Oregano Herbarium
Latin Name: Origanum vulgare
Common Names: Wild marjoram
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Descriptive Characteristics: This perennial grows up to 32 inches. The leaves are elliptical. The stems are red and square. The flowers are pink. Heinerman (1996) talks about marjoram and oregano in the same entry. He describes oregano as “not just one or two well-defined species but rather one of over two dozen known species that yield leaves or flowering tops that yield the flavor recognized as oregano” (p. 324). He references a book he wrote called The Complete Book of Spices. I need to get that book so I can include it here.
Part of the plant used: Leaves and oil
Texture: I have grown this plant before so I can say the fresh leaves a a little bumpy
Color: Green
Aroma: Like oregano. The sample I have is much stronger than anything I have purchased, though. I’m not sure I’d use 2t of this in my spaghetti sauce.
Flavor: delicious
Constituents: Volatile oil (carvacrol, thymol, beta-bisabolene, caryophyllene, linalool, borneol); tannins, resin, sterols, and flavonoids.
Therapeutic Actions: carvacrol and thymol give the plant antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also an antiseptic (Chevallier, 2016, p. 243)
Indications: Historically treated skin sores and aching muscles, used as an antiseptic. Also used for stomachache and respiratory disease, cough, asthma, allergies, sinusitis, bronchitis, dysepepsia, bloating, intestinal parasites, dysmenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract disorders, headaches, diabetes, dental bleeding, heart conditions and hyperlipidemia (Natural Medicine Monograph). Chevallier (2016) adds the Antient Greeks used this as a cure-all. Notably effective against Candida and E. coli. Used for acute and chronic infections of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts: gastroenteritis, dysentery, bronchitis, cough and tonsillitis. The herb and oil inhibit gut bacteria so frequent use is bad but it can eliminate or reduce the harmful bacteria in the gut which cause bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort (p. 243).
Formulary:
Heinerman (1996, p. 325)
Tea can be used for fevers, cramps, bronchitis, measles and mumps and irregular menstrual cycle: 1 pint boiling water. Remove from heat. Add 1t of marjoram and oregano (each) stir, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Drink 1c 2-3 times/day. Can be drank cold or slightly warmed.
Gladstar has food recipes so instead of turning this into a cookbook, I’ll just leave her information in the references section.
Dosage:
Heinerman, 1996, p. 325
Tea: 1t to 1 pint water, 1c, 2-3/day
Oil of Oregano: Apply to neck, spine, throat, chest, and temples of someone having a seizure.
Safety: The herb and oil inhibit gut bacteria so frequent use is bad. Do not use oil internally. Do not use as medicine during pregnancy. External use may cause contact dermatitis. (Chevallier, 2016, p. 243)
Lab, Notes And Media:
I currently have 2 pints of water on to make the recipe mentioned here. I thought I had marjoram when I started this but it must be one of the ones my daughter thought looked better all over my floor. I’m using thyme, instead. Once the water was boiling, I turned it off and placed a steeper with each herb in the pot. With it being a glass pot, I just left it on the original burner so the cooler temps of the other burners wouldn’t shock it and shatter it. I left it to sit for about 40 minutes because my son needed a nap so I wasn’t able to get it at the 30 minute mark. It was cool enough to taste and I couldn’t taste the thyme at all, the oregano was so strong. I have no doubt this mixture would help with colds and such.
Common Names: Wild marjoram
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Descriptive Characteristics: This perennial grows up to 32 inches. The leaves are elliptical. The stems are red and square. The flowers are pink. Heinerman (1996) talks about marjoram and oregano in the same entry. He describes oregano as “not just one or two well-defined species but rather one of over two dozen known species that yield leaves or flowering tops that yield the flavor recognized as oregano” (p. 324). He references a book he wrote called The Complete Book of Spices. I need to get that book so I can include it here.
Part of the plant used: Leaves and oil
Texture: I have grown this plant before so I can say the fresh leaves a a little bumpy
Color: Green
Aroma: Like oregano. The sample I have is much stronger than anything I have purchased, though. I’m not sure I’d use 2t of this in my spaghetti sauce.
Flavor: delicious
Constituents: Volatile oil (carvacrol, thymol, beta-bisabolene, caryophyllene, linalool, borneol); tannins, resin, sterols, and flavonoids.
Therapeutic Actions: carvacrol and thymol give the plant antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also an antiseptic (Chevallier, 2016, p. 243)
Indications: Historically treated skin sores and aching muscles, used as an antiseptic. Also used for stomachache and respiratory disease, cough, asthma, allergies, sinusitis, bronchitis, dysepepsia, bloating, intestinal parasites, dysmenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract disorders, headaches, diabetes, dental bleeding, heart conditions and hyperlipidemia (Natural Medicine Monograph). Chevallier (2016) adds the Antient Greeks used this as a cure-all. Notably effective against Candida and E. coli. Used for acute and chronic infections of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts: gastroenteritis, dysentery, bronchitis, cough and tonsillitis. The herb and oil inhibit gut bacteria so frequent use is bad but it can eliminate or reduce the harmful bacteria in the gut which cause bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort (p. 243).
Formulary:
Heinerman (1996, p. 325)
Tea can be used for fevers, cramps, bronchitis, measles and mumps and irregular menstrual cycle: 1 pint boiling water. Remove from heat. Add 1t of marjoram and oregano (each) stir, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Drink 1c 2-3 times/day. Can be drank cold or slightly warmed.
Gladstar has food recipes so instead of turning this into a cookbook, I’ll just leave her information in the references section.
Dosage:
Heinerman, 1996, p. 325
Tea: 1t to 1 pint water, 1c, 2-3/day
Oil of Oregano: Apply to neck, spine, throat, chest, and temples of someone having a seizure.
Safety: The herb and oil inhibit gut bacteria so frequent use is bad. Do not use oil internally. Do not use as medicine during pregnancy. External use may cause contact dermatitis. (Chevallier, 2016, p. 243)
Lab, Notes And Media:
I currently have 2 pints of water on to make the recipe mentioned here. I thought I had marjoram when I started this but it must be one of the ones my daughter thought looked better all over my floor. I’m using thyme, instead. Once the water was boiling, I turned it off and placed a steeper with each herb in the pot. With it being a glass pot, I just left it on the original burner so the cooler temps of the other burners wouldn’t shock it and shatter it. I left it to sit for about 40 minutes because my son needed a nap so I wasn’t able to get it at the 30 minute mark. It was cool enough to taste and I couldn’t taste the thyme at all, the oregano was so strong. I have no doubt this mixture would help with colds and such.
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Research:
There is a great deal of traditional use of oregano for anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory as well as culinary. I have a few studies downloaded that are recent but the most recent one I have is De Santis et al (2019) talking about them duplicating the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory aspect of oregano in their lab.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 242-3.
De Santis, F., Poerio, N., Gismondil, A., Nannil, V., Di Marco, G., Nisini, R., Thaller, M. C., Caninil, A., and Fraziano, M. (2019). Hydroalcoholic extract from Origanum vulgare induces a combined anti-mycobacterial and anti-inflammatory response in innate immune cells. PLOS One, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213150
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 57, 75, 99.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 14-44, 62, 71, 135, 164, 170, 175, 182, 184-5, 208, 251, 257, 260, 269, 271, 273-4, 277, 283, 285, 298-9, 301, 305, 314, 337.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Healing Herbs and Spices, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of. Reward Books. p. 324-5.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 140-1, 493.
Natural Medicine Monograph retrieved from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=644
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000) Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 198, 203.
There is a great deal of traditional use of oregano for anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory as well as culinary. I have a few studies downloaded that are recent but the most recent one I have is De Santis et al (2019) talking about them duplicating the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory aspect of oregano in their lab.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 242-3.
De Santis, F., Poerio, N., Gismondil, A., Nannil, V., Di Marco, G., Nisini, R., Thaller, M. C., Caninil, A., and Fraziano, M. (2019). Hydroalcoholic extract from Origanum vulgare induces a combined anti-mycobacterial and anti-inflammatory response in innate immune cells. PLOS One, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213150
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 57, 75, 99.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 14-44, 62, 71, 135, 164, 170, 175, 182, 184-5, 208, 251, 257, 260, 269, 271, 273-4, 277, 283, 285, 298-9, 301, 305, 314, 337.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Healing Herbs and Spices, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of. Reward Books. p. 324-5.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 140-1, 493.
Natural Medicine Monograph retrieved from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=644
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000) Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 198, 203.
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