Oregano Essential
| Botanical Name: Oreganum vulgare
Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled Part Typically Used: Leaves and Flowers/Buds Color: Pale Yellow Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Medium Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong |
Aromatic Description: Herbaceous, sharp.
Oregano Oil Uses: Coughs, digestion, skin infections, cuts, wounds, swelling, pain, colds, flu, bronchitis, respiratory ailments.
Common Uses: Due to high carvacol and thymol content, Organic Oregano Essential Oil is considered to be “nature’s cure all” as it is reputed to have potent antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties. In topical applications, Organic Oregano Oil can be used to treat itches, skin infections, cuts and wounds; and because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is effective against swelling and pain caused by rheumatism. For aromatherapy purposes, Organic Oregano Oil is useful in blends to treat symptoms associated with colds, flues, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. It can also be used as a fragrance component in soaps, colognes and perfumes, especially men’s fragrances.
Blends well with: Lavender, Rosemary, Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress, Cedarwood, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus .
Major Constituents for Turkish Oregano Oil:
Carvacrol
p-Cymene
Gamma-Terpinene
Thymol
Linalool
See Tisserand and Young’s profile for constituent for oils sourced from oregano grown in different regions.
[K.H.C. Baser, T. Oztek, G. Tumen, et al. Composition of the Essential Oils of Turkish Origanum Species with Commercial Importance. (Journal of Essential Oil Research 5, 1993), 619-623. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 375-376.]
History: The word “oregano” is actually derived from the Greek phrase, “joy of the mountains”. Just married couples were crowned with wreaths of it and it was also put on graves to give peace to departed spirits. In China, it has long been used to treat fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Safety Information: Tisserand and Young warn that Oregano Essential Oil is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They indicate that when using Oregano Oil, there is moderate risk for mucous membrane irritation, it may inhibit blood clotting and pose a drug interaction hazard. It may cause embryo toxicity. There is a moderate risk of skin sensitization, and Tisserand and Young recommend a dermal maximum of 1.1%. They advise not to use topically on children age 2 or younger or for those with hypersensitive/diseased/damaged skin. Reading Tisserand and Young’s full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 376.]
