Does Oregano Oil Have Toxicity Issues?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Gary Greenfield

 

One of the wonderful benefits of using Oil of Oregano is its lack of detrimental side effects which is a common attribute of naturally occurring essential oils and herbs.  Of course this isn’t the case at all with pharmaceuticals or  herbs that have been refined or processed in the laboratory for patentable purposes.   Drugs created in the laboratory invariably possess toxic and often times serious or even life-threatening side effects which increase with use even when taken as prescribed by doctor’s orders.  Natural medicinals in the form of essential oils of plants and herbs extracted using natural processes can produce  unpleasant side effects as a result of miscalculated or inappropriate use but in and of themselves are not toxic, so long as they are used for their appropriate purposes.   Discretion should always be used with all natural medicinals and traditional protocols when available should always be followed and if they aren’t available at the least determine what the general consensus seems to be among users of the particular essential oils that you are using to treat your particular ailment.

Regarding the essential oils of the origanum vulgare plant which because of it’s solvent characteristics is extremely penetrating; improper application or dosage of this oil can result in the following unpleasant but not necessarily dangerous side effects:

1. Ingesting an excessive or undiluted dosage of oregano oil may result in painful and uncomfortable irritation to the mucous membrane of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. To alleviate this issue some people choose to place drops of oregano oil into vegetable capsules before swallowing.  Another common usage to is place a few drops of oil of oregano into coffee, juice or water.  In the event of irritation or discomfort ingesting any type of dairy product or almond milk will sooth the affected areas.

2.  An excessive or inappropriate application of oregano oil in a diluted or undiluted form to sensitive epidermal areas such as but not limited to the eyes, lips and genitals can result in an extreme burning and itching sensation resulting in redness and/or possible injury to the surface layer of skin.  Again, dairy products or almond milk are excellent antidotes for relief of unpleasant symptoms.

Two methods of treatment with oregano oil that can be considered safe and prudent for all ages are:

1.  Applying diluted or undiluted oil of oregano to the soles of the feet.  This can be done full strength or with a dilution of up to ten times with a carrier oil such as coconut, olive, almond oil or any other non-hydrogenated pure oil.

2. A safe and ideal application under any circumstances including pregnancy would be to use a homeopathic solution of oregano oil. With a homeopathic solution, the physical or molecular presence of the oil is no longer present with only the vibrational frequency remaining which is able to deliver the efficacious benefits of oregano oil without the irritant effects caused by the physical properties of the oil.

Two of the main concerns that are typically expressed in chat groups, articles and on websites about oregano oil address the question of whether or oregano oil takes out good gut flora along with pathogens. The other concern has to do with the whether or not oregano oil or it’s components  such as thymol are toxic to the liver.

Addressing the first concern, I can say with confidence that oregano oil as well as all essential oils have inherent within them discriminating intelligence which is at a level far beyond what scientists are able to emulate in the laboratory.  Consider the MRSA, just one of the superbugs that have developed as a consequence of the introduction of laboratory created antibiotics. These man-made antibiotics are no match for nature which consistently can outwit and develop resistance to anything man can throw at them whereas a superbug such as MRSA can be effectively neutralized by oregano oil without ever developing resistance to it and this is an attribute that is common among all essential oils and herbs.  Yet while oregano oil can take out many pathogens that have become impervious to man-made antibiotics it can at the same time feed life enhancing bacteria with minerals and nutrients. This can be proven by exposing eight ounces of common yogurt cultures to a mega dose of pure oregano oil, (10 drops equivalent to 22 lbs of plants mass).  Yogurt cultures will thrive and even be preserved for a month or longer even when exposed to such a highly concentrated dose of oregano oil and the savory taste and texture will be superb!  Under normal conditions yogurt might stay fresh for a week.  This principle of protection and nurturing is present throughout all of nature but unfortunately has been diminished and marginalized by modern science which for the most part has little or no regard or respect for the wonders of nature.

The second most common concern regarding possible side effects of oregano oil has to do with potential liver toxicity from exposure to oregano oil.  A perusal of PubMed research on liver toxicity and oregano oil will reveal quite the contrary to this common concern.  Numerous studies reveal that oregano oil actually enhances and protects liver cells whereas when properties of oregano oil such as thymol are refined and processed for the sake of creating a patentable pharmaceutical, pesticide, or insecticide, indeed detrimental side effects begin to exhibit that reveal liver damage and other toxic issues as well.

The bottom line is that detrimental side effects are virtually non-existent with essential oils and herbs so long as they are taken at the appropriate dosage levels and in a manner consistent with traditional use whereas virtually all drugs created using fractionalized natural substances for purpose of creating a patentable drug will have detrimental side effects and in many cases to the extent of possible death even when taken as prescribed by a doctor in accordance with industry created protocols.