The upcoming winter season unfortunately brings the common health ailments of the respiratory tract, like colds and the flu. A growing number of people each year suffer from even more serious pulmonary infections.
Pneumonia, which is the sixth major illness with a lethal outcome, affects more than 3 million people per year. This serious lung infection is caused by different pathogens and fungi and it is commonly treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Unfortunately, if the strains of bacteria fail to respond to these antibiotics or if the treatment has not begun on time, they can enter the bloodstream. This leads to sepsis, which often has a lethal result.
Why can a treatment with antibiotics be a two-edged sword?
Sometimes it is unavoidable to treat a serious illness of the respiratory tract with strong antibiotics. These medicaments save people’s lives and there is no doubt about it whatsoever.
We should bear in mind, however, that antibiotic therapy can have serious side-effects and it has to be taken seriously. The downside of antibiotics is that they can rapidly destroy the gut-friendly bacteria together with the pathogenic ones, which disrupts our immune system.
Namely, our immune system depends on the well-balanced gastrointestinal flora to a great extent. Most types of antibiotics are produced synthetically and they are alien substances to our body.
Another issue that concerns scientists is that more and more types of pathogens are becoming resistant to antibiotics. These bacteria have developed an ability to exchange resistant genes with individual pathogens, thus becoming unaffected by antibiotics.
A growing number of clinical studies have proven that there are herbs with potent antimicrobial effects. Oregano seems to be the leader among them.
Oregano essential oil could be the alternative for antibiotics
Oregano, or Origanum vulgare, is a highly praised Mediterranean herb from the Lamiaceae family. It represents a staple culinary addition in many countries of the world but it has also been known for potent medicinal properties since ancient times.
Not only does it contain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but it is also a rich source of calcium, iron, vitamin K, B-vitamins, manganese and fiber. That is not all: oregano also contains extremely powerful healing substances, especially in the form of oregano essential oil. Oregano oil is obtained from oregano plant through the means of steam distillation.
It has exhibited impressive beneficial effects for the health of our immune system, the digestive tract, the heart health, as well as for the bones. Moreover, it has mighty antioxidant and detoxifying properties. We would like to draw your attention to its impressive effects on microbes and pathogens, which is of great importance for the treatment of respiratory tract illnesses.
Are there any serious clinical studies to confirm this claim?
Around thirty extensive studies have proven the powerful antimicrobial and antifungal effects of oregano oil. Let us examine some of them.
A team of researchers from Washington D.C., at the Georgetown Medical Center, have examined the effects of oregano oil on the common pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, known for its ability to resist antibiotics. This type of bacteria is the common cause of many infectious diseases.
The scientists have performed a test tube combining oregano oil with the bacteria, guided by Dr. Harry Preuss. The test has shown that small amounts of oregano oil prevent the growth of the pathogen in a way similar to the standard antibiotics. Oregano oil owes this antibiotic property to carvatrol, its mighty natural compound.
The researchers presented their conclusions at the American College of Nutrition Annual meeting in 2001. (source)
Greek researchers from the University of Thessaloniki have witnessed the same powerful antibacterial effects of oregano oil. They have discovered that it greatly inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria even when it is extremely diluted. They have used a 1/4000 dilution and even a 1/50000 oregano oil dilution.
Their results were published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, in an article called “Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Origanum Essential Oils.” (source)
Dr. Ann Draughon, a microbiologist from the University of Tennessee, has examined the effect of different herbs on the safety of food. She has found that oregano oil exhibits the most potent abilities to kill all the given types of bacteria.
These included some of the commonly known pathogens such as: E-coli, Pseudomonas aeruglinosa, and Listeria monocytogenes. Her findings can be explored in the Health and Science section of the Knoxville News, in an article entitled “A Serenade for Marinade” from July 5, 1999. (source)
How should we use oregano oil?
Oregano oil is very strong and should be ingested in a diluted form.You can simply add 3 drops of this oil to a glass of water or orange juice and consume it once a day to boost the immune system or as soon as you feel the unpleasant symptoms of a cold.
This procedure should be repeated for 5 days, although you will most likely feel the powerful effects of oregano oil right away. In case you have a more serious infection, it is recommended to use oregano oil alongside antibiotic treatment.
Maintaining the proper pH balance is also crucial for the health
Bacteria and pathogens can only grow in an acidic environment.
It is therefore of vital importance for us to keep the proper acidic-alkaline balance.
If the alkaline pH status is between 7.3 and 7.4, no infectious disease can affect our body as the pathogens cannot survive in an alkaline environment.
An alkaline solution can be made by adding two drops of liquid sodium bicarbonate to water. Taking it several times a day will also be a great ally in fight against any infections of the respiratory tract, relieving the unpleasant symptoms.