A Peaceful Place

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

Human Influenza Virus Inhibited by Oil of Oregano

By Erik L. Goldman, Editor in Chief, Holistic Primary Care

Score a few more points for oregano oil.

Long recognized in traditional botanical medicine as an ally in preventing and treating infectious diseases, especially common colds and respiratory infections, oregano oil is proving effective in inhibiting and eradicating a number of human viruses.

The latest in a series of preclinical studies by Dr. M. Khalid Ijaz shows that wild oregano oil alone, and in combination with the oils of cumin, sage, and cinnamon (Oregacillin), can markedly reduce the virulence of human influenza virus A2. This study follows earlier experiments showing that these two products can completely block replication of human coronavirus, the pathogen associated with Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS).

To test the efficacy of these medicinal oils against influenza, Dr. Ijaz added 0.5 ml of viral inoculum containing human influenza virus A to solutions containing 1 % concentrations of the herbal oils, both of which are made by Physician's Strength, a company specializing in medicinal oils from Mediterranean herbs. The viral cultures were exposed to the medicinal oils for varying time periods ranging from 2 to 20 minutes and then inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs (a common medium ih viral virulence tests). Exposure of the virus to the wild oregano oil for 10 minutes reduced the number of viable infectious particles from 10 million per ml. to 100,000 per ml. A 20-minute exposure further reduced the number to just under 15,00Operml.

The Oregacillin combination of oils (oregano, sage, cumin and cinnamon) showed similar antiviral effects; a 10 minute exposure to a 1 % dilution of this combination reduced viral counts from 10,000,000 infectious units per ml to 177,827 infectious units per ml. A 20 minute exposure reduced the counts to under 5,000 per ml. The P73 oregano oil and Oregacillin combination were also able to eradicate avian influenza virus as well, though this required a higher concentration.

A member of the Lamiaceae family of plants indigenous to the Mediterranean region, oregano contains high concentrations of phenols, including a compound called carvacrol. Previous research has shown wild oil of oregano to be bacteriostatic and fungistatic against a number of human pathogens, including Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.

Dr. Ijaz and his colleagues at Microbiotest, a contract research microbiology lab in Sterling, VA, are the first team to show that these oils can inhibit human viral pathogens.

From:

http://breathing.com/oregano-oil.htm

Oregano wraps reduce E. coli on produce, researchers say

November 17, 2006:- U.S. and Spanish researchers say they have added a bacteria-killing oil to existing edible food wraps used to protect fruits and vegetables.

Made from apple puree and oregano oil, the wrap "shows promise in laboratory studies of becoming a long-lasting, potent alternative to conventional produce washes," a release from the American Chemical Society said.

Oregano has well-known antibacterial properties.

Tara McHugh, a food chemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, headed a team that did lab tests of various antibacterial agents mixed with the fruit wraps, which she and colleagues developed three years ago.

"While all of the oils tested inhibited the growth of E. coli, oregano oil was the most effective, killing over 50 per cent of sample bacteria in three minutes at concentrations as small as 0.034 per cent," she said.

The researchers, including scientists from University of Lleida in Spain, are working on raising the kill rate.

The wraps have yet to be tested on fresh produce, but already the scientists are trying them out or planning experiments targeting other food bacteria, including salmonella.

Because the apple film is sticky, it stays on fruits and vegetables longer than conventional water-based product washes. And the stickiness keeps the oregano oil in close contact to the surfaces where the bacteria grow.

The antibacterial coating could also be used as a spray or dip for fresh fruits and vegetables. That may leave an oregano taste, but that can be an advantage for some salads, McHugh said.

The researchers' study is set to be published in the society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on Nov. 29.

E. coli on U.S. spinach killed three people recently, and there have been repeated scares about salmonella and other contaminants.

From: http://www.cbc.ca/health/

We've both used Oregano oil (recommended by Dr. Turner - Turnerwellness) helped Son with some ongoing digestive issues & reduced some of the FM symptoms for myself.

"Joy Of The Mountain"
by Compiled by Health Research

Better health may be only a dash and sprinkle away: Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found that herbs, in addition to making food tastier, are an abundant source of antioxidants and could provide potential anticancer benefits when supplementing a balanced diet.

In a recent study sited by James Duke in his book the Green Pharmacy, Oregano a member of the mint family out ranked over 100 mint family herbs in delivering rosmarinic acid.

Action and uses:
Rosmarinic acid is a compound in oregano that is

antibacterial: will kill bacteria
anti-imflammatory: will ease swelling
antioxidant: means anti-aging
anti-viral: it will kill a virus
So not only is oregano tea good for helping to heal from a cold ,it is helpful with arthritis.

Oregano is currently being studied by the Delaware State Univerisity with federally funded dollars, which means there is something to the powerful claims made by Scientist W H Martindale in 1910, documented that the essential oil of oregano is the most powerful plant-derived antiseptic known. He showed it was 26 times more active as an antiseptic than phenol (a powerful disinfectant).

Despite the heavy association of oregano with Italy, it is likely that oregano originated in Greece. Ancients Greeks used to let their cattle graze on fields of oregano, in the belief that it produced tastier meat. Even the name oregano comes from the Greek, meaning "joy of the mountain." Over the years oragano has been used as a remedy to aid digestion. Oregano continues to be used as a steam inhalant to clear the sinuses and relieve laryngitis.

Herbs have higher antioxidant activity than fruits, vegetables and some spices, including garlic, the researchers say. Some herbs should be considered as regular vegetables. People should use more herbs for flavoring instead of salt and artificial chemicals.

In what may be good news for pizza lovers and Italian food connoisseurs everywhere, the herbs with the highest antioxidant activity belonged to the oregano family. In general, oregano had 3 to 20 times higher antioxidant activity than the other herbs studied.

On a per gram fresh weight basis, oregano and other herbs ranked even higher in antioxidant activity than fruits and vegetables, which are known to be high in antioxidants. In comparison to the antioxidant activities of a few select fruits and vegetables, the potency of oregano ranks supreme: Oregano has 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries.

For example, one tablespoon of fresh oregano contains the same antioxidant activity as one medium-sized apple, she says.

Adding a moderate amount of herbs may go a long way toward boosting the health value of a meal, especially as an alternative to salt and artificial additives.

Even if you're not into oregano, other herbs also appear to pack a significant antioxidant punch. Among the more familiar, ranked in order, are dill, garden thyme, rosemary and peppermint.

The most active phenol component in some of the herbs with the highest antioxidant activity, particularly oregano, was rosmarinic acid, a strong antioxidant.

Antioxidants have become synonymous with good health. They are a class of compounds thought to prevent certain types of chemical damage caused by an excess of free radicals, charged molecules that are generated by a variety of sources including pesticides, smoking and exhaust fumes. Destroying free radicals may help fight cancer, heart disease and stroke, researchers believe.

Fruits and vegetables have long been viewed as a rich source of antioxidant compounds. Health officials have been urging consumers for years to eat more fruits and vegetables in order to gain the health benefits of antioxidants, but progress has been slow, according to researchers.

More recently, researchers have begun to formally study the health benefits of herbs and spices. The two differ mainly by source. Herbs typically come from the leaves of plants. Spices come from the bark, stem and seeds of plants. Both have been used for thousands of years to flavor foods and treat illness.

Now, herbs have emerged as a quick and easy way to get a concentrated source of antioxidants - without all the extra calories of whole foods.

The Wild Oregano Oil Miracle
Article by Dr. Zoltan P. Rona, MD, MSc

Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare) is well known in the Mediterranean world (Greece and Crete) for its ability to slow down food spoilage through its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-oxidant activity. .......

HOW IT WORKS

Isomeric phenols (primarily carvacrol) in oregano oil in dilutions as low as 1/50,000 destroys Candida albicans, the Aspergillus mold, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Klebsiella, E.coli, Giardia, Pseudomonas, and Proteus. Another phenol constituent, thymol, boosts the immune system. These compounds also act as free radical scavengers (shield against toxins) thus preventing further tissue damage while encouraging healing.

Oil of oregano is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic. It also has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and is an ideal product to use for people who suffer from CFS and/or fibromyalgia. This is not regular oregano, but a wild form (wild mountain oregano, vulgare species) of the spice, which has, until recently, not been available in Canada. Do not use a substitute or oregano from a grocery store because it will have no effect. oil of oregano natural herbal supplement offers a variety of remedies

Many of us have enjoyed oregano with our foods at one point or another. Nevertheless, how much more would you enjoy it if you realized just how beneficial oregano could be to your health? You would probably sprinkle it on more than just your pizza and spaghetti, right?

Oregano is one of the most diverse health aids available. Unfortunately, however, most of the oregano that consumers are familiar with contains only trace quantities of the actual species of the plant, or in some cases, none at all.

Meanwhile, researchers have uncovered numerous benefits to using oregano and extracted oil of oregano. However, buyer beware. These significant health benefits are unattainable if the oregano is not the true substance.

Nevertheless, true oil of oregano offers many exciting remedies to a variety of ailments. In "Herbal Renaissance", Steven Foster credits oregano as having "been employed to treat indigestion, diarrhea, nervous tension, insect bites, toothache, earache, rheumatism, and coughs due to whooping cough and bronchitis (primarily for it's antispasmodic effects)."

The ancient Greeks were among the first to take advantage of oregano's medicinal qualities. The Greeks termed the spice oreganos, meaning "delight of the mountains".

Although there are a wide variety of plants that are confused with oregano (including marjoram, thyme, and sage) true oregano grows wild in Mediterranean regions such as Greece. The wild oregano is the source of surprisingly potent oil of oregano.

In "The Cure is in the Cupboard", Cass Ingram, D.O., has written a book that is dedicated to unveiling the health benefits of oregano and oil of oregano. He notes that "wild oregano is a veritable natural mineral treasure-house, containing a density of minerals that would rival virtually any food".

The wild oregano is rich in a long list of minerals that includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, and manganese. Vitamins C and A (beta carotene) and niacin also are contained in oregano. Judging from its mineral content alone, it is not hard to figure out why oregano is such a valuable commodity. Consider some of oregano's other useful purposes and it becomes even more obvious.

"Oregano is one of Nature's finest preservatives", states Ingram in another book, "Supermarket Remedies". The author suggests that if oregano is used with foods such as meat, eggs, milk, or salad, you "will greatly halt the growth of microbes and, thus, reduce the risk for food poisoning."

The key element in oregano is the oil, which Foster points out "contains carvacrol and thymol as the primary components". Foster attributes the "fungicidal and worm-expellant properties" of oil of oregano to carvacrol and thymol. "These two phenols may constitute as much as 90% of (the oil)."

However, Ingram adds that these two phenols work "synergistically" and that is the reason oil of oregano packs a double punch in antiseptic power and explains why it is "infinitely more potent than commercial phenol in microbial killing power."

All of this helps make oregano oil a significant factor in treating internal and external fungi including athlete's foot. Skin conditions such a psoriasis and eczema can be improved with the treatment as well. Ingram explains the astonishing discovery that "oil of oregano outright destroys all variety of fungi and yeasts, regardless of where they reside."

In addition to fighting various fungi, oil of oregano is useful against bacteria and parasites. As Ingram asserts, "oil of oregano's antiseptic powers are immense . . . it inhibits the growth of the majority of bacteria, something that prescription antibiotics fail to accomplish." In the case of parasites, oil of oregano has had success neutralizing worms, amoeba, and protozoan.

Additional uses for oregano and oil of oregano are multi-dimensional. It has been found helpful in combating diarrhea, intestinal gas, and digestive problems, as well as sore throat and breathing difficulties. Oil of oregano can be immediately help against bee stings and many venomous bites until medical attention can be reached. Oil of oregano has even been suggested as a treatment for dandruff, diaper rash, and other skin disorders.

The benefits of oregano has gone largely unnoticed and under publicized for far too long. As Ingram notes, oregano is "one of the world's finest natural medicines, that is if it's true oregano."

So while oregano may hold the answer for a number of your health questions, be sure that it is in fact the real thing. Remember, these remedies are only attributed to genuine oregano and oil of oregano. Nonetheless, their values are much too important to overlook. Oregano may just be the thing you are searching for, or maybe did not realize was available.

Oregano: Nature's Healer
Dr. Cass Ingram

Dr. Cass Ingram is a physician, educator, and author of over 10 books, including his latest, "The Cure is in the Cupboard".

I spent the better part of 1995 and '96 investigating the therapeutic values of wild oregano, and publishing the first book on its health benefits called "The Cure is in the Cupboard". I call wild oregano nature's most versatile essential oil.

Oregano oil is a powerhouse for:

fighting yeast, fungus (skin and blood-born)

knocking our allergies, hay fever, and sinusitis

stopping infections (cold and flu).

</DIR></DIR></DIR>

I learned about its strength first hand, as I suffered from a blood-born fungal infection that incapacitated me several years ago. I had to close my practice and move home to live. I tried everything, and ultimately discovered the potent antiseptic activity of wild oregano. It put me back on my feet.

Of late, the antiallergic feedback I have received has been most impressive. Although the oil of oregano has been used since ancient times to fight yeast, fungal and viral infections, oregano's ability to wipe out allergies, runny nose, sinusitis, and nasal drip has taken me by surprise.

MODERN USES FOR OREGANO

Please understand, you are not going to get any better eating a pizza! Wild, crude, mountain-grown oregano (from the Mediterranean) is the only kind that is naturally rich in 'carvacrols, flavonoids, and terpenes', which give the oregano its tremendous strength. Carvacrol is a natural phenol that contains powerful anti-microbial activity. Flavonoids provide natural antiseptic properties, and Terpenes (long chain hydrocarbons) are natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Natural Decongestant

Carvacrol, Flavonoids, and Terpenes are Mother Nature's antihistamines and decongestants. Super Strength Oil of Oregano has over 70% Carvacrol by weight. That is an abundance of healing power. Please beware of cheap imitations. The Wolfe Clinic's Super Strength Oil of Oregano is 100% pure wild oregano oil. It may be used internally and topically. Other brands of oregano oil are often unsafe and adulterated.

Anti-Allergy Properties

Every potential allergy sufferer needs to know that wild oregano is capable of halting your next allergy attack in its tracks. It is effective, reliable, and safe. Over-the-counter drugs have side effects, and they are not your only option. Try a natural approach first. Don't be a victim of allergies any more. Wild oregano overpowers them every time.

Antibacterial Agent

Oregano is also an excellent antibacterial agent. Its volatile oils are highly active against the majority of pathogenic bacteria, including staph, strep, and E.coli.

Furthermore, fungal resistance to oregano oil is exceptionally rare. Oregano is such a potent antifungal agent that it is capable of destroying even resistant fungal forms such as the mutated fungi which result from antibiotic therapy.

MANY THERAPEUTIC USES

Internally:

Use the Super Strength on or in the body. It is strong, so when using it internally, start with small amounts, like one or two drops twice daily in juice.

Take one drop twice per day working your way to one drop four times per day. Mix with one teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or olive oil to improve palatability. Take for a period of 15 days and then stop for 15 days. Then repeat the process.

Externally:

Oil of oregano may also be applied topically to treat itches, infections of the skin, gums, teeth, and just about any orifice in the body. Exercise care if you use it in the genital region where it is best mixed with olive oil or coconut oil before application (1 drop per teaspoon of olive oil or coconut oil/butter).

There are no side effects and it is compatible with any other natural remedy or prescription drug.

Oil of Oregano Effectively Treats:

· acne · allergies · arthritis · asthma · athlete's foot · constipation · croup · dandruff · diarrhea · digestive disturbances · insect bites · bronchitis · canker sores · colds · flu · earaches · fatigue · gum disease · parasites · headaches · menstrual irregularities · psoriasis · toenail problems · seborrhea · ringworm · rosacea · sinusitis · muscle pain · varicose veins · warts

From: http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/oregano.html

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
A Peaceful Place	[email protected]