Oregano Essential Oil

• Safety and Essential Oils
• Dosage of Essential Oils

The hazard symbols for Oregano essential oil

Warning pictograms on essential oil bottles are required by law. For Oregano the following pictograms are used:

01. Inflammable – Official code: GHS02 – All essential oils are more or less flammable, also diluted essential oils. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, and hot surfaces. Do not smoke when handling.

02. Environmentally hazardous – Official code: GHS09 – All pure, also diluted essential oils, are environmentally hazardous and rests of essential oils have to be collected as chemical waste, and may not be deleted in the sink, or the toilet.

03. Acute health effects – Official code: GHS07 – Causes mild skin irritation. Causes eye irritation. May cause an allergic skin reaction. The oil must be generally used moderately and appropriately diluted: see dosage on the website. To prevent allergic reactions on the skin: Do the patch test (next chapter).

04. Long-term health-hazard – Official code: GHS08 – Greek sage should not be used excessively or over longer periods of time. The recommended dosage for the several different applications is crucial.

05. Corrosive – Official code: GHS05 – Can create corrosion when leaked on wood or some metals, when not immediately removed. Must not be used in plastic containers, or plastic measuring jugs. Contact with eyes must be avoided. If there has been a contact, use much running water to clean the eyes. In severe cases: contact a doctor. See also: acute health effects, no. 3.

06. Toxic – Official code: GHS06 – Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation). Internal use is fatal. Internal use is only allowed with the guiding expertise of a licensed aroma therapist, or, when used in food, only when practiced by a well informed chef, following up the safe dosage. In case of an accidental intake, because of ignorance, contact immediately a doctor, and take the bottle with you: the doctor understands the pictograms. Therefore oregano oil must be generally used with much care, moderately, never undiluted, and appropriately diluted. The dose determines whether something becomes toxic. It is important to follow up the dosage, because if ignored, essential oils with this warning sign are fatal.

Follow up the precautions.

• Children: Keep out of the reach of children.
• Dilution: Always dilute with a vegetable oil before applying to skin, in the bath, etc.
• Babies: Safe Essential Oils for Babies and How to Use Them – Healthline
• Pregnancy / breastfeeding: What to know about essential oils during pregnancy and breastfeeding – Mayo Clinic
• Eye Contact: Causes serious eye irritation. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.
  • In case of contact with eyes, immediately rinse abundantly water and consult a specialist.
• Skin: Causes skin irritation and causes an allergic skin reaction. Always dilute with a carrier oil before applying to skin and perform a patch test first. Do the patch test, the number 1 on the list.
• Ingestion: Do not ingest the oil. It is fatal. In case needed: ask a professional aromatherapist for advice.
• Fire: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, and hot surfaces. Do not smoke when handling.
• Environment: Dispose of waste properly to avoid environmental contamination.

• For external use only
• Oregano essential oil should be avoided altogether in pregnancy, during breastfeeding and with babies.
• Limitations for external use: the dosage is important to make the correct applications. More than other essential oils, Oregano has to be applicated by adults only, who are well informed about the fact that Oregano essential oil can cause severe skin burns, and eye damage.
• To prevent allergic reactions on the skin: Do the patch test

Before using essential oils on the skin….

Do a patch test

A patch test allows you to see how your skin reacts to a substance before using it more widely. Here are the steps for performing a patch test:

1. Wash your forearm with mild, unscented soap, and pat the area dry.
2. Dab a few drops of diluted essential oil onto a patch of skin on your forearm.
3. Place a bandage over the patch, and keep the area dry for 24 hours.

If you notice any rash, irritation, or discomfort during the 24 hours, remove the bandage and wash your skin thoroughly with gentle soap and water. Don’t use the essential oil if any reaction develops during the patch test.

If no irritation develops during the 24 hours, it’s likely safe for you to use the diluted essential oil. However, a successful patch test doesn’t mean that you won’t develop an allergy or experience a reaction after future use.

Source: Healthline – What You Need to Know About Allergic Reaction to Essential Oils

• Oregano essential oil is safe to use when diluted in a carrier oil, or in soap. Oregano has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral qualities, and is used in the treatment of athlete’s foot, infected toenails or fingernails, and to prevent lice. Read the entire information before using Oregano essential oil on Medical News Today‘s website. Read also: oregano soap.
• More: scroll down to the chapter “Scientific Research”.

• Oregano improves concentration and mood. See also here.
• The oregano aroma balances the second chakra – the sacral chakra.
• Oregano creates the strength to assimilate emotional trauma.
• Calming.

Oregano has a fascinating and intense aroma. The scent is fresh, charismatic, warm, spicy-herbaceous, peppery.

• Oregano essential oil as an antimicrobial additive to detergent for handwashing and food contact surface cleaning – ResearchGate
• Antiviral efficacy and mechanisms of action of oregano essential oil and its primary component carvacrol against murine norovirus – PubMed
• Antibacterial activity of oregano (Origanum vulgare Linn.) against gram positive bacteria – PubMed
• Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties – PubMed
• Carvacrol, a Plant Metabolite Targeting Viral Protease (M^pro) and ACE2 in Host Cells Can Be a Possible Candidate for COVID-19 – Frontiers in Plant Science [[oregano’s principle component is carvacrol, admin]]
• Oregano Oil and Its Principal Component, Carvacrol, Inhibit HIV-1 Fusion into Target Cells – PubMed
• Essential oil from the Cretan Origanum Onites L: A study about the anti-fungal qualities of especially Origanum Onites L.: PDF
• Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine – Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
• PDF: Greek Oregano Essential Oils Production, Phytotoxicity and Antifungal Activity

• Gallery Oregano vulgare, Oregano Onites, Oregano Dictamnus
• Video Oregano Onites
• Playlist Oregano vulgare, Oregano