Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil is quite the powerhouse and is one of the first oils used in the Raindrop Technique. It is the first oil applied using the Vitaflex technique on the soles of your feet, and the first applied to your spine using effleurage (light, feathering touch). As you likely already know, oregano essential oil has a warm herbaceous scent that is hard to forget.
The Nerdy Stuff
Oregano’s Latin name is Origanum vulgare and it belongs to the Lamiaceae botanical family. The essential oil comes from Oregano’s leaves and is extracted using steam distillation. While the plant is originally native to Europe, it is now cultivated worldwide and your oregano essential oil could be distilled from plants in the U.S., France, Germany, Turkey, Italy, or other countries. Revive is currently distilling oregano essential oil from plants harvested in Turkey.
Oregano’s primary constituents are:
Carvacrol (60-75%)
Known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer action; especially potent against food-borne pathogens (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744941/)
para-Cymene (5.5-9%)
An aromatic compound that also has incredible properties. Some of these are: analgesic, immune system stimulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691521002921)
gamma-Terpinene (3.5-8.5%)
Also has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/gamma-terpinene)
beta-Caryophyllene (2-5%)
Helpful for management of pain, metabolic and neurological disorders. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7554841)
Thymol (0-5%)
Thymol has strong antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antitumor activities. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5483461)
Myrcene (1-3%)
A popular flavoring found most often in hops, Myrcene has powerful analgesic (pain-relieving), antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8326332; https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/myrcene)
Actions/Properties
Oregano essential oil has a long list of medicinal properties, making this a long-revered plant for herbal remedies. Below is a list of the actions of oregano oil (pharmaceutical properties):
Antiaging
Antiviral
Antifungal
Antibacterial
Antiparasitic
Antiinflammatory
Antioxidant
Analgesic
Immune stimulant
Antispasmodic
Rubefacient (stimulates blood flow to the site of application)
Expectorant
Emmenagogue (stimulates blood flow to the pelvic region to promote menses)
Oregano has been used to treat digestive issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory infections and issues, including asthma, bronchitis, and influenza. Diluted, oregano essential oil has been used externally to treat itchy skin, headaches, rheumatism, arthritis, insect stings and bites, and more.
Using Oregano Essential Oil
Let’s cover safety information first, before we explore using oregano essential oil. Oregano essential oil is considered to be a skin and mucous membrane irritant and some experts recommend avoiding application to the skin even when diluted. This is certainly something you will need to determine for yourself when using. Diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil at a ratio of 1 part oregano to 4 parts or more of the carrier oil is highly recommended. Oregano essential oil should be avoided if you are pregnant. I also recommend avoiding it if you are nursing, unless you are able to waste your milk for at least 24 hours after using the oil.
When used in the Raindrop Technique, oregano essential oil is applied neat (without a carrier oil) to the soles of your feet and on your back along your spine. The practitioner providing the Raindrop Technique should be mindful of the potential for skin irritation and watchful for reactions, ready with a neutral oil to dilute the essential oil if a reaction occurs.
At home, you can use oregano essential oil in your diffuser or in a roller bottle. I recommend always diluting the oil when using. If making a roller with oregano essential oil, follow the dilution ratio recommended above. Applying the roller to the bottoms of your feet is a common practice that (a) reduces likelihood of skin irritation and (b) allows your body to receive maximum benefits of the oil because the soles of your feet have the largest pores on your body.
sources not already linked:
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The complete guide to the use of aromatic oils in aromatherapy, herbalism, health and well-being. Julia Lawless. Thorson’s Publishing, 2012.
Essential Oils Pocket Reference (6th ed.). Life Science Products and Publishing, 2014.
