Oregano

The leaves, flowers and essential oil of this plant are used in traditional medicine and its dried leaves are used as culinary seasoning.
It contains phenol carboxylic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, rosmarinic), flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes derived from ursolic and oleanolic acids. The essential oil is rich in thymol, carvacrol and eugenol.

Properties attributed in traditional medicine without clinical testing (WHO 2010, Blumenthal 1998 p.358): digestive, spasmolytic, expectorant and diuretic. Antiseptic, antifungal and healing properties when used externally.

Commission E does not recommend its use due to the absence of documented effectiveness (Blumenthal 1998 p.358).

Since the last update date we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.

Although it has been used topically to treat nipple candidiasis (Jacobsen 2009) tests of its effectiveness as anti-infective and antifungal agents have been unsatisfactory (Liu 2017).

The use of essential oil, due to its high content in active ingredients, may not be prudent during breastfeeding.

Precautions when taking plant preparations:
1. Ensure that they are from a reliable source: poisoning has occurred due to confusing one plant with another with toxic properties, poisonings due to the fact they contain heavy metals that are extracted from the soil and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi (Anderson 2017).
2. Do not take too much; follow recommendations from experienced phytotherapy professionals. "Natural" products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which a large part of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause intoxication or act as endocrine disruptors (they contain phytoestrogens: Powers 2015, Zava 1998) if they are taken in exaggerated quantity or over long periods of time.

CULINARY USE: It is used in many western cuisines as a flavouring and does not produce toxicity when consumed at culinary doses. Oregano in its culinary use is therefore compatible during breastfeeding.

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Oregano.