Can Oil Of Oregano Help With Arthritis?

Arthritis is a medical condition that affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the major cause of disability of people who are over 55 years old. There are many types of arthritis but the most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. Each of them has different symptoms but all of them are characterized by pain, inflammation and stiffness of joints. It is not uncommon for those who are suffering from severe cases of arthritis to experience disability and loss of function.

An important factor in the maintenance of your health is the ability of your body to tolerate wear and tear before its inflammatory auto-immune ability begins to function. This is vital especially when you are under stressful situations. Modern research has shown that there are certain T cells that act to regulate your tolerance to stress by activating a natural anti-inflammatory defence system known as heat shock proteins or HSP. Your longevity is directly related to your ability to activate these HSPs.

Researches have conducted animal laboratory studies which showed that carvacrol, a main component of oil of oregano can activate HSP through the regulatory T cells and stop experimentally produced arthritis. The researchers concluded that oregano oil had an “unprecedented capacity” to activate HSP through the T cells. The experimentally induced arthritis was completely suppressed. That meant carvacrol can indeed increase the responses of the protective T cells against self-stress protein and reduce the inflammation.

In addition, an earlier animal experiment showed the ability of carvacrol as a potent painkiller. This correlates beautifully with the fact that oil of oregano can be of benefit to those who are suffering from arthritis.

Oil of oregano is a natural product derived from the wild oregano plant Origanum vulgare. This plant is found originally in the mountain tops of Greece, Turkey and Portugal. The special combination of the soil minerals and the climate in this region are believed to be the reasons why oregano oil contains very powerful substances. The early Greeks have used this plant for the treatment of their common ailments.

With the help of our modern scientists, it is now confirmed that this essential oil can really be effective as a mode of treatment for many diseases. The reason is that oil of oregano contains many phenols that can be used for antimicrobial purposes. One of its active components is carvacrol, which (as have been previously mentioned) can be very effective in treating arthritis.

If you are suffering from arthritis, you can use oil of oregano to alleviate your pain and the inflammation of your joints. Here are some ways you can use this essential oil for this purpose.

• Mix 1 drop of oregano oil with 5 drops of virgin olive oil or coconut oil. Apply this mixture to your affected joints generously.

• Use this same mixture to relieve yourself from sprains, cramps, bursitis, sore muscles and different inflammatory problems.

• To facilitate the treatment, you can also take oil of oregano internally by adding two drops of the oil to a glass of water or juice drink. There are also oregano capsules that you can take if you can’t tolerate its taste. It is advised that you drink more water to enhance the curative effect of the oil.

It is always a good practice to do a patch test before applying oregano oil in large areas of your skin. This will tell you if you have allergic reactions to this substance. If that’s the case, you need to dilute the oil with virgin olive oil or coconut oil to soften its effects.

Oil of oregano for arthritis is really worth a try.