A few weeks ago, we announced in our blog that we’ll soon be carrying Wild Oil of Oregano. We can’t wait to bring this new product to our clients! So why oil of oregano?  It’s all about its active ingredient, carvacrol. We thought we’d share a little bit about carvacrol and why so many people are talking about its impressive impact on their health.

The definition of carvacrol

Carvacrol is chemical found in several plants and herbs such as wild bergamot, thyme and pepperwort, but it is most abundant in oregano. Carvacrol is what gives oregano a slightly spicy flavor, is colorless, and has a distinct warm odor. One of its sources, pure oregano oil, contains 60% to 80% of this chemical substance. It is very soluble in ethanol and ether but not as soluble in water. This substance exhibits excellent anti-microbial properties and makes it useful in the production of cosmetics, food preservatives and for treating diseases. One interesting fact is that pure carvacrol has only around half the ability to destroy pathogens as pure oregano oil according to laboratory tests.

The benefits of carvacrol

Overall, carvacrol has a promising antiviral, antioxidant, and antifungal impact. One of the more notable health benefits is its anti-cancer effects.  It has demonstrated promising results when tested against various types of cancer including breast cancer, prostate, lung and mouth cancer cells. A study published in 2010 found that carvacrol was effective in expediting the death of breast cancer cells, and in another study, researchers at Long Island University found that it had similar effects when it was tested for its effects on prostate cancer in 2012. It also fights against harmful bacteria by inhibiting its growth.

Several studies have illustrated that carvacrol has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for inflammation called COX-2. While many plant-based essential oils have this potential, carvacrol is one of the best; research indicates it offers the greatest effectiveness. Carvacrol has been proven to reverse or reduce:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Fungal infections
  • Parasites
  • Viruses
  • Inflammation
  • Candida
  • Allergies

Another interesting fact?  It can be a really effective cleaner for plastic and stainless-steel surfaces! What can’t carvacrol do?!

You can see why we’re excited about our soon-to-be-releases wild oil of oregano product which contains this wonderful ingredient! We look forward to releasing our product before the end of the year, so stay tuned to learn more about the official launch date!