Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., with an estimated 25 million Americans dealing with the disease, as of 2011. Diabetes exists in two forms, but both lead to too much sugar in the blood, which is toxic to tissues. Oregano displays a variety of properties that promote health, including hypoglycemic effects, which allow insulin to remove sugar from the blood. Oregano's effect on diabetic people has not been researched so it is not considered a valid treatment. Consult with your primary care physician before embarking on any supplement regiment.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes develops when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or cells do not respond properly to it. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels by allowing it to enter cells, where it is used to produce energy. Type 1 diabetes refers to reduced production of insulin, which can be from birth or a result of injury to the pancreas, whereas type 2 is developmental and involves cellular resistance to the effects of insulin. Both types lead to toxic levels of glucose in the blood, which eventually damages nerves, small blood vessels and other tissues.
Potential Causes and Symptoms
Your pancreas is sensitive to damage from a variety of sources, including excessive high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs. Obesity is the biggest risk factor for developmental type 2 diabetes, where the insulin receptors on the outside of cells largely "ignore" the signaling from insulin and take in less glucose-sugar than they should. According to "Human Biochemistry and Disease," initial symptoms of diabetes include fatigue, headaches and increased thirst, although blindness, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, amputation of toes or feet, coma and death can all eventually occur without proper treatment. Some herbs, such as oregano, may provide assistance for those with developmental diabetes.
Properties of Oregano
In addition to being a tasty herb used in Mediterranean cuisine, oregano displays antimicrobial, antioxidant, antispasmodic and perhaps hypoglycemic properties, according to "The New Healing Herbs." Although oregano isn't able to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, it may enhance the insulin sensitivity of the receptors on cells, leading to reduced levels of blood sugar and more energy production. A Moroccan study published in a 2004 edition of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" found that oregano oil extract demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect in rats with induced diabetes. This effect was independent of insulin and occurred after a single dose as well as with repeated daily dosing.
Dosage and Forms
There is no clinical evidence to support specific therapeutic doses of oregano, but due to its widespread use in foods it has been designated "generally recognized as safe" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and no contraindications have been identified. Oregano can be consumed raw as an herb, taken as a capsular supplement or ingested as a concentrated oil extract. If you have diabetes and are taking insulin, consult with your doctor before supplementing with any form of oregano.
References
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; A. Fauci et al.; 2008
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
- "Journal of Enthnopharmacology"; Anti-hyperglycaemic activity of the aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare growing wild in Tafilalet region; A. Lemhadri et al.; June 2004
