Protocols For Health, Oil of Oregano 120 Softgels

Oil of Oregano May be Effective Against:

Oil of Oregano may support the health of the gastrointestinal tract by promoting intestinal cleansing and a healthy balance of gut bacteria.* This product is standardized to contain carvacrol and thymol, the primary bioactive phenolic compounds in oregano. Each softgel provides 36 mg of carvacrol and thymol from an impressive 60% to 75% carvacrol oregano oil. The oil of oregano in this product is emulsified with olive oil as a carrier to avoid irritation to the gastrointestinal mucosal lining.

Oil of Oregano is a powerful plant extract with highly effective antimicrobial properties, as well as important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Similar to rosemary, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and other common herbs and spices, oregano is a familiar culinary ingredient whose potential pharmacologic role can be exploited when its essential components are isolated and provided in concentrated doses. The oil extracts of Mediterranean oregano (Origanum vulgare) and other varieties have a history in botanical medicine for efficacy in the gastrointestinal tract as antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiparasitic agents.

Antimicrobial The principal phenolic compounds in oregano—carvacrol [2-methyl-5-(1methylethyl)phenol] and thymol (2-isopropyl-5methylphenol)—are well known for their individual antibacterial properties, but when synergistically functioning alongside the other biologically active monoterpenes of oregano, these compounds convey potent antimicrobial actions. They have both been shown to be biocidal against numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Listeria, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, H. pylori, and E. coli in the jejunum, ileum, and colon. In vitro studies showed oil of oregano to be highly effective in dismantling and attenuating the growth of biofilms produced by various species of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli, and Salmonella. The researchers proposed that the hydrophobic properties of carvacrol and thymol enabled them to interact with the lipid bilayer of bacterial cell membranes, “causing loss of integrity and leakage of cellular material such as ions, ATP and nucleic acids.” In the presence of these compounds, bacterial cells grew as looser colonies and the amount of biofilm was reduced in direct proportion to the dose of oregano extracts.

The activity of oil of oregano at the subcellular level is confirmed by studies that demonstrated disruption of the cell membranes and intracellular structures, damage of cytoplasmic vacuoles, disturbance of membrane embedded proteins, lipids, RNA synthesis, ATPase activity, and an imbalance of intracellular osmotic pressure as cytoplasmic contents have leaked in Staph and Pseudomonas organisms exposed to oregano oil. Other studies support the efficacy of oil of oregano against multiple strains of Staph, showing oregano to be the most powerful antimicrobial when compared to several other essential oils, including rosemary, basil, and mint. The carvacrol content of the oregano tested was 43.6%, compared to 78.9% for lavender. However, despite the lower carvacrol content, oregano was a far more effective antibacterial than lavender, suggesting a synergistic role for oregano’s other chemical constituents. The antimicrobial properties of oregano’s principal compounds have proven effective, even against four strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococci—a key finding, with MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant organisms being a major cause of nosocomial infection as well as infection via sub-sanitary conditions in everyday encounters, such as at gyms. Additionally, oil of oregano was shown to be effective against multi-drug resistant E. coli - a common cause of urinary tract infections and implicated in gastrointestinal conditions.

Antifungal The antifungal efficacy of oregano oil and its two primary constituents has been proven in vitro and in vivo. A commonly proposed mechanism by which carvacrol and thymol exert their antifungal effects is by binding to sterols of the fungal membrane, damaging its integrity and function, and leading to fungal death. Other studies have shown oregano oil to be highly effective against various morphological forms of Candida albicans, a common fungal infection of the mouth, GI tract, and vagina. In fact, carvacrol has been found to be among the most potent monoterpene against Candida albicans impeding the growth of the yeast itself, its hyphae, and the biofilm. In in vitro studies, both carvacrol and thymol showed strong inhibitory actions against Fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. Other researchers found that not only was the antifungal activity of oregano oil similar to that of nystatin and amphotericin B, but it could also synergistically enhance the efficacy of traditional antifungal agents when taken together. In theory, this combination therapy could reduce the amount of pharmaceuticals required, thereby limiting or preventing altogether unpleasant or toxic side-effects.

Antiparasitic Oil of oregano has been shown to be a powerful antiparasitic. A small study involving 13 patients with three different intestinal parasites and complaints of GI distress and fatigue resulted in the complete eradication of parasites in 10 patients, along with amelioration of bloating, cramping, fatigue, and alternating diarrhea and constipation after 6 weeks of supplementation with 600 mg oil of oregano (200 mg t.i.d.). This powerful result was obtained with no other dietary or lifestyle modifications. In vitro studies have shown Mexican oregano to be effective against common gastrointestinal parasites and nematodes including Cryptosporidium parvum and Anisakis simplex. The mechanisms of action were similar to those observed in antibacterial studies, including the disruption of cell membranes leading to changes in osmotic balance.

Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory Aside from being an effective antimicrobial agent, clinical studies are also revealing oregano oil is a powerful modulator of both oxidative stress and inflammation – a dual cause of many chronic health conditions. For example, in vitro studies show synergism between carvacrol, thymol, and other terpenes in oregano oil that create a high free radical scavenging capacity and protects cellular membranes, lipids, and intracellular components from the damaging effects of oxidative stress. Not only does oregano oil reduce reactive oxygen species by scavenging, but it has been shown to modulate inflammation by reducing the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in LPS-activated THP-1 human macrophage cells. Other inflammatory biomarkers such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) have been significantly reduced by oregano oil in human neonatal fibroblasts. Mice models have shown a reduction in interleukins, prostaglandins, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).

Recommended Use: Take 1 softgel per day with a meal or as directed by your health-care practitioner.

• GLUTEN FREE
• DAIRY FREE
• SOY FREE
• NON-GMO

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.