Health benefits of oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a perennial herb indigenous to Europe, Asia, and particularly the Mediterranean. It is a member of the mint family and is closely related to marjoram. The primary active medical ingredient in oregano is carvacrol, which has its highest concentration in the oil from oregano plants of the Mediterranean.

Oregano has been used since ancient times to treat medical ailments, Wikipedia reports that Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments.

Benefits
- Both fresh and dried oregano can be used to create different dishes. Tea made with oregano is said to cure loss of appetite, nervousness, indigestion, bloating, flatulence, coughs, urinary problems, bronchial problems, headaches, swollen glands, and to promote menstruation.

- If you add oregano to pizzas they could be good for you, says a study by an Indian-origin researcher says the seasoning is a powerful weapon against prostate cancer.

- It was found that oregano has the potential to become a powerful weapon against prostate cancer. The researchers studied carvacrol, a chemical in oregano. Added to prostate cancer cells in the lab, it wiped them out.

The health effects of oregano do not stop with its antibacterial properties, however. Oregano is also a powerful source of many antioxidant vitamins. Antioxidant vitamins are thought to play a vital role in the prevention of many forms of cancer, as well as perhaps slowing down the aging process.

Oregano has been shown to have over 42 times the antioxidant activity as apples, 30 times higher than potatoes and 12 times more than oranges. As a matter of fact, ounce for ounce oregano is thought to be one of the most antioxidant dense of all foods.