OREGANO: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an herb used to flavor foods. It is considered safe in common food amounts, but has little evidence of health benefits.

Oregano has olive-green leaves and purple flowers. It is closely related to other herbs, including mint, thyme, marjoram, and basil. Oregano contains chemicals that might help reduce cough. Oregano also might help with digestion and with fighting against some bacteria and viruses.

People use oregano for wound healing, parasite infections, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

High cholesterol. Clinical research shows that taking oregano after each meal for 3 months can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol in people with high cholesterol. However, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels are not affected.
Parasites in the intestines. Taking oil of oregano for 6 weeks can kill the parasites Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba hartmanni, and Endolimax nana.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Oregano leaf and oregano oil are likely safe when eaten in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if oregano is safe to use in amounts greater than those found in food. Mild side effects include stomach upset.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if oregano oil is safe to apply to the skin. It may cause irritation when applied in concentrations greater than 1%.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy: Oregano is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts during pregnancy. There is concern that taking oregano in amounts larger than food amounts might cause miscarriage. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if large amounts of oregano are safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Allergies: Oregano can cause reactions in people allergic to Lamiaceae family plants, including basil, hyssop, lavender, marjoram, mint, and sage.

Surgery: Large doses of oregano might increase the risk of bleeding. People who use large doses of oregano should stop taking oregano 2 weeks before surgery.

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with OREGANO
Oregano might slow blood clotting. Taking oregano along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with OREGANO
Oregano might lower blood sugar levels. Taking oregano along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Dosing

Fresh and dried oregano leaf and oregano oil are commonly eaten in foods. As a supplement, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of oregano might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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