Gut parasites cleared in most of 14 people taking oregano oil
In the only human test, six weeks of 600 mg a day was followed by parasites clearing in most. Nobody went without the oil, so the test cannot show the oil did it.
What the study found
Oregano oil's parasite evidence is 14 adults and no comparison group
Adults with gut parasites confirmed in stool swallowed 600 mg of emulsified oregano oil a day for six weeks. On retesting, Blastocystis had cleared in 8 of 11, and two other parasites in every case. It is the only human test of the parasite claim, and it points one way without proving it.
The caveat · No untreated group to compare
In the only trial of oregano oil for gut parasites, nobody went untreated, and parasites can come and go in stool on their own, so their clearing may not be the oil's doing. Two of the three parasites were found in 4 people and 1 person. No trial with a placebo group has followed in the 25 years since, and none is registered.
What we don't know
In the only trial of oregano oil for gut parasites, nobody went untreated, and parasites can come and go in stool on their own, so their clearing may not be the oil's doing. Two of the three parasites were found in 4 people and 1 person. No trial with a placebo group has followed in the 25 years since, and none is registered.