showed reduced colitis symptoms in mice using a combination of thyme and oregano oil. "However, the research in humans is very limited, so benefits here are currently more rooted in beliefs that animal and test-tube research will translate to humans, rather than demonstrated evidence of benefits," he adds.

Could lower cholesterol

A 2013 mouse study showed lowered cholesterol levels in mice while on a high-fat diet containing oregano oil, possibly attributed to the carvacrol in the herb.

May help an upset stomach

Like the norovirus study, carvacrol found in oregano oilwas shown to reduce symptoms of an upset stomach like diarrhea in mice, possibly due to its antimicrobrial properties to prevent bacteria from spreading.