January is the time of year that we all find ourselves in the middle of the peak cold and flu season.  Doctors and other health practitioners tell us that the best, tried and true way to fight off the viruses that cause these irritating ailments is frequent hand washing and getting your annual flu shot.  Still people turn to their local health food store or pharmacy, to stock up on various herbal remedies.  And now, people are turning to another source of potential relief on their shelves.

Oil of Oregano is the latest in a long list of supposed flu-fighting fads, and in some places is flying off the store shelves faster than garlic, vitamin C, and even echinacea remedies.  The reason is that many herbalists are saying that this essential oil, which is produced from wild oregano found in the Mediterranean, is the latest immune system booster of choice.

Herbalists tout the active ingredient in Oil of Oregano as a natural infection fighter capable of killing off viruses and bacteria.  There are even some claims that this product can fend off the dangerous bird flu, or even hepatitis.

Physiology professor Harry Preuss at Georgetown University, conducted a study in 2001 (on behalf of a herbal remedy company), that showed Oil of Oregano protected against certain fungi and even the potentially deadly staphylococcus bacteria, in tests on a small sample of mice.  The study also showed that oil of oregano was able to kill certain strains of tuberculosis and the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers, in a petri dish.  Preuss originally dismissed claims about oil of oregano as "a lot of cockamamie" when he first heard about it six years ago.  He does agree that more research into it's effects and benefits is necessary, but also says that his work with the product has made him a believer, even using it himself to treat a sinus infection that conventional drugs had no effect on.

Despite these findings, doctors and pharmacists are not as quick to believe in the benefits of oil of oregano, simply because there are few scientific studies showing any proof that it works in humans.

Products containing oregano oil include the amber colored oil itself, oil filled capsules, and tinctures.  Most sell for $10 to $30 a bottle.

Believers of oregano oil are touting it as a powerful antiviral drug, that was used for thousands of years in Greece, for all types of ailments.

So far, all evidence of efficacy is anecdotal - one herbal practitioner that believes strongly in oil of oregano offers the story of an elderly woman who takes a drop of the oregano oil every day on her tongue.  Before, she used to catch every cold that came along, but since using oil of oregano, goes through the entire cold and flu season without getting sick.

Oil of oregano hit the mainstream approximately six years ago, and was sold as a potential treatment during the SARS crisis in Toronto, the E. coli water contamination in Walkerton, Ontario, and even after the anthrax scares in the United States following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Most people however, use oil of oregano to treat a variety of more common ailments, like seasonal allergies, minor infections, athlete's foot, and even toothaches.

Another believer has said that if they feel a cold coming on, they take oil of oregano, and when they wake up the next morning, all symptoms of the cold are gone.

Oil of Oregano is quite pungent, and is usually diluted with another oil (such as olive oil) to reduce the strength.  On its own, oregano oil can burn when applied to the skin.  To make the oil go down easier, one recommendation is to place three drops of the oil under your tongue and wait three minutes to let it mix with your saliva before swallowing.  When you swallow, it does have a burning , spicy sensation similar to wasabi, for approximately 30 seconds.

As always, if you want to try Oil of Oregano, you should check with your family doctor.  Never use oil of oregano to treat a serious infection without seeing a doctor first.

Buy Oil of Oregano liquid or Oil of Oregano capsules here.