Dry Oregano Leaves

What are dry oregano leaves?

Oregano is made from the dried leaves of either the Mediterranean herb Origanum sp. or the Mexican plant Lippia sp. Both kinds have been picked from the wild for a long time. The name "Origanum" comes from Greek words that mean "joy of the mountain" because oregano grows best in high-altitude Mediterranean settings. The type from the Mediterranean is closely linked to oregano and looks a lot like it. The Mexican version comes from a different family of plants, but it has a taste that is similar to that of Mediterranean oregano but stronger. Oregano is called ni zh (Chinese), origaino (Hindi), orégano (Spanish), origan (French), tawabul (Arabic), and oregano (German) in different languages.

How do I use dry oregano leaves?

However, among the dried herbs that I incorporate into my daily routine, dried oregano ranks among the top three. When making artisan bread dough, I enjoy folding in a tablespoon of crumbs or scattering it over handmade garlic bread. It finds application in salad condiments, marinades, and dry seasonings intended for meat.

Dry oregano leaves have the following benefits:

Oregano is a vegetable that is used in many dishes all over the world. Studies have found that it might help fight germs and reduce inflammation, among other great things.

◉ Rich in antioxidants: Oregano contains a lot of antioxidants, which are substances that help shield the body from harm from dangerous free radicals. People with long-term diseases like cancer and heart disease may have more free radicals in their bodies. Several studies done in test tubes have shown that oregano and oregano oil have a lot of antioxidants. Oregano essential oil contains significant amounts of carvacrol and thymol, two antioxidants that can help shield cells from harm by free radicals. When combined with other foods that are high in antioxidants, like fruits and veggies, oregano could give you a big dose of antioxidants that may help your health.

◉ May Help Fight Bacteria: Some of the chemicals in oregano are very good at killing germs. One test-tube study showed that oregano essential oil helped stop the growth of two types of bacteria that can cause infections: Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In another test tube study, oregano killed 23 different types of germs. Also, the antibacterial effects of oregano, sage, and thyme oils were studied in a test tube study. Oregano was second only to thyme in how well it killed bacteria with its essential oil. Only test-tube studies with high amounts of this herb have been done so far. So, more study needs to be done to find out how these results might affect people.

◉ Could Have Anti-Cancer Properties: There are a lot of vitamins in oregano. These substances not only have the ability to reverse free radical damage, but they also might be able to prevent cancer. Some studies done in test tubes have shown that oregano and some of its parts may be able to kill cancer cells.In a test tube, oregano oil was used to treat human colon cancer cells, and the researchers found that it stopped the cancer cells from growing and helped kill them. In another test tube study, carvacrol, one of the parts of oregano, helped stop colon cancer cells from growing and spreading. But keep in mind that these studies were done in test tubes and used a lot of the weed and its chemicals. To find out what it does, it needs to be tested on people at normal doses.

◉ May Help Reduce Viral Infection: Some test-tube studies have shown that oregano and its parts may protect against some viruses as well as germs. Specifically, the chemicals carvacrol and thymol in oregano have been linked to antiviral effects. In one test-tube study, carvacrol turned off the norovirus, a virus that causes diarrhea, sickness, and stomach pain, in just one hour. Another test-tube study found that thymol and carvacrol stopped 90% of the herpes simplex virus from spreading in just one hour. Even though these results are hopeful, more study is needed to find out how oregano might affect viral diseases in people.

Where can I buy dry oregano leaves?

Buy dried oregano leaves from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Dry oregano leaf information (at a glance):