Staphylococcus bacteria, also known as staph, is a group of several strains of bacteria that cause a variety of different diseases in humans, including pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome and skin infections. Antibiotic-resistant strains of staph have become problematic in hospital settings. Oregano oil may possess antibiotic properties against some forms of staph in preliminary studies.
Method of Activity
Oregano essential oil showed antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in a study published in the May 2009 issue of the "Journal of Applied Microbiology." The oregano extract exerted its effects by damaging bacterial cell membranes. The researchers note that oregano oil may prove to be a useful natural preservative for food or pharmaceutical products. The study was conducted at the Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Morocco.
Oregano and Antibiotics
Oregano oil effectively kills staph without damaging your healthy cells and tissues, according to "Beating MRSA the Aromatic Way," a report published on the website What Doctors Don't Tell You. Its antibiotic properties give the essential oil a distinct advantage over pharmaceutical antibiotics that destroy the beneficial bacteria that protect the intestinal lining and can also directly damage your intestinal tract, in addition to causing other potential adverse effects. The article also lists eucalyptus, tea tree, juniper and sage oils as being similar in effectiveness to oregano oil. The report also lists several more powerful antibacterial essential oils, such as clove, lavendar and lemon.
Broad Spectrum Effects
You may consider keeping oregano oil handy in your medicine cabinet for its antiseptic and broad spectrum antibiotic effects, says Paul Pitchford, author of "Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition." It has similar medicinal qualities to raw garlic and may be more effective against some types of staphlyococcal infections than standard antibiotics. Oregano oil has also been used for colds, flu and other respiratory infections and as a painkiller where inflammation is present. Oregano oil can be taken internally in capsule form or diluted in olive oil.
Doses
Low doses of oregano oil work well against staph infections, and may be comparable to penicilin, says naturopath Michelle Schoffro Cook, Bsc., RNCP, ROHP, DNM, in her book "The Phytozyme Cure: Treat Or Reverse More Than 30 Serious Health Conditions." Oregano oil might kill up to 92 percent of staph bacteria. As a precaution, Cook suggests supplementing with probiotics -- beneficial intestinal bacteria -- when you take oregano oil, as the oil is capable of killing the good bacteria along with the bad.
References
- "Journal of Applied Microbiology"; Investigation of Functional and Morphological Changes in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aureus Cells Induced by Origanum Compactum Essential Oil; S. Bouhdid, et al.; May 2009
- WhatDoctor'sDon'tTellYou.com: Beating Mrsa the Aromatic Way.
- "Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition"; Paul Pitchford; 2003
- "The Phytozyme Cure: Treat Or Reverse More Than 30 Serious Health Conditions ... "; Michelle Schoffro Cook; 2010
Member Comments