Oregano, botanically called Origanum vulgare, belongs to the mint family of aromatic herbs. It is mostly used as culinary ingredients especially in Italian cuisine due to its exquisite fragrance and flavor. Oregano has also been historically utilized by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a vital medicinal herb. Actually, oregano means “mountain delight” in Greek.
There are two types of oil that can be extracted from Oregano plants: first, the essential oils, which are distilled by steam from air-dried shoots and leaves, then externally used as effective topicals. The other is the oregano oil extracts, which are obtained using alcohol compounds and carbon dioxide, then processed into supplements usually in capsules or tablet form.
Oregano contains three essential components that are potent antioxidants and provide its fragrance.
- Carvacrol – a phenol is known to mitigate the growth of harmful bacteria and aid in lowering cholesterol levels.
- Thymol – a potent natural antiseptic agent with antibacterial and antifungal properties that provide immune system support and protection against toxins.
- Rosmarinic acid – a potent antioxidant that protects against free-radical damage effects.
Due to the vast number of applications and benefits that oregano oil has, it is no surprise that several health supplement companies offer their brand in the market. Choosing the best oregano oil supplement perfect for your requirements can be a daunting prospect.
In this guide, we will present our top ten brands and all the necessary factors we considered in making the optimal choices. We will also give you a rundown of oregano oil’s benefits and uses, as well as its potential side effects. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions, and give our recommendations at the end.
Oregano Oil Supplement Brands Ranked
- Gaia Herbs Oil Of Oregano – Buy here Editor’s Choice
- Puritan’s Pride Oil Of Oregano Extract – Buy here
- Nature’s Answer Oil Of Oregano – Buy here
- Solaray Oregano Oil – Buy here
- Bluebonnet Nutrition Oil Of Oregano – Buy here
- Designs For Health Oil Of Oregano – Buy here
- Nature’s Way Oregano Oil – Buy here
- NOW Foods Oregano Oil – Buy here
- Nature’s Bounty Oil Of Oregano – Buy here
- Natural Factors Oil Of Oregano – Buy here
1. Gaia Herbs Oil Of Oregano
Our editorial team has generally agreed that Gaia Herbs Oil of Oregano is the best oregano oil supplement due to the following reasons:
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- Traditional support for general well-being.
- Helps in maintaining immune defenses for overall healthy feeling.
- Provides antioxidant support.
- Certified Vegan
- Gluten-, soy-, and dairy-free
- Comes in convenient easy-to-dissolve Phyto capsules
- Made from 100% Oregano Oil
This brand of oregano oil supplement comes in a fast-dissolving Phyto capsule with a potency equivalent to a minimum of 375 tincture drops of other brands. Gaia Herbs oil of oregano is extracted via the method known as supercritical CO2, which utilizes pressurized CO2 to extract phytochemicals from herbs.
Pros
- Enhances overall well-being
- CO2 supercritically extracted
- Comes in fast-dissolving liquid phyto capsules
- Certified Vegan
- Very affordable
Cons
- Do not use during pregnancy and lactation
Ingredients
Each daily dosage of two capsules contains:
- 100% Oregano Oil
- Oregano Leaf extract 230mg
- Thymol and carvacrol, 32mg – potent antiseptic (thymol) and antibacterial (carvacrol)
- Sunflower lecithin – an organic fat emulsifier known to enhance liver function
- Hypromellose – a safe polymer cellulose used as a substitute for gelatin in making liquid vegan capsules
Rating
4.7 of 5
Who Produces It?
Gaia Herbs was established in 1987 and grows herbs on a 250-acre plantation located near North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The brand is well known for producing herbal supplements in several forms, and the company is one of many Certified B Corporations. That means Gaia Herbs meets the highest environmental and social performance standards, as well as legal responsibilities and public transparency to achieve balanced profit and customer satisfaction goals.
2- Puritan’s Pride Oil Of Oregano Extract
The brand offers an extract of oregano oil in gel capsules that contain a dose equal to 1,500mg of fresh oregano containing some olive oil. It promotes enhanced overall well-being and health, although more studies are being done to support any therapeutic claims.
Pros
- Comes in rapid release soft gels
- Gluten-free
- Affordable
- Voted as Amazon’s choice
- FDA registered non-GMO
Cons
- Not recommended for pregnant or lactating women
Ingredients
-
- Oregano Oil,150mg
- Olive oil – a natural oil that has essential antioxidant properties and provides various health benefits such as blood pressure and cholesterol balance; treatment of arthritis, infections, and diabetes.
- Gelatin – used as capsule body
- Vegetable glycerin – plant-based sugar alcohol used as a capsule component
Rating
4.6 of 5
Who Produces It?
The brand is a reputable vitamins and supplements manufacturer that offers a variety of top-quality health products. Puritan’s Pride embodies its motto of “Healthy Choices for Healthy Living” and produces products within those standards. As such, it offers an affordable and effective Oregano oil supplement.
3- Nature’s Answer Oil Of Oregano
The Oregano Oil supplement from Nature’s Answer is in a soft gel form that contains 1.5 grams of equivalent fresh oregano. Supports a robust immune system, promotes healthy digestive and intestinal functions. Tested for purity and authenticity.
Pros
- Potent and pure
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- affordable
Cons
None
Ingredients
-
- Oregano Oil,150mg
- Carvacrol, 7mg – a potent antibacterial
- Vegetable glycerin – a natural capsule component
- Gelatin – capsule body component
- Olive oil (extra virgin) – a natural antioxidant and antibacterial
Rating
4.7 of 5
Who Produces It?
The husband and wife team of Frank and Josephine Di Amelio established Bio Botanicals and Nature’s Answer in 1972, and since then, the company has grown to be one of the respectable producers of potent herbal extracts for health supplements. They patented Bio-Chelation®, an unheated extraction process of using vegetable glycerin instead of alcohol.
4- Solaray Oregano Oil
Solaray’s Oregano Oil supplement claims to promote a robust immune response for general wellness and maintain healthy intestinal function. It comes packed into vegan softgels that easily go down when swallowed, and is pure and potent (Lab Verified).
- Non-GMO
- Comes in fast-dissolving soft gels
- Vegan
- Manufactured in GM-certified facilities
- Affordable
Cons
- Not recommended for pregnant and lactating women
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil, 150mg
- Olive oil (extra virgin) – a pure natural antioxidant
- Vegetable glycerin – natural capsule component
-
- Gelatin
Rating
4.7 of 5
Who Produces It?
Established in 1973 in Utah, Solaray has been a leading nutraceutical company committed to manufacturing pure and potent health products and supplements. They have produced a well-reviewed affordable Oregano Oil pill that is considered one of Amazon’s best choices.
5- Bluebonnet Nutrition Oil Of Oregano
Bluebonnet’s Oregano oil supplement uses an oil extracted from oregano leaves and blended with pure olive oil. It is guaranteed free from crustacean shellfish, egg, fish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, and wheat. It supports healthy intestinal and abdominal functions for overall wellness, but further studies are needed for verification.
Pros
- Wildcrafted
- Comes in convenient soft gels
- Gluten- and allergen-free
- Certified Vegan
- Affordable
Cons
- Few customer reviews
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil leaf extract, 150mg
- Olive oil (extra virgin)
- Gelatin
- Vegetable glycerin
Rating
4.7 0f 5
Who Produces It?
For more than 26 years, Bluebonnet Nutrition has endeavored to create direct to market natural health supplements. It harvests oregano from Hungary’s mountain regions and utilizes a water-based drawing-out method to preserve the essential compounds in oregano oil. The company offers an affordable yet potent oregano oil supplement for the health and general well-being of users.
6- Designs For Health Oil Of Oregano
The Oregano oil of Designs For Health blends with pure olive oil to enhance microbial balance and gastrointestinal performance. The oregano oil supplement contains a minimum of 60% upto a maximum of 75% carvacrol, the potent compound for anti-inflammatory response and cholesterol control.
Pros
- Convenient soft gel form
- Non-GMO
- Does not contain dairy, soy, and gluten
- Trusted by 50,000 health care professionals
- Uses only top-quality ingredients
Cons
- A bit expensive
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil, 60mg
- Thymol and carvacrol, 36 mg – powerful antioxidants
- Pure olive oil
-
- Bovine gelatin – a protein compound made from animal tissues rich in amino acids
- Vegetable glycerin
Rating
4.6 of 5
Who Produces It?
The company, Designs For Health, has been a popular choice for organic supplements with health practitioners since 1989. The company put their motto: Science First as a guideline for producing top-quality health products from ingredient choices, manufacturing process, up to finished product packaging. They even use amber-colored bottles to preserve the nutrients and promote waste reduction by recycling. Their oregano oil supplement is a potent product that comes in convenient soft gel capsules at a mid-level price.
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7- Nature’s Way Oregano Oil
Nature’s Way Oregano Oil contains oregano oil with carvacrol (standardized 75%-80%) mixed with flaxseed oil. It may have antibacterial features and could help in lowering cholesterol levels. Further studies are required to support these claims.
Pros
- Quality tested and pure
- Comes in vegetarian capsules
- Free from corn, dairy, gluten, salt, soy, sugar, wheat, and yeast
- Affordable
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
- Not suitable for pregnant and nursing women
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil, 50mg
- Flaxseed oil, 25mg – also called linseed oil, it is a natural substitute for olive oil, and is a good source of essential fatty acids known for having anti-inflammatory properties.
- Soy lecithin – a natural emulsifier known to offer antioxidant benefits
- Hypromellose
Rating
4.6 of 5
Who Produces It?
Being the first significant organic supplement brand to receive the Tru-ID certification, Nature’s Way earned it via independent testing to verify the product labels’ authenticity. They make their products in facilities adhering to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rules. Nature’s Way’s oregano oil supplement is affordable, an Amazon’s choice, and has good user reviews.
8- NOW Foods Oregano Oil
NOW Foods’ Oregano Oil has a distinctive spicy aroma. The 100% essential oil is extracted using steam distillation techniques involving dry oregano herbs. It is blended with fennel and ginger oil to make it viable for abdominal and intestinal use.
Pros
- Made in GMP facilities
- Steam-extracted from dry oregano leaves
- Vegan
- Non-GMO
- Free from gluten and known allergens
Cons
- May induce allergic reactions to fennel, ginger, and oregano
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil, 181 mg
- Ginger oil, 17.6 mg – an essential oil known to have anti-inflammatory properties
- Fennel oil, 19.3 mg – a natural oil known to provide relief from gastrointestinal maladies
- Pure olive oil
-
- Enteric coating – a safe polymer-based coating that keeps the softgel from being dissolved by stomach acids but by the small intestine’s fluids.
- Vegan glycerin
- Gelatin
Rating
4.5 of 5
Who Produces It?
A family-owned company, NOW Foods is a leading producer of various organic health products. From its founding in 1968, the company has been committed to support charity and sustainable practices. Their oregano oil supplement offering is affordable, potent, and is made from top-quality materials processed in GMP-certified facilities in the US.
9- Nature’s Bounty Oil Of Oregano
Nature’s Bounty Oil of Oregano is a blend of oregano oil, water, and olive oil that delivers 15mg of oregano extracts. The oregano oil supplement provides antioxidant benefits due to phytochemical contents and makes further research to bolster the claims.
Pros
- non-GMO
- Free of gluten and other allergens
- No artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners
- Sodium free
- Softgel form
Cons
- Low dosage
- More expensive
Ingredients
-
- Oregano oil,15 mg
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Purified water
- Vegetable glycerin
- Gelatin (softgel)
Rating
4.5 of 5
Who Produces It?
For many decades now, Nature’s Bounty has been a leader in the health supplement industry. They have committed to using only pure ingredients and manufacture all products in facilities that adhere to GMP methods. Their oregano oil supplement offers a low dosage, which is perfect for persons who have sensitive stomachs.
10- Natural Factors Oil Of Oregano
Natural Factors Oil of Oregano contains at least 80% carvacrol, so it may potentially have antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It may also lower cholesterol levels, although all these claims require further studies. The supplement comes in potent liquid drops.
Pros
- Free of harmful chemicals
- Non-GMO
- Amazon’s choice
- potent
Cons
- Administered in drops
- expensive
Ingredients
- Oregano oil, 30mg
- pure olive oil, 120 mg
- Approx. 80% carvacrol, 24 mg
- Vitamin E (sunflower oil) – a natural oil having health-enhancing attributes
Rating
4.5 of 5
Who Produces It?
Established around 1950, Natural Factors has since become a leading North American manufacturer of health and nutrition products. The company plants and harvests their oregano source from their huge farms located in beautiful Armstrong, British Columbia in Canada.
Their oregano oil offering is a highly potent liquid supplement that may be quite expensive for some users.
How we ranked
There are a lot of oregano oil supplements flooding the market, and each of them pledges to be the best brand. We know that choosing the best oregano oil supplement for your needs can be very challenging, so, we give you a list of the criteria we used to evaluate each product.
Brand promise
Is the brand promising to instantly lower your cholesterol levels in merely a few days, just by taking a few softgels or drops? Be watchful of brands making outrageous claims. Remember that wellness and overall healthy body function is not an overnight success, but a slow and demanding effort.
Brand character
Are you familiar with this company or brand? Are they known in the health and wellness industry? Maybe you know an acquaintance or a friend who is familiar with them? You can check them out in Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot to make sure there is nothing doubtful about the brand before making any decisions.
Product format
Many oregano oil supplements come in vegan soft gel form, while others come in liquid drops. The method and form doesn’t influence the product’s effectiveness so that you can make any choice according to your preference.
Quantities and amounts
Always be mindful of the number of capsules or tablets per serving, as well as per container. This step also applies to products in liquid drop form. All those features affect the overall product value.
Value for your money
At times, the price can be an indication of quality or, in the case of supplements, potency; if it is very low compared to other brands, the dosages may not be enough or include unproven components. On the other hand, if it is too expensive, it should have the correct amounts of essential ingredients.
GMO-free
A critical factor, the oregano oil supplement must not contain any genetically modified organism.
Presence of metallic compounds and allergens
Oregano plants are naturally grown or cultivated. As such, there should be no heavy metals present. Another vital indication is the absence of allergens like gluten, dairy, egg, fish, soy, and others. Although most oregano oil supplements are blended with extra virgin olive oil, for better intestinal absorption, it does not pose as a hazardous allergen. However, some brands use different compounds such as fennel and ginger oils, which could induce possible allergic reactions.
FDA/cGMP certifications and approvals
It is crucial to discern that a product contains safe and high-quality ingredients. One perfect way to find out is by checking if the products are made in cGMP/FDA approved or certified facilities and processes. There are other third-party certifications and seals for other essential matters about ingredients and components. Some of these are laboratories that certify purity and potency.
User comments
In case you do not have acquaintances that have tried the product before, you can check out websites like iherb.com or Amazon, as well as other online sites associated with health and wellness campaigns.
How Do I Choose the Best Oregano Oil Product?
Only very few studies about oregano oil exist, so it is difficult to establish what the product‘s optimal formulation is. At the end of the day, everything would depend on your budget, requirements, and preferences. Moreover, brand reliability is an essential consideration, as quality and effectiveness greatly vary from one product to the next, especially within the supplement world. The best and safest way is to select a product coming from a reputable manufacturer.
Most of the excellent oregano oil supplements come with fair prices and are well-reviewed as well. Check to see how much you get for the price the company is asking. Some companies make you pay more for less.
Benefits of Oregano Oil
Oregano oil could be used topically or as a health supplement. It has potential anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and cholesterol-reducing advantages that provide it several uses. However, the benefits have to be studied further to prove their viability. Here are the potential uses of oregano oil:
Cholesterol
Oregano oil contains a bioactive compound called carvacrol, which is widely known to offer some help in combating high cholesterol, as shown in one study on mice. That means Oregano oil could help reduce human cholesterol levels, but would necessitate substantially more research using human subjects.
Immunity
Containing compounds known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties, Oregano oil can help our bodies ward off against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic invasions. The antioxidants of effective Oregano oil supplements may also aid in protecting our immune system against damages caused by free radicals, boosting its efforts to function better. Unfortunately, further research is necessary to provide evidence on human benefits.
Antioxidant
Being an essential oil rich in antioxidants, Oregano oil can aid in slowing the process of aging by reducing free-radical damages of cells. Potent Oregano oil supplements may contain high antioxidant concentrations, amounting to about 400% of that present in blueberries. But due to the limited number of researches about human supplementation, it would be difficult to determine the extent of supplement benefit.
Skin
Oregano oil has topical uses for skin issues like acne, athlete’s foot, canker sores, dandruff, oily skin, psoriasis, rosacea, warts, and even insect bites. Studies have not proven if the oil has been effective on any of the mentioned applications, so further research is required.
Side Effects of Oregano Oil
Oregano oil, if not properly administered, can cause upset stomachs. For individuals suffering from allergies to plants from the mint group, Oregano oil may induce allergic reactions.
Oregano oil is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women, persons with pre-diagnosed medical conditions, and children. Overall, it would be best to consult your doctor before taking oregano oil supplements especially if you are currently under medication.
Recommended Dosage
There is a unique study using oregano oil for human oral supplementation, which administered 600mg once each day. The advisable way is to take the supplement with food, preferably a meal. Of course, the best way is still by following the manufacturer’s recommended dosage, or the advice provided by your doctor or health care specialist.
FAQs
What is Oregano?
Oregano is an aromatic herb belonging to the mint family and has been traditionally used in Italian and Mediterranean cooking. The plant has small oval leaves, compact flowers arranged in clusters, and contains essential oils.
What is Oregano Oil?
Oregano oil is an essential oil extracted from Oregano herbs that contain a potent dose of bioactive compounds and antioxidants such as carvacrol and thymol. It has many uses, both in culinary and medicinal aspects.
What is oregano oil good for?
Oregano oil has several potential benefits due to its high bioactive chemical content. It is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It can also help reduce abdominal problems and cholesterol, but more studies are still needed to support these.
What are the other uses of oregano oil?
Oregano oil is also used as topicals for skin conditions including acne, dandruff, and insect bites. The oil is also used in aromatherapy, taking advantage of its comforting, invigorating, and purifying scent.
Recap
We have provided you with an in-depth guide to selecting the best oregano oil supplement. The brands that we have presented are considered the top of their class and each of them is as effective as the others in the list. Of course, you would need to choose according to your needs, preference, and budget. You can very well determine the overall value of the brand you are considering with the criteria we have provided.
We would recommend that you give significant attention to the benefits of the oregano oil supplements as well as the possible side effects in taking the product. We emphasize the importance of consulting your doctor or health care professional before taking any supplements.
We hope that we have helped you in your quest for the best oregano oil supplement. Good luck!
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