Oregano Benefits and Uses

Summary

In this informative video, Heidi from Rain Country discusses the versatile herb oregano, focusing on its Mediterranean variety. She highlights oregano's numerous medicinal benefits, including its antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Heidi shares tips on growing oregano, its health benefits, and various ways to use it, from cooking to making extracts and soaps. She also touches on the unique qualities of golden oregano and its applications in both gardening and culinary uses. The video encourages viewers to explore oregano's potential and conduct further research on its health benefits.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Oregano, especially Mediterranean varieties, offers numerous health benefits and is easy to grow, particularly for those with a rainy climate.
• 🪴 Oregano is part of the mint family, making it resilient and easy to propagate, similar to other mints like peppermint.
• 💊 Oregano has powerful medicinal properties, including being antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory.
• 🩺 Common ailments oregano can help with include arthritis, diabetes, allergies, asthma, kidney and liver issues, depression, UTIs, headaches, heart conditions, and indigestion.
• 🦠 Oregano can be used topically for acne, fungal infections, psoriasis, rosacea, insect bites, muscle and joint pain, warts, and dandruff, as well as making a good insect repellent.
• 🍽️ Oregano is versatile in culinary uses, particularly in Italian and Mexican dishes, and can also be added to animal feed, such as chicken feed, for health benefits.
• 🍃 The speaker uses oregano to make various extracts, such as an antibiotic extract, using homemade wine or vinegar instead of high-proof alcohol.
• 🔥 Oregano oil is very potent and needs to be diluted before use; it’s effective for both internal and external infections but should be used carefully due to its strength.
• 🧼 The speaker makes a soap using oregano, colloidal silver, and activated charcoal for its antibacterial and antiviral properties.
• 💚 Golden oregano, a favorite variety of the speaker, has a milder flavor, making it ideal for fresh use in salads and other dishes, and adds a beautiful color to gardens.

Q & A

What type of oregano is primarily discussed in the video?

The video primarily discusses common oregano, particularly Mediterranean oregano, which includes varieties like Greek and Italian oregano.

What are the main health benefits of oregano mentioned in the video?

Oregano is described as having antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help with conditions like arthritis, diabetes, allergies, asthma, kidney and liver damage, depression, UTIs, headaches, heart conditions, and indigestion.

How can oregano be propagated according to the video?

Oregano can be easily propagated by taking a small piece of an existing plant with a bit of root attached and planting it. This method works well for growing new oregano plants.

What are some of the ways the speaker uses oregano in their daily life?

The speaker uses oregano in cooking, particularly in Italian and Mexican dishes, in making an antibiotic extract, adding it to chicken feed, and incorporating it into a homemade healing salve and soap.

Why does the speaker prefer using homemade wine or vinegar for extracts instead of high-proof alcohol?

The speaker prefers using homemade wine or vinegar because they find it just as effective for medicinal purposes as high-proof alcohol, with the added benefit of being able to use their own homemade products.

What caution is given regarding the use of oregano essential oil?

Oregano essential oil is very potent and should typically be diluted in a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation. It is also advised not to take it internally too often, as it can affect gut flora due to its strong antibiotic properties.

What is the speaker’s favorite type of oregano, and how do they use it?

The speaker’s favorite type of oregano is golden oregano, which has a milder and sweeter flavor than Mediterranean oregano. They use it fresh in salads and various savory dishes.

What advice does the speaker give for those interested in learning more about the health benefits of oregano?

The speaker advises doing additional research on specific health benefits of oregano that interest the viewer, using reliable sources and cross-referencing information from books and trusted websites.

What are some of the topical uses of oregano mentioned in the video?

Topical uses of oregano include treating acne, fungal infections, psoriasis, rosacea, insect bites, muscle and joint pain, warts, and dandruff. It can also be used as an insect repellent.

Why does the speaker recommend getting hard copy books on herbal remedies?

The speaker recommends getting hard copy books because the internet may not always be accessible, and books provide a reliable source of information that can be referenced at any time.