OREGANO (Origanum vulgare)

Benefits of Oregano Herb for Horses

A Mediterranean marvel whose name literally means “joy of the mountain,” oregano is far more than a pasta herb. Packed with potent oils and a powerful kick of antioxidant activity, this tiny leaf is one of nature’s most revered antimicrobial powerhouses - a fierce little healer with a warm, aromatic soul.

Please note this is a nutritional, functional horse food supplement and not veterinary medicine. See Dr Kellon's Horse Sense - Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy .

Find Oregano Herb in the EquiNatural range

Here’s where you’ll also find Oregano in our supplement support for horses:

• BioCARE - natural antimicrobial/antibiotic support for equine immunity
• BiomeTonic - nurturing gut health with nature's protective 'oily herbs
• LymeCARE - Lyme disease restoration programme
• SiboCARE - effective equine hindgut dysbiosis/SIBO stabiliser

💧Organic Oregano Herb Tincture

Our human-grade, certified organic tinctures give you a ready-to-absorb potent source of phytonutrients at the highest-strength available, for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.

• Oreganum vulgare (Oregano)
• Herb
• Infused 1:3 25%
• Organic Cultivated

~ Feed Guide - oregano tincture for horses

• 6ml/100kg bodyweight, daily in feed.
• ♻️ Our tinctures come in a heat-sealed, twin-neck, child-resistant HDPE plastic dosing bottle, complete with dosing chamber. *HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic is 100% recyclable, and energy-efficient to produce. Safe for food/water storage, it reduces waste and emissions while resisting wear. A top sustainable choice to match the EquiNatural ethos.

🌿Organic Dried Oregano Herb

Grown, harvested and dried without the use of agri-chemicals, non-irradiated and GMO free - see our Quality page for Quality Management & Certification Documents.

• Oreganum vulgare (Oregano)
• Herb
• Organic Cultivated
• Origin Turkey

~ Feed Guide - dried oregano herb for horses

• 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
• 1 x level 75ml scoop = 12-grams.
• Want a scoop? You can add a scoop to your basket during checkout.
• ♻️Supplied in a 100% fully recylable, resealable, food-grade foil pouch for freshness.

Footnotes

• Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Human grade.
• Please be aware that if you're purchasing our dried botanicals for human use, our dried range is cut to appropriate sizes for feeding to horses.
• ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
• 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.

Functional Nutritional Value

Constituents: Carvacrol, thymol, pinene, ocimene, caryophyllene, linalool, and limonene.

Safety/Contraindications

General Safety

• Classified as a Class 1A herb – generally regarded as safe for use when fed within normal dietary ranges.
• Widely used in both human and animal nutrition for its natural antimicrobial, antioxidant, and digestive-supportive properties.

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy : Avoid therapeutic or concentrated use during pregnancy, as high doses have shown mild uterine-stimulating effects in human studies.

Cautions:

• Essential oil forms are much stronger than the dried herb and should never be used undiluted or internally in horses.
• Very high inclusion rates may irritate gastric or intestinal mucosa due to phenolic compounds (not relevant at normal dietary levels).

Summary:

At normal feed inclusion levels, oregano is a safe and beneficial botanical, valued for its natural antimicrobial, immune-supportive, and digestive-tonic properties. Avoid concentrated or essential-oil use in pregnant mares.

Oregano in History & Tradition

A bit of oegano trivia for you - part of the mint family, there are at least 70 known species of oregano, which have been given more than 300 scientific names over the last century!

Oregano may have earned its modern fame from Italian kitchens, but this bold, bushy herb has a much deeper legacy - and it’s anything but tame. From ancient Greece to the Black Plague and into today’s medical research, oregano has long walked the line between culinary delight and herbal defender.

Its name, Origanum , comes from the Greek words oros (mountain) and ganos (joy) - a nod to its fragrant presence across Mediterranean hillsides where it blooms in purple profusion, soaking up the sun. That joyful essence has echoed through centuries, adorning ancient Greek and Roman weddings, symbolising love, protection, and prosperity. Even in folklore, a stray leaf carried on the wind could promise a happy marriage - or predict misfortune, should it fall.

But oregano’s real magic lies in its medicinal legacy. Archaeological finds dating back over 50,000 years reveal it was prized enough to be buried with nobility. Its volatile oils have long been used to treat infections, fevers, coughs, digestive complaints, and even snake bites. In Turkey, oregano’s traditional kekik water is still used to balance blood sugar and soothe the gut.

And then there’s the science. Oregano oil is now one of the most researched essential oils on the planet. Studies confirm its high phenol content - 26x more than synthetic antiseptics - and its extraordinary antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory actions. It’s been shown to inhibit bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens, protect against oxidative stress, support immune defences, and may even help combat antibiotic resistance.

Its antioxidant activity is off the charts - 42 times that of apples, 12 times more than oranges, and four times more than blueberries- placing oregano among the elite defenders of cellular health and healthy ageing. Research even hints at neuroprotective potential, with links to modulating free radicals involved in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.

In folk medicine and modern clinics alike, oregano is used as an oral antiseptic, expectorant, stomachic, carminative, immune modulator, and cancer-preventive agent. And it doesn’t stop there - oregano’s pungent oils make it a valuable ally in blends for respiratory, gut, immune, and systemic support.

Small leaf. Big attitude.