Origanums ** How I Use It

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Hi y'all,

 

Here's a post I sent to another list a few months ago. First, keep in

mind that the decision to ingest any essential oil is a personal one and

you'll not find folks recommending it if they're not medical doctors.

That is .. unless they want to place themselves at risk. I have chosen

to ingest Origanums and Rosemary, cineole. Butch

--------------------

> You were talking about your Origanums - and medicinal properties.

> How is it administered? Just as a food product, as a cooking oil?

 

Yes and yes.

 

> or is it used as an aromatherapy medium?

 

Yes there too .. ;-p

 

> I can't see how something would have these kinds of effects on the

> human body *without* ingesting it somehow.

 

It WILL have a great effect on the body if its sniffed and enters

through the olfactory system .. but ingesting is the way I prefer when I

need to kick some Big Dad Bug Butt.

 

Somebody once asked how long they could take it .. and I replied:

 

1. There is no magic rule on how long you should/could take it.

 

2. I have never heard of anyone needing it longer than 4-5 days and 2-3

days is more the norm. If you are still ill after 4-5 days, then you

have one of those RARE bugs that Oregano will not kick .. and I mean one

of the RARE ones.

 

Meaning .. if you haven't kicked that bad bug after 4-5 days, you might

need to go to a medical doctor.

 

You should not take Oregano every day .. it is not for maintenance - it

is for Big Bad Bug Butt kicking when you need it. It is the cannon you

pull out when the enemy (bugs) are trying to overrun your position.

 

Will it hurt you to take it for 7-8 or 10 days? Not likely because

we're really talking about toxicity and it is not a very toxic oil for

ingestion .. but still, it is a good rule to not use any EO for long

periods of time .. especially and moreso if we are talking dermal

application cause we get into sensitivity then. And its not impossible

to become sensitized from ingestion or eating everyday things.

 

The longer we use an oil, the more we are increasing the odds of having

bad luck .. be it sensitization or the worst case, overtaxing the liver.

 

Lemme tell y'all a few of the other ways I take Oregano EO when I need

it .. and I don't take it when I don't need it!!!

 

Origanum is a genus of 21 species with a larger number of sub-species,

varietas and cultivars. The most commonly know oregano is the Origanum

vulgare (subsp. hirtum, syn. heracleoticum) Commonly called, Cannakale

Oregano, Greek Oregano, Turkish Oregano, Istanbul Oregano, True Oregano

and Marmara Oregano. BUT - just because someone tells you they sell

Origanum vulgare does not mean it is really O. vulgare - there is not

enough true Origanum vulgare to supply all those who claim to have it.

 

A few other good Origanums are:

 

O. dubium

O. dictamnus

O. marjorana

O. x marjorana (subsp. virens)

O. onites (syn. Symrneum)

O. vulgare (other subsp.)

O. rotundifolium

O. levigatum

O. microphyllum

O. aureum

O. aureum crispum

O. compactum

O. variegatum

O. minutiflorum

 

And there are many, many more. Obviously, all are not used to produce

essential oils or for culinary purposes. But the carvacrol rich

Origanums that are used for EO are POWERFUL!

 

The Oregano of Spain that many folks sell - Thymus capitatus - is not

of the Genus Origanum. We have similar misunderstandings with Mexican

and Cuban plants that are commonly, but mistakenly called Origanum.

 

The below concerns Origanum - it is NOT a recommendation .... I am not a

medical doctor so I'm not authorized to diagnose, prescribe or even make

recommendations of how to treat illness .. and I don't. It's merely a

testimonial of how I choose to deal with it. Someone wrote:

 

> I take 2-3 drops in a spoonful of sugar 2 times a day well i try takes guts

> to get myself to take it lol sorry butch but I burp oregano for hours LOL!

> It does work well sure helps this old mom from being too sick to take care

> of the three youngins (noone stops to take care of moms hehe)..butch and

> chris can tell ya more i am a oil user but they are the serious expert LOL.

> I can tell ya i had a very awful cold sore throat just nasty i took it for

> 1-2 days and it was all gone even the lingering crud! Oh reminds me...

> *BUTCH can we put it in capsules and take it like that i know the effect

> would be less but would be much easier on me lOL...thanks*

 

The answer is that if it is well diluted in olive oil it will last a

while but if it is not it will eat its way out of the capsule .. ;-p

 

Someone else wrote:

> I learn something new everyday on this site!!!! How much oregano

> oil do you take for a cold? I really get one (knock on wood) but

> when I do it knocks the peewaddle out of me.

> I had the delight of watching dh take oregano oil for a cold.

 

First .. if I were not absolutely sure that my oils are pure oils, oils

that have not been adulterated and were quality oils ... and they are

and I can prove it as they are GC tested, I would never consider taking

them internally - but I am sure so I do ingest them when I need to.

 

In the case of Oregano EO, carvacrol has been proven to be effective at

even the lowest dosages - we don't need a 12 gauage shotgun to kill a

mosquito. It's hard to convince some folks of that .. but it is very

important to remember that MORE IS NOT BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I ingest essential oils when I need to and I give them to my friends and

employees. We don't usually get sick but when we feel we are catching a

bug, it doesn't last long. Many ... most? ... aromatherapists ingest

essential oils - but they hesitate to come out with testimonials because

they don't want to appear to be making recommendations and because they

fear that those who don't have enough knowledge will use the wrong oils

for the wrong things and in the wrong dosage - they're not totally wrong

to fear this. Still .. many of them are coming out of the closet.

 

Some are still concerned about being sued or otherwise slam dunked for

prescribing medicine without a license. We know that America is a

litigation oriented society - a real hotbed of lawsuits. Spill coffee

on yourself and retire after you successfully sue McDonalds.

 

Some are concerned about criticism by peers ... especially peers who

have a bone to pick with them. That criticism could come from someone

who ingests EOs themselves but has a twisted code of ethics. In that

case, it's a " do as I say, not as I do " matter; its phoney, but still

potentially damaging to the professional reputation of the recipient of

the slam dunk.

 

I don't recommend ingestion because I'm not a doctor but I don't

hestitate to provide testimonals - and I'm not one to disregard the

important safety issues. Regardless of how one chooses to use essential

oils, it is powerful self-medication and it shouldn't be abused.

 

I also hoard testimonials from others and I could fill your hard drive

with them.

 

Against microbial critters, there is an abundance of scientific studies

supporting the value of Oregano EO .. as for prevention/protection

against influenza viruses, or treatment if one grabs you, that's a real

personal decision as we don't have scientific support for saying that

any essential oil is anti-viral. But I don't disregard the empirical

evidence from my own observations and those of many other good folks. I

am convinced that Oregano EO can make many viruses go into hiding again

... make them stop replicating and seek shelter, which is all medical

science can do at this point .. but there are likely new viruses or even

some older ones that can't be stopped with Oregano or any other EO.

Viruses go underground themselves after a time. Of course, they'll come

back when we let our immune system get down again.

 

Here in Turkey, the flu bug knocks hundreds of thousands of people to

their knees (or worse) each year. We haven't had it in my office since

1996 and one of my employee's sister teaches at Bilkent University -

teachers are exposed to that virus easily, and they bring it home to the

rest of the family. None of us intend to take flu shots AGAIN this year

and none of us expects to lose work due to influenze AGAIN this year.

All of use intend to use Oregano EO in a responsible manner.

 

How much do I take? I'll tell you later but I don't think is so much a

matter of how much is safe per day, but one of prolonged use - that is

where you can get into potential problems - not different than dealing

with alcohol. Abuse - that is, massive amounts of anything besides

water gives the ol' liver a workout and the longer we abuse, the more

chance we have of becoming diseased. Toxicity is not going to be a big

issue with Origanum because I can't ingest the amount that's considered

as being toxic (based on extrapolated LD50 testing).

 

I've not known anyone to need oregano oil longer than three or four

days - not saying there might not be some who used it longer, but I've

not heard of it. Plus, the amount we use is very small because it's

proven that maximum benefits can be obtained from even small amounts of

carvacrol - which is the chemical component that has maximum therapeutic

value in Oregano.

 

Can it be used by children? It can by mine .. but I would not consider

recommending it for someone else's child - and never for babies. Just

last night a lady asked if a ten month old child that had chronic colds

or whatever could take it .. or if the nursing mother could take it and

give it to the child. I recommended against this because it could cause

such a small child to gasp, lose their breath and pass out, and that the

mother's milk might not taste right to the child which could interfere

with nursing. Methinks that a ten month old child that is not really

sick is doing a lot to develop a healthy immune system by kicking those

bugs on its own.

 

A few months back, another lady asked me on another list if a three year

old who was constantly catching this and that bug (likely due to a weak

immune system .. methinks) should use oregano oil. I said that if it

were my three year old, the answer would be yes - and I'd use one drop

twice a day, but if it were someone else's three year old, I'd recommend

they consult their doctor. I also told her that if the three year old

continues to take antibiotics for every illness, then illnesses will

probably continue because the immune system will be wrecked. Oregano is

an immunostimulant, as are some herbs, spices and essential oils made

therefrom. It is probiotic .. meaning it knows which Big Bad Bug Butts

to kick .. it doesn't destroy those guys in the white hats.

 

There is still much to be learned about EOs, so in the interest of

safety and CYA (cover your *butt*) - both honorable concerns - we have

created a number of popular rumors to keep away the Boogie Man. If

we're going to err, then let it be in the interest of safety 'cause who

knows, there might really be a Boogie Man. But ingestion of Oregano EO

is not a revolutionary thing .. it is a time-honored tradition here in

Turkey and I have used it since early 1996.

 

I believe in safe use of EOs and I also believe that only 100% pure EOs

should be used. As pure has no legal meaning in the USA, I like to take

it a bit further - the oils should be natural, unadulterated, and not

have been subjected to folding, combining, stretching or any other form

of " engineering " or manipulation by man. They should be straight from

the still, just the pure renderings of the aromatic plant as it was

created by God, Allah, Jehova, Moneta or the Great Everywhere Spirit.

 

How do I and my people take Oregano when we think we need it? Well,

EOs don't dissolve or blend in water .. but they will in a fatty liquid

like milk .. but I hate milk so I often use water ... :-) All of my

employees love milk so they sometimes take it with milk.

 

How much do I use? Of I feel I might have a bug coming on I will make

up a 10/90 blend .. 10% Oregano EO and 90% Extra-Virgin Olive Oil .. the

EVOO has therapeutic value unto itself. If I wake up with a bug already

in control, I might go with a stronger dilution - maybe even a 20/80 ..

and that is pretty darned strong.

 

There are some companies selling oregano/olive oil mixed in bottles with

rubber droppers .. that is not cool because that oregano oil will start

to leach molecules from that rubber within minutes of contact - and in a

short period of time, that rubber bulk will get soft. What's the impact

of this? Who knows .. but why mess with it?

 

I might put three fingers of water in a small glass and drop 2 or 3

drops of the mixture into the water. I then " shoot it " like I would a

shot of tequila. I immediately follow it with a whole glass of water to

wash it down. When I say I shoot it and immediately follow it with

water, I'm not joking because the carvacrol will sting my lips just a

little. This sting is very temporary and it's not dangerous .. sorta

like a hot pepper tingle but I don't let it linger in my mouth. When I

shoot it, I open my mouth wide and avoid my lips - I don't sip it.

 

As for burning lips - even the lowest concentration will make my lips

smart, but the trick is to get it in the mouth - not on the mouth or the

lips (sounds like an M & M commerical - huh?) It won't burn the inside of

my mouth but I'll know it's there .. ;-)

 

My employees sometimes drop 2 or 3 drops directly into a glass of milk

and drink it as they would if it were only milk......uuuggggghhhh!

 

One of my employees once used a bit too much and it took her breath -

better yet, it made her think she couldn't breath - of course, that was

just a panic reaction. I had her to calm down - slowly breath through

her nose and drink another big glass of liquid.

 

I sometimes put 2-3 drops of the olive oil/oregano mix in a spoon of

sugar, then put a sip of water in my mouth - take in the sugar, hold my

nose and swallow it and immediately. I chase it with a glass of water.

 

Here's nother method I use from time to time because I love the taste of

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. I take a large soup spoon, fill it up with EVOO

and put 2-3 drops of the diluted mixture in the spoon - I take the spoon

of EVOO in my mouth, roll it around and then swallow. I chase it with a

glass of water .. there is no harsh taste, no tingling or burning and I

like this method.

 

Finally, I sometimes put a couple of drops in soup .. lentil is great

for this as it greatly improves the flavor.

 

I have given the mixture of origanum/olive oil to employees who had

Strep Throat - confirmed and complete with white patches. Within 24 to

48 hours, it was cured! It worked! BUT - I have scientific studies

that show Oregano EO is a butt-kicker against strep - so no surprises.

 

There are many references for use of organo as effective treatment for

fungal infections, warts, psoriasis, eczema, viruses, strep and the

common cold.

 

One study states: " In test tube studies, wild oregano has been shown to

inhibit the growth of Candida albicans, the microbial cause of yeast

infections. " and " Since oregano oil is an anti-inflammatory agent it can

be rubbed on aching muscles to relieve strains, and used directly on

minor burns and wounds to promote healing. " The latter statement

suggests it might be good for massage. Dr. Cass Igram, in his book,

" The Cure is in the Cupboard, " recommends chest massage with Oregano EO

during asthma attacks .. he peddles Oregano oil plus he's a doctor and

can make such recommendations.

 

But .. to clarify the above .. perhaps its the inhalation thats working

instead of the direct dermal application. And if one chooses to use it

for dermal application, the tested safe percentage is 4%.

 

As far as I know, there is no scientific research on the relationship of

ANY essential and the liver. Lots of speculation and extrapolation, but

no scientifically conducted and peer-reviewed research. But then, we

don't have any research on how long we can drink Wild Turkey, Efes Beer,

Turkish Coffee or Coca Cola before we're in danger of liver problems.

 

I guess that as with other types of diseases, some folks will fall

victim while others thrive. Extensive empirical studies conducted over

a lengthy period of time by yours truly show that the number of years I

have lived is not enough time for good ol' kuntry boys to develop liver

problems from the above mentioned drinks....... ;-)

 

I'll close this by AGAIN saying that I DO NOT RECOMMEND anyone ingest

any essential oil .. I have provided a testimonial of how me and my

employees use it - along with a bit of info on the generally accepted

value of the EO ..

 

I take my Wild Turkey straight with a dash of branch water and three

cubes. With Wild Turkey, you sniff it, savor it, roll it over your

tongue slowly - that could well be classified as aromatherapy..... ;-)

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com

 

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