Making Oil of Oregano
So you know all about growing oregano, how to harvest the leaves and how to harvest the seeds. You’re a pro at washing the leaves, at drying them after and grinding them up into spice. But you’re not an oregano expert until you learn how to make your very own oil of oregano.
There are so many benefits to taking oregano on the daily that it’s literally insane that we don’t all take it every day starting immediately. Seriously, I’m about to go replenish my supply first thing tomorrow after being reminded of how much of a super star this herb is.
Oregano not only tastes delicious as a fresh herb or a dried herb, the flowers make for gorgeous and tasty little garnishes, and the oil that seeps out of the leaves just so happens to contain literally everything you need to keep a healthy immune system.
What is an Oregano Plant?
Oregano (origanum vulgare) is a perennial herb that is a proud member of the mint family (lamiaceae). That means that it is cousins with other fabulous herbs like basil, thyme, and sage.
Oregano can grow to be anything from a basal rosette of ground hugging leaves to a huge woody plant that grows to be 4 feet tall! There are tons of different species and varieties to choose from.
Oregano leaves are small, usually ovular, and ranging from olive green to fresh green in color depending on the type. They’re commonly covered in tiny little hairs as well. The plant will flower in the late summer with either white, light purple, or light pink flower spikes.
Oregano plants are originally from the Mediterranean, meaning that they like to grow in areas that are hot, sunny, and with well draining, sandy soil. They have become naturalized in places with similar climates.
The use of both the oregano plant and oil of oregano has been common in human history since the Greco-Roman empire. It was often prescribed to those experiencing mild sicknesses and digestive issues. Isn’t that neat!?
What is the Difference Between Oil of Oregano and Oregano Essential Oil?
Now that we’ve got some preliminary information out of the way, it is first very important to point out the differences between oil of oregano and oregano essential oil. It is not just a rearranging of words that mean the same thing. There are important differences between the two!
Think of it this way: if oil of oregano is a bowl of soup ramen, oregano essential oil is the little flavor packet. You can easily make oil of oregano at home to get a nice diluted product, whereas oregano essential oil is made using steam distillation and it is highly potent.
Oil of oregano is extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant by heating up a carrier oil – like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, or fennel oil – and letting it sit for a couple of weeks.
Oil of oregano is available in liquid form in softgel capsules, and this method delivers a concentrated herbal extract. This is safe to consume regularly. You can also purchase it in liquid dropper form.
Oregano essential oil is a super concentrated form of oregano oil extract that is made by steam distillation and extracting the oil that is present in the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant.
Oregano essential oil should not be consumed. It should only be used in aromatherapy or it can applied topically as long as it is combined with a carrier oil like coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, or whatever you prefer. You can also use creams like shea butter to apply it topically.
Creating oregano oil extract requires some pretty serious expertise and hardware, so for the purpose of this article we’re only going to go through how to make oil of oregano.
Are you going to be making your own oil of oregano from harvested oregano leaves?
Check out the best way to harvest oregano leaves here!
What are the Benefits of Oil of Oregano?
To be honest, I used to have a funny relationship with oil of oregano. My mom was always really into herbal remedies and alternative medicine, which was a very different approach than most of the parents of my friends had when it came to taking care of their nose-running children.
My mother would heat up some of oil of oregano with olive oil and pour it into my ear whenever I had an earache. I would go to school smelling wretched and have a heck of a time explaining why.
Turns out that my mom knew exactly what was going on. Oregano oil is a superhero dietary supplement when it comes to fighting away sicknesses both large and small, and that is because of some neat natural factors that are found in it.
The main beneficial components contained in oregano oil are carvacrol, thymol, terpenine, cyamine, and rosmarinic acid. These compounds have amazingly therapeutic qualities because they are antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti inflammatory properties.
Natural Antioxidant
The chemicals carvacrol, thymol, and rosmarinic acid are responsible for the high doses of antioxidants present in oregano, and oregano has the highest concentration out of any other herb (even more than blueberries gram for gram!)
Antioxidants are what hunt down free radicals which is what causes oxidative stress damage to cells and any medical condition that goes along with that. This not only helps with the aging process, but it relieves symptoms of the common cold and other types of sicknesses.
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinic acid is simply oozing with antimicrobial activity. It’s an absolutely beast and defending against infections and eliminating invading pathogens in the body. Taking it daily will help build up your immune system naturally and can even help above ground with skin irritation and minor wounds.
Anti Inflammatory Properties
Carvacrol is antibacterial. This is a benefit to those who experiences a lot of sinus infections and throat issues through respiratory ailments, allergies, or congestion. It is even said to help settle the stomach if you have trouble digesting certain foods.
Antifungal
Thymol is the antifungal property of oregano. It basically acts as a fungicide, ridding the body of any damaging fungal infection. It helps prevent and ward away yeast infections and other bacterial illnesses.
Digestive Issues
You have both carvacrol and thymol to thank for those tummy soothing effects. These chemicals will knock out any parasites or bacteria that are present in your stomach that cause bloating, pain, leaky gut (scary!) uncomfortable poops, and the tiredness from all of the aforementioned symptoms.
Taking oregano as a dietary supplement will provide all sorts of health benefits and it will also improve your gut health.
Are you curious about harvesting oregano seeds? Check out our answers here!
How do you Make of Oil of Oregano?
Now for the reason that you’re actually here (thank you for reading all of my blabbering if you are one of the readers who didn’t just scroll right to the bottom) how t make oil of oregano all by your little lonesome!
I must warn you: it is incredibly easy and you barely need anything to do it but a set of hands and some time. You will need the following items to complete the task:
- 1 cup of oregano leaves
- 1 cup of olive oil (or whichever carrier oil of your choosing)
- 1 large mason jar with a lid
- 1 deep pot
- 1 small hole strainer
1. Remove the oregano leaves from the stems. Chop up the leaves if they are large, but smaller leaves can be left alone. You’ll need a full cup of the cut up leaves, so it could take a minute.
2. Place the leaves in the mason jar and proceed to add the cup of oil. Close the lid and shake the mixture so that they are combined and are already starting to get acquainted.
3. Bring a deep pot to boil. It is important that the pot is deep enough to hold enough water to submerge to mason jar completely. The jar lid should be entirely submerged.
4. Once the water is boiling, place the mason jar in the pot. Use some tongs and oven mitts to avoid burning your hands! Boil the jar for 10 minutes.
During this process, as the olive oil heats up it will naturally encourage the leaves to release their natural oil and blend together with the olive oil.
5. After 10 minutes, remove the jar from the pot. After it has cooled down enough to be handled, shake the mason jar vigorously.
6. Store the jar in an area that is dry and cool. Visit the jar each day and give it a good shake, and it should be ready to go in 1-2 weeks.
7. After all of the essence is successfully extracted, you can then strain out the plant matter from the mixture, and add the clear oil to a new airtight container.
8. Make sure to label the mixture as oil of oregano. It would be quite the shock to accidentally dress a salad with straight up oil of oregano. It will last for up to 2 years if kept in the fridge!
Would you like to learn how to grow oregano right from seed? Check out the process step by step!
FAQs
How should you use essential oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated forms of oil and though therapeutic, they should absolutely not be consumed. It is best to use oregano essential oil in aromatherapy or a couple of drops can be added to a carrier oil and then applied topically (on the skin) but it should never be ingested. Oil of oregano, however, is safe to consume in very small doses.
Where can you find wild oregano?
Wild oregano can be found growing all throughout the Mediterranean region and Europe, which is the plant’s natural growing range. Since it is so easy to grow and so resilient, it has become naturalized all over the planet with a similar climate.
Where can I buy an oregano supplement?
Finding an oregano supplement is super easy to do! They are often found in most grocery stores and natural healthy food stores. Otherwise, you can order them online at places like 100 pure or Gaia herbs. Both 100 pure and Gaia herbs sell wild oregano oil or oregano essential oil, and they’re both known for having amazing customer care.
Is oregano a North American herb?
Though oregano can grow very easily in North America, it is not originally a North American herb but wild oregano grew naturally all throughout the Mediterranean region and Europe. It prefers to grow in areas that are sunny, hot, and sandy.
Do you use Greek oregano to make wild oregano oil?
Greek oregano (origanum onites) can be used to make oregano oil at home, but it is more commonly grown as a culinary herb. Common oregano (origanum vulgare) and Cuban oregano are more grown to make wild oregano oil.
Can you use tea tree oil as a carrier oil?
Tea tree oil can be used as a carrier oil but it is a rather intense smelling type of oil. Some may consider it to be too intense to combine with another oil like oregano oil, but tea tree oil has all sorts of health benefits on its own!
Can you consume diluted oregano oil?
It is possible to consume diluted oregano oil as long as it is oil of oregano and not oregano essential oil (the difference is explained in the article). You can consume oil of oregano is a softgel capsule or it can be taken with a dropper as well.
Does oregano oil have a health benefit?
The oregano leaf contains a ton of natural factors that make it an amazing medicinal herb. Doctor’s and naturopaths swear by the health benefit of taking oil of oregano as a natural supplement.
To be honest, I used to have a funny relationship with oil of oregano. My mom was always really into herbal remedies and alternative medicine, which was a very different approach than most of the parents of my friends had when it came to taking care of their nose-running children.
My mother would heat up some of oil of oregano with olive oil and pour it into my ear whenever I had an earache. I would go to school smelling wretched and have a heck of a time explaining why.
Turns out that my mom knew exactly what was going on. Oregano oil is a superhero dietary supplement when it comes to fighting away sicknesses both large and small, and that is because of some neat natural factors that are found in it.
The main beneficial components contained in oregano oil are carvacrol, thymol, terpenine, cyamine, and rosmarinic acid. These compounds have amazingly therapeutic qualities because they are antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti inflammatory properties.
What is the difference between oregano essential oil and oil of oregano?
Think of it this way: if oil of oregano is a bowl of soup ramen, oregano essential oil is the little flavor packet. You can easily make oil of oregano at home to get a nice diluted product, whereas oregano essential oil is made using steam distillation and it is highly potent.
Oil of oregano is extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant by heating up a carrier oil – like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, or fennel oil – and letting it sit for a couple of weeks.
Oil of oregano is available in liquid form in softgel capsules, and this method delivers a concentrated herbal extract. This is safe to consume regularly. You can also purchase the liquid in a dropper.
Oregano essential oil is a super concentrated form of oregano oil extract that is made by steam distillation and extracting the oil that is present in the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant.
Oregano essential oil should not be consumed. It should only be used in aromatherapy or it can applied topically as long as it is combined with a carrier oil like coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, or whatever you prefer. You can also use creams like shea butter to apply it topically.
Creating oregano oil extract requires some pretty serious expertise and hardware, so for the purpose of this article we’re only going to go through how to make oil of oregano.
