In the face of the multiple side effects and adverse reactions caused by traditional prescription medications, it is understandable that people are turning to alternative remedies for relief of mild conditions. One type of alternative therapy is homeopathic medicine. Homeopathy is the practice of accommodating a person to the cause of an illness or condition by exposing that person to very small amounts of the offending agent over time. Oil of oregano is considered a homeopathic remedy because it is as effective as commercial antimicrobial and anti-fungal drugs.
Components
The active compounds in oil of oregano are carvacrol and thymol. Both of these constituents are monoterpenic phenols. Carvacrol is responsible for the larger part of the antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and antioxidant capabilities associated with the essential oil of oregano. The oil is manufactured using a steam distillation process by which the oil is separated from the plant using water and heat.
Skin
A journal article published in the 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Food Science and Technology" states that oregano oil is a more powerful anti-fungal agent than many commercial products on the market. Oregano oil is effective in eliminating the fungus that causes athlete's foot when the affected area is submerged in a bath containing a few teaspoons of the oil. Diluting oregano oil with olive oil at a rate of 1 tsp. olive oil per drop of oregano oil and applying the mixture to fungal infections of the skin and nails can eliminate the infection.
Digestive System
Oregano oil is also used as a remedy for indigestion. A few drops of oregano oil diluted in a glass of juice or milk can help soothe the stomach. It can also aid digestion by stimulating bile flow.
Autism
Dr. William Shaw, an expert on autism, states in his book "Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD," that the widespread use of antibiotics by the year 1990 contributed to an increase in the number of autism cases diagnosed. Antibiotic usage was largely related to the treatment of ear infections in children and resulted in a rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacterial. This reduction of good bacteria can lead to an overgrowth of yeast, a type of fungus. Oregano oil can be used to treat yeast overgrowth and is sometimes more effective than commercial anti-fungal drugs.
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