October's Natural Remedy for Your Non-Medicine Cabinet

Every month I provide a natural home remedy to help support your health. These remedies are posted on the 1st of every month in the Holistic American Health Academy which you can learn more about here. To have earlier access to these remedies please consider joining!

October’s remedy is Oil of Oregano.

Oil of Oregano is another preventative measure to keep you healthy during the cold and flu season along with having several other health benefits.

What is oil of oregano?

Oil of oregano is NOT an essential oil. It is not recommended that you ingest essential oils, especially oregano EO because of its potency.

Oil of oregano is dried oregano infused in a carrier oil, in this circumstance olive oil, or you could also use coconut oil.

Benefits of Oil of Oregano:

·         Natural antibiotic

·         High in antioxidants

·         Inhibits yeast and bacteria growth

·         Antifungal

·         Protects from free radicals

·         May improve cholesterol

·         Improves digestion by eliminating parasites and repairing leaky gut.

·         Boosts Vitamin C

·         Anti-inflammatory (source, source, source, source).

What you will need:

4-5 oz Dried oregano-you will need enough dry oregano to fill a mason jar at least halfway to 3/4 full. The amount of oregano you need depends on the size of mason jar you use.

Olive oil

2 Mason jars

Cheese cloth or mesh strainer

 Optional: Dropper bottles

Directions: Be sure to read all the way through before getting started.

1.      You can either dry your own oregano or purchase dried oregano from a local apothecary or purchase online.

If you choose to dry your own oregano there are a couple of ways you can do it.

-Harvest and lay out to dry for 2-3 weeks. Be sure leaves are clear of dirt and debris before laying out to dry. If you need to wash them first be sure to gently dry the leaves before laying them out to avoid mold.

-Dry in oven by turning the heat to the lowest setting and leaving the door slightly open and heat for 15-20 minutes.

2.      Once you have your dried oregano put it into a mason jar filling the jar halfway to ¾ full.

3.       Fill the mason jar completely with a high-quality olive oil. Stir. Be sure oregano is completely covered in oil. Tightly seal the jar.

4.      Allow to infuse for 4-6 weeks. Shake jar every few days.

5.      Once the infusion process is done strain the oil by placing a cheesecloth over the jar and pouring the oil into your second empty mason jar. Or place a mesh strainer over an empty mason jar and pour contents into the empty mason jar.

How to use:

Whether you are using your oil for treatment or prevention, it is recommended that you take a break after three weeks of daily use. There are a few different ways you can take your oil.

1.      Place 2-3 drops under your tongue 3-4x daily when symptoms first begin to appear.

2.      Put 2-3 drops in drink of choice

3.      Use in cooking

4.      Use topically for fungal infections (be sure to spot test first and do not use on open wounds).

Disclaimer: When using any home remedies there are always risks-although they are not common. Do not take when pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use if you have an allergy to thyme, sage, mint, marjoram, hyssop, basil, or lavender. Do not use if you are on lithium, are diabetic or on blood thinners.

Each month's natural remedy comes with bonus material. The bonus material will always include a Bach Flower Remedy which you can learn more about here and will occasionally include additional health tips or products that will help strengthen the month's remedy.

Bonus Material:

October’s Back Flower Remedy; Beech

If you are new to the Natural Remedies series and are not familiar with Bach Therapy, it is a system of flower essences that support your mental health. Our natural remedy challenges are designed to help support both body and mind.

Beech is for those who struggle with sympathy and tolerance. When in the negative Beech state, we tend to be very narrow-minded, arrogant, and judge others on narrow standards. Beech is for those who can easily see and insult others for their imperfections but are blind to their own- “sees the speck in another’s eye, but not the log in his own.”

These defense mechanisms are said to be caused by the disconnection with the part of your Higher Self that teaches you to cope with painful experiences. Instead, they are projected back out into the world and creates a rigid personality rather than identifying with your own hurt and properly working through it.

When in the positive Beech state, we can understand individual development, tolerance and can find unity in diversity.

If you feel like you could benefit from Beech, you can find it here.

Yours In Health,

Ashley Cook