Oregano
Origanum vulgare — also: Wild marjoram, Oil of oregano
Mostly preclinical; human evidence is limited. Oil is potent and must be diluted.
Mediterranean culinary and folk antiseptic herb.
Oregano oil (carvacrol) shows antimicrobial/antifungal activity in lab studies.
Carvacrol and thymol disrupt microbial membranes in vitro.
- Antimicrobial activity (lab)
- Culinary antioxidant
Strong in vitro data; limited human trials.
- Human efficacy unproven
- Dosing of oil tricky
- Burns from undiluted oil
- Blood-sugar lowering
- Pregnant people; those on diabetes/blood-thinner meds
Undiluted oil burns skin/mucosa; GI upset; may lower blood sugar.
May add to blood-thinning and blood-sugar-lowering effects.
Avoid medicinal oregano oil in pregnancy.
Easy perennial; culinary use is the safe default.
- Strong in vitro antimicrobial/antifungal activity (carvacrol).
- Human efficacy for infections is essentially unproven.
- Undiluted oil is caustic and must be diluted.
Lab potency does not equal clinical effect; human data are scarce.
Controlled human trials with safe, defined dosing.
Lovely in cooking; the 'oil of oregano' is strong medicine — dilute and go easy.