How to Use Oregano Oil to Treat Respiratory Infections

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1 Is oil of oregano good for the lungs?

2 Does oregano fight infections?

3 Can you inhale oil of oregano?

4 How do you use oil of oregano for respiratory infections?

5 How can I clean my lungs naturally?

6 What’s the best treatment for a respiratory infection?

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Co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND and Eric McClure

Last Updated: January 24, 2024 References

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Oregano has been used as a traditional folk remedy for thousands of years. While there isn’t any concrete scientific evidence that oregano will actually help your respiratory issue, there are plausible reasons to believe that it just might, since oregano has a propensity for fighting off certain bacteria and viruses. If you want to try oil of oregano to treat your respiratory infection, give it a shot! So long as you aren’t pregnant, there really aren’t any dangers trying this one out, and if it brings you relief, then great!

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Question 1 of 6:

Is oil of oregano good for the lungs?

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1. It could be, but there’s no proof one way or another. Oil of oregano does have the ability to inhibit certain viruses, fungi, and bacteria in isolated environments, so it’s plausible that it might help with a respiratory infection. However, there have been no studies involving people inhaling oil of oregano for respiratory issues, so there’s no way to know if it really works, and if it does, how efficient it is.

   • Thyme, dictamnus, and marjoram are all in the same category as oregano, and they all have similar abilities to combat pathogens as oregano. Again, it’s unclear how effective they are in people, though.
   • There are a lot of variables when it comes to fighting diseases. Just because a compound or chemical works outside of the body doesn’t mean that it will work once it’s absorbed by your lungs.
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Question 2 of 6:

Does oregano fight infections?

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1. In a petri dish, yes; it’s unclear if it does in the human body, though. All of the studies on the antibacterial and antiviral impact of oil of oregano has been done in mice, chickens, or petri dishes. While there may be something to oil of oregano as a potential medication or treatment option in the future, there’s just no evidence it will has these same properties once it’s ingested or inhaled by people.

   • Oregano is even proven to inhibit cancer cells when they’re isolated in special environments. This doesn’t mean that oil of oregano will cure cancer, though.

Question 3 of 6:

Can you inhale oil of oregano?

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1. It’s perfectly safe to smell oil of oregano unless you’re pregnant. While it’s unclear why, oregano is embryotoxic, meaning that it may cause harm to your child if you’re pregnant. As a result, it’s best not to inhale oil of oregano if you’re getting ready to welcome a new child into the world. It’s okay if you want a dash of oregano on a slice of pizza, but don’t consume large amounts of it, make oregano tea, or use oil of oregano as a topical treatment.

   • If you aren’t pregnant, there shouldn’t be any unique risks if you want to use oil of oregano for aromatherapy.
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Question 4 of 6:

How do you use oil of oregano for respiratory infections?

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1. 1
   There’s the old-fashioned way of just sniffing the bottle. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with just opening the bottle of your essential oil and taking a deep breath. This probably the easiest way to inhale the oil of oregano, and you can always bring the bottle with you on the go.

   • Hold the bottle roughly 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) away from your nose the first time you do this, just in case the smell is too strong for you.
   • If inhaling the bottle directly is too much, just pour a few drops into a cotton ball and hold that up to your nose.
2. 2
   You can also put it in a diffuser with water if you prefer. If you want your home to smell like oregano, use a diffuser. There are all kinds of diffusers out there, but you typically just fill a device with water up to the fill line inside of the device. Then, you pour a few drops of oil of oregano into the water and turn it on. The diffuser will let a steady stream of oregano droplets into the air!
3. 3
   You can drop the oil in steamy water to clear your sinuses. If your nose is stuffy and you want some quick relief, boil some water. Pour it into a large bowl and add a few drops of oil of oregano. Hold your head over the steam coming out of the water and take a few deep breaths.
4. 4
   Don’t ingest oregano supplements if you have a bleeding disorder. If you’re on blood thinners or you’re dealing with a bleeding condition (like hemophilia or von Willebrand disease), do not consume any oregano-based supplements. There is some evidence that oregano may thin your blood out or increase your risk of bleeding.

   • It’s unclear if inhaling oil of oregano may have the same impact as ingesting it.
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Question 5 of 6:

How can I clean my lungs naturally?

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1. 1
   Relieve any irritation in your lungs with controlled coughing. Clear your airways out by sitting on the edge of a chair. Lean forward a bit, breathe in through your nose, and fold your arms over your stomach. Intentionally cough from your diaphragm in short, quick bursts. You can even push on your stomach a bit with your forearms to clear your airways out.

   • If possible, do this over the tub or outside. You may cough a bunch of mucus out!
2. 2
   You can try postural drainage to clear your lungs out. You can do this on the bed or on the floor. Lie down on your back so that your chest is lower than your hips by propping your hips up with a pillow. Put one hand on your belly and the other on chest. Push your belly out as far as you can and keep your chest still. Breathe in and out slowly. Do it for 5-10 minutes, then do the same thing on each side. Finish by doing this face-down.

   • When you’re done, if you feel like you’ve got something in your throat, cough it out. This process may lead some mucus back up to your throat, but you’ll feel much better when you’re done!
3. 3
   Don’t try to cleanse or detox your lungs. Even when you’re sick, your lungs don’t need to be “cleaned.” They clean themselves out on their own. If you really want to improve the health of your lungs, try eating antioxidant-rich foods, getting regular exercise, and cleaning your home regularly to remove dust and pollutants. Quitting smoking will make the biggest impact if you happen to be a tobacco user.

   • Using an air purifier and changing your furnace’s air filter regularly will also improve the quality of air in your home.
   • Antioxidant-rich foods include berries, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. Nuts and red wine are also fairly high in antioxidants as well.
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Question 6 of 6:

What’s the best treatment for a respiratory infection?

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1. 1
   Drink plenty of fluids, have some soup, and take it easy. Most respiratory infections aren’t a big deal, and they should clear up on their own in a week or so. In the meantime, rest, drink plenty of water or juice, and eat some chicken noodle soup. You can also use a saline nasal drop, or take an over-the-counter cough medicine if you want to soothe your symptoms.
2. 2
   See a doctor if your infection doesn’t go away in 1-2 weeks. If your symptoms aren’t improving over time or they feel like you’re getting worse, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. They’ll be able to take a look at your condition and identify if you might have something more serious than a little bug. While it may just feel like a little cold to you, it could be something more serious, like pneumonia.

   • A doctor may be able to prescribe you antibiotics to combat the infection. Don’t take these before seeing a doctor, though. If you have a cold or the flu, antibiotics won’t help with that.
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Tips

• You can create a 1-2% mixture of oil of oregano and a carrier oil to make a topical treatment. There’s some minor evidence that you can use this as an antibacterial skin treatment. This won’t do anything for a respiratory infection, though. Oregano is also irritating for some people when applied topically, so spot test it first and always dilute it.
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Warnings

• Do not ingest oil of oregano. It may theoretically be safe, but it’s not worth taking the risk to find out. The oil of oregano supplement capsules are probably okay so long as you don’t have a bleeding disorder and you aren’t pregnant.
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