Headlines claiming a single herb can eliminate parasites and cure urinary tract infections have been circulating widely online. The compound most often cited is oil of oregano, a concentrated extract of a common culinary herb. Here is what the available science actually documents — and where it stops.
In brief
- —Lab studies show oregano compounds affect bacteria — not proven in humans
- —Oil of oregano can interact with blood thinners and stress the liver
- —Untreated UTIs risk escalating to kidney infections
Carvacrol and thymol: what oregano actually contains
Oregano owes its reputed antimicrobial properties to two naturally occurring compounds: carvacrol and thymol. These are the chemical components that researchers have focused on when studying the herb’s potential effects on bacteria and parasites.
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