Do you know the process and the neccesary equipment for getting the oil of oregano?

Question

I live in a rich oregano area in Mexico. I know about the profits you can make processing this plant. Unfortunetely, I am not a Chemistry Specialist and I don't know the exact process, and wich materials or equipment to use in order to extract the oil from the plant.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Oregano oil is extracted from the dried, flowering tops of the herb by steam distillation.

Chemical composition
The main chemical components are carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, cis-ocimene, caryophyllene and linalool.

Steam Distillation

Steam distillation is the most common method of extracting essential oils. Many old-time distillers favor this method for most oils, and say that none of the newer methods produces better quality oils. Steam distillation is done in a still. Fresh, or sometimes dried, botanical material is placed in the plant chamber of the still, and pressurized steam is generated in a separate chamber and circulated through the plant material. The heat of the steam forces the tiny intercellular pockets that hold the essential oils to open and release them. The temperature of the steam must be high enough to open the pouches, yet not so high that it destroys the plants or burns the essential oils. As they are released, the tiny droplets of essential oil evaporate and, together with the steam molecules, travel through a tube into the still's condensation chamber. As the steam cools, it condenses into water. The essential oil forms a film on the surface of the water. To separate the essential oil from the water, the film is then decanted or skimmed off the top. The remaining water, a byproduct of distillation, is called floral water, distillate, or hydrosol. It retains many of the therapeutic properties of the plant, making it valuable in skin care for facial mists and toners. In certain situations, floral water may be preferable to pure essential oil, such as when treating a sensitive individual or a child, or when a more diluted treatment is required.

Cold Pressing

Another method of extracting essential oils is cold-pressed expression, or scarification. It is used to obtain citrus fruit oils such as bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin, orange, and tangerine oils. In this process, fruit rolls over a trough with sharp projections that penetrate the peel. This pierces the tiny pouches containing the essential oil. Then the whole fruit is pressed to squeeze the juice from the pulp and to release the essential oil from the pouches. The essential oil rises to the surface of the juice and is separated from the juice by centrifugation.

Answer 2

I live in Southern Italy, we also have a lot of it, but I was never told about it...I think nobody has done it yet...

...if nobody did it so far, I think it's not so easy...