Oil of Oregano
What is Oil of Oregano?
Oregano is a fragrant herb that has been used for centuries as a culinary spice. Not only is it extremely flavorful and helps bring together some of your favorite Italian dishes, but when you extract the oil from the leaves of the oregano plant you get a potent herbal medicine.
Oil of oregano is often confused with oregano essential oil, though they are not the same. The difference in these is that oregano essential oil is much more potent and used in an essential oil diffuser or mixed with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil to be used topically. Oil of oregano is used medicinally and can be taken orally in the form of a capsule or liquid.
Oil of oregano has various benefits being a potent antimicrobial against candida (yeast) overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth/imbalance (dysbiosis), and viruses.
Although not heavily researched, some hypothesize that oil of oregano may diminish beneficial bacteria in the gut when used for prolonged periods due to its antibacterial effects. It’s best to work with a practitioner before supplementing.
Oregano is typically thought of as only a culinary spice, however, when you extract the oil from the leaves of the oregano plant to get the product oil of oregano, there are various health benefits. Oil of oregano has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects that may be a good fit for kids who struggle with gastrointestinal issues and dysbiosis.
Uses of Oil of Oregano
Oil of oregano is commonly used as an antimicrobial to help kill or stop the growth of:
Viruses
Bacteria
Parasites
Yeast
Sources of Oil of Oregano
Although you may get some of these beneficial oils when consuming the oregano herb itself, the health-promoting properties discussed most research articles are achieved through the extraction of these oils to yield a highly concentrated medicinal product known as oil of oregano.
Is Oil of Oregano Beneficial for Autism?
There are no current studies on autism and oil of oregano but there are studies on conditions associated with ASD and oil of oregano.
Oil of Oregano and Candida Overgrowth
Just like we have a colony of bacteria in our gut that we co-evolved with, we also have a colony of yeast in our gut that we co-evolved with. These various microbes help make up the gut microbiota. A healthy gut microbiota involves having a balance with one another.
There are many different strands of yeast residing in our gut, however, Candida is one of the most common species to overgrow and cause unfavorable symptoms.
An overgrowth of Candida can cause various symptoms such as brain fog, eczema, intense sugar and starch cravings, and more. [1]
One study found that Candida was more than double in the autism group than the neurotypical group, yet this difference was only partially significant. [2]
Oil of oregano has been shown to have anti-fungal effects. One study found oil of oregano is able to inhibit Candida overgrowth and also Candida biofilm formation. [3] Biofilms are produced by certain microbes which act as a protective wall to evade the immune system. [4]
Oil of Oregano and Dysbiosis
Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance between the commensal (“good” bacteria) and pathogenic (“bad” bacteria) in your gut microbiota.
A dysbiotic gut may lead to a host of symptoms such as brain fog, bad breath, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and more.
One meta-analysis found that there is oftentimes dysbiosis in children with ASD which may influence the development and severity of ASD symptomatology. [5]
Another study found that oil of oregano was effective in killing and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic (disease-causing) intestinal bacteria in SIBO. [6]
SIBO or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a type of dysbiosis where there is an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the small intestine which leads to gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, excessive burping, indigestion, diarrhea, and more.
Oil of Oregano and Viral Infections
Carvacrol is one of the main active plant compounds found in oil of oregano. Researchers have attributed oil of oregano’s antiviral effects largely to this compound.
Researchers from one study found that oil of oregano could inhibit both human and animal viruses in a cell study. They found that oil of oregano does this by halting viral replication. Without viruses being able to replicate then they aren’t able to continue infecting someone. [7]
The study goes on to state that carvacrol alone was more effective against certain viruses than oil of oregano, however, oil of oregano was more effective against respiratory viruses like the flu.
A field of research currently being done is looking at the potential role of certain viruses leading to the development of ASD. [8]
Supplementation
Oil of oregano can be found in both liquid and capsule/soft gel forms. Some are unable to tolerate the potent taste of the liquid form and may opt for capsules instead.
Examples of common oil of oregano supplements include:
Liquid
Biocidin Liquid contains Oil of Oregano, among other herbs
Capsule/Softgel
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any supplement or medication, always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure it is a good fit for your child. Dosage can vary based on age, weight, gender, and current diet.
Note: All supplements are linked to Amazon for convenience, however, buying supplements on Amazon does not guarantee quality, as there are many “unverified resellers” selling nutrition supplements. To buy supplements that are verified to be sent directly to the consumer, you can create an account on the Autism Dietitian FullScript and search for the respective supplement under “Catalog”.
Author
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
Blayne Andrews, Dietetic Intern
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[1] Savolainen, J., Lammintausta, K., Kalimo, K., & Viander, M. (1993). Candida albicans and atopic dermatitis. Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 23(4), 332–339. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.1993.tb00331.x
[2] Strati F, Cavalieri D, Albanese D, De Felice C, Donati C, Hayek J, Jousson O, Leoncini S, Renzi D, Calabrò A, De Filippo C. New evidences on the altered gut microbiota in autism spectrum disorders. Microbiome. 2017 Feb 22;5(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40168-017-0242-1. PMID: 28222761; PMCID: PMC5320696.
[3] Hacioglu, M., Oyardi, O., & Kirinti, A. (2021). Oregano essential oil inhibits Candida spp. biofilms. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences, 76(11-12), 443–450. https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2021-0002
[4] López, D., Vlamakis, H., & Kolter, R. (2010). Biofilms. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 2(7), a000398. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a000398
[5] Iglesias-Vázquez L, Van Ginkel Riba G, Arija V, Canals J. Composition of Gut Microbiota in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020 Mar 17;12(3):792. doi: 10.3390/nu12030792. PMID: 32192218; PMCID: PMC7146354.
[6] Chedid, V., Dhalla, S., Clarke, J. O., Roland, B. C., Dunbar, K. B., Koh, J., Justino, E., Tomakin, E., & Mullin, G. E. (2014). Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Global advances in health and medicine, 3(3), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2014.019
[7] Pilau, M. R., Alves, S. H., Weiblen, R., Arenhart, S., Cueto, A. P., & Lovato, L. T. (2011). Antiviral activity of the Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano) essential oil and its main compound carvacrol against human and animal viruses. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology], 42(4), 1616–1624. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-838220110004000049
[8] Shuid, A. N., Jayusman, P. A., Shuid, N., Ismail, J., Kamal Nor, N., & Mohamed, I. N. (2021). Association between Viral Infections and Risk of Autistic Disorder: An Overview. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 2817. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062817
