oregano oil

Oregano Oil (Oil of Oregano) is a dietary supplement.

Oil of Oregano

Not yet rated· sourced from the FDA label

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 23, 2026·How we rate

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Key facts

Active ingredient: Oil of Oregano
Type: Supplement

What is Oregano Oil?

From the FDA label:A concentrated herbal oil taken for immune and gut support.

What the evidence says

Limited evidence

What Oregano Oil is

Oil of oregano is a concentrated extract of the oregano plant (Origanum vulgare and related species), the same herb used in cooking. It is sold as a dietary supplement in capsules, softgels, and liquid drops, and its main plant compounds include carvacrol and thymol.

Commonly used for

Taken to try to prevent or shorten the common coldUsed by some people during cold and flu seasonUsed as a general 'immune support' supplementTaken by travelers hoping to avoid travel-related illness

What the evidence shows

Rigorous evidence in people is limited. NCCIH says there is no strong evidence that oil of oregano, on its own, prevents or treats colds. Its guidance does not single out oregano oil as proven for influenza or flu-like illness either, and no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements or NCCIH fact sheet supports using it to treat or cure any specific condition. Claims of broader health benefits are not backed by strong human research.

Typical dosage

There is no established or government-recommended dose for oregano oil supplements, and products vary widely in concentration and how they are prepared. Because federal authorities have not defined a safe or effective amount, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or another qualified clinician before starting it, especially about how much (if any) is appropriate for you.

Safety

Authoritative US government sources do not provide a detailed safety profile for concentrated oregano oil supplements, so its long-term safety is not well characterized. As a general precaution, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, and anyone with a health condition or taking medications should consult a clinician first, and keep in mind that "natural" does not mean risk-free.

Side effects

High-quality data on side effects from oregano oil supplements are limited in the government sources reviewed. As a general matter, concentrated essential oils can irritate the mouth, throat, stomach, or skin, and some people may have allergic reactions, particularly those allergic to oregano or related plants in the mint family such as basil, sage, or thyme. Stop use and seek care if you develop a rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.

Interactions & cautions

Reliable government data on drug interactions with oregano oil are limited, and any potential oregano-drug interactions are not well characterized in the sources reviewed. To stay safe, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any oregano oil supplement you take or plan to take so they can check it against your current medications.

Sources

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Summarized from public health authorities; general reference, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

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Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

What people report to the FDA about Oil of Oregano

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 128 reports naming Oil of Oregano — the active ingredient in Oregano Oil, and the FDA flagged 52% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

fatigue17 reports
arthralgia9 reports
dizziness8 reports
insomnia8 reports
nausea8 reports
rash8 reports
asthenia7 reports
constipation7 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean Oil of Oregano caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.

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Key facts

What is Oregano Oil?

What the evidence says

What Oregano Oil is

Commonly used for

What the evidence shows

Typical dosage

Safety

Side effects

Interactions & cautions

Sources

Ways to save

What people report to the FDA about Oil of Oregano

Reviews

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