Oregano – beneficial and popular multi-purpose herb
Oregano, Origanum vulgare, is also known as Greek oregano (as opposed to Cretan oregano, which is another name for Pot marjoram), Wild marjoram, Winter marjoram, Wintersweet and Mountain mint. It is not related to mint. The oreganos and marjorams are quite closely related, which explains the almost interchangeable names. You can also use any of them as a substitute for any of the others in cooking – though not necessarily as a remedy.
Oregano is much more than just a culinary herb, and has been used for healing for centuries. One of its uses is to promote menstruation, and for this reason it is not safe for use in the quantities required for herbal medicine by pregnant women, though it’s fine used in cooking, as the amounts used are very small.
A standard infusion is made from 2-3 tsp of chopped fresh herb to a cup of boiling water. Leave to stand for at least 10 minutes before straining for use. A dose of 1-2 cups a day can be used for coughs and other respiratory complaints and disorders of the digestive system. It’s also used to relieve painful periods and promote menstruation, and can be used externally as a wash for skin infections.
To make an oil which can be used as a chest rub for asthma, bronchitis, colds and flu, and also as a liniment for muscle pain, fill a jar with as much fresh herb as will fit and cover with olive oil. Seal tightly and leave in the sun for 2-3 weeks, shaking the jar once a day, then strain and store the oil, preferably in a sealed, dark colored bottle, in a cool dark place. The same oil can be used as a toothache tincture (put a little on cotton wool and apply to the affected area).
Like all remedial herbs, oregano intended for medicinal use should be grown organically to avoid adulteration of its essential properties by foreign chemicals. To find out more about growing organic oregano visit the Gardenzone.
Related Posts
Thyme
Pot Marjoram
NasturtiumRelated posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
November 12th, 2008 at 21:05
[...] why it makes such a good herb for meat dishes, particularly beef. You can even use it instead of oregano or marjoram in Italian food, if you like. The fresh herb is so rich, you may prefer to dry it by [...]
November 12th, 2008 at 21:06
[...] hortensis or Origanum majoranoides. It is a half-hardy perennial. It’s closely related to Oregano and Pot [...]
November 12th, 2008 at 21:06
[...] Origanum onites, is also known as Rhigani and Cretan Oregano. It is closely related to the true Oregano and Sweet [...]
August 27th, 2009 at 21:50
I liked http://www.herbalmedicinefromyourgarden.com a lot. It has lots of useful info. This article is very professionally written. http://www.herbalmedicinefromyourgarden.com I will be back for sure.
October 27th, 2009 at 08:30
Nice post, keep up the excellent work:）