Carvacrol

Carvacrol is a monoterpene phenol, an aromatic compound found primarily in some herbs of the mint family such as thyme and wild oregano. Carvacrol has a structure which is closely related to thymol, in fact they both have the same chemical formula but the atoms are arranged differently, which means the two compounds are isomers. Wild oregano is an especially good source of carvacrol, which is the main active ingredient in Oil of Oregano. This essential oil is sold as a remedy for all sorts of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections.

There have been many studies showing that carvacrol is effective against a variety of bacteria and fungus. A study published in the American Society for Microbiology in 2005 showed carvacrol had effective antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. A study in the Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases in 2004 reported that carvacrol was effective in treating oral candidiasis in rats. In 2005, BMC Microbiology published a study showing carvacrol was biocidal against e.coli and spoilage yeasts in apple juice.

Carvacrol also has anti-inflammatory properties, which may be useful in treating arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. This phytonutrient is used as an ingredient in natural and biodegradeable disinfectants, as a food preservative, and in cosmetics as a fragrance in soaps, creams and perfumes. Carvacrol is being studied for its effects on several types of cancer including breast cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer.

I have come across a few possible side effects that oil of oregano might have. It may interfere with your bodies absorption of iron, so you should pay attention to getting a good source of iron or iron supplements before using oil of oregano regularly - and take the two supplements at different times. If you are allergic to oregano, thyme, or any herbs in the mint family you should not use this as a supplement. Pregnant women should not take oil of oregano as a supplement, and as always, if you have a health condition check with your doctor before taking any type of herbal products.

Many of the studies of carvacrol show that it works synergistically with other compounds, such as thymol and eugenol. This drives home the point that nature packages up the things we need so that they will work to their best advantage, and it is better to use natural herbal products than to use synthetic concoctions that may only have one chemical working alone.

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