Imagine easing the symptoms of a cold or flu with something you can make at home using only two ingredients – no over the counter medications with ingredients lists that cover half of the bottle. I will show you how to make your own essential oil with oregano extract, and you too can start improving your health with this very powerful spice.
Essential Oils
Essential oils contain the “essence” of plants and flowers through extraction processes like distillation or cold-pressing. The scent and nutritional properties of the plant are retained in the oil and are used in a variety of applications, from aromatherapy to medicinal treatments. To make our homemade oil of oregano we will be using a method most similar to cold-pressing:
Before preparing your oregano to make sure you have the right variety of the spice. The type we use for cooking comes from the Marjoram Origanum plant. For our essential oil, we want to use oregano from the Origanum vulgare plant.
Ingredients
Fresh oregano leaves
Olive or Almond oil
Instructions
- Boil water in a saucepan. Once it is a rolling boil turn off heat.
- Place the oil and oregano leaves into a clean, sealable jar.
- Put the jar into the hot water and let sit for 5-10 mins. This heats the oil up and starts to release the oregano oils.
- Remove the jar from the water bath and place in a sunny window for 1-2 weeks.
- Give the jar a shake every few days.
- After 2 weeks strain the oregano from the oil.
- Place into a clean jar.
- Store the oil in a cool dark place.
Dosage
According to experts, there is no standard effective dosage, but they provide these handy guidelines: (8)
- Topically: Dilute with olive oil at a concentration of 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil per drop of oregano oil, then apply to the affected area.
- Under the tongue: Dilute with olive oil at a ratio of one drop of oregano oil to one drop of olive oil. Place 1–3 drops of this dilution under the tongue, hold it there for a few minutes, then flush with water.
- Swallowed: Put a few drops of it into a cup (237 ml) of water, gargle and then swallow.
Health Benefits
We can trace the use of oil of oregano for its various healing properties as far back as ancient Greece. Recently, academic and clinical trials are quantifying the healing properties of this spice and its use is increasing in popularity: it has been clinically proven to reduce blood sugar levels while also containing a high level of antioxidants. Other treatment applications for oil of oregano include:
- Reduces pain and inflammation
- Fights off infection and contains over 50 antibacterial ingredients
- Reduces the symptoms and duration of colds and flu
- Can aid in the relief of digestive problems
- Relief from muscle aches and pains
Application / How to administer
Once your oil of oregano is ready to use, we can begin exploring ways it can be administered to start improving your health.
Topically
After diluting your oil of oregano with a little olive oil, you can apply the mixture onto your skin to help ease pain from muscle inflammation and soreness. Oil of oregano is also effective as a topical treatment to help cure skin rashes, and ease pain from insect stings.
Other/Ingestion
To help ease the symptoms of colds and flu, sore throats, and digestion problems add a few drops of oil of oregano to a glass of juice or coconut milk.
As a precautionary note: those with bleeding disorders, pregnant women, and children should not ingest oil of oregano. Iron is not absorbed as effectively by the body when oil of oregano is taken, and this application method should be avoided. In addition, 1 week without taking the oil should follow a 3-week period of use by adults.
