ORIGANUM VULGARE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OTHER NAMES: ------------ oregano, origane, eastward marjoram, wild marjoram, mountain mint, winter marjoram, wintersweet, grove marjoram, brotherworte, orygan FAMILY: ------- Labiatae MEANING: -------- Oros and ganos, from the Greek, means mountain glamour or joy of the mountain. Vulgare means common. DESCRIPTION: ------------ Oregano is an erect, hairy, aromatic perennial. Its bushy horizontal roots creep underground and send up sundry brownish to purplish, hard square stalks. The small, dark green, broadly ovate leaves are opposite and decussate and dotted with small depressions. They are about 1.5 to 4.5 cm. long and the upper leaves are more reddish in appearance. The petioles are hairy and 1/4 the length of the leaves. The flowersare a deep purplish red, sometimes pink or white and are 6 to 8 cm. long, depending upon where they grow. The stamens are 4-exserted, didynamous double anthers. The stigma is bifid and reflexed. The bractioles are borne on short spikes or corymbose clusters. The calyx is ovate, bell-shaped, 5-toothed and striate. The corolla is in a tubular funnel form and is a purpish-rose color. It is slightly two-lipped, the upper lip being erect and notched, the lower lip being of three nearly equal spreading lobes. The achenia is dry and somewhat smooth. The seed is small and black. The plant will grow from one to two feet in height. DISTRIBUTION: ------------- It is a European native and found in Iran, the Middle East and the Himalyas. It has also been introduced to the far east. The North American variety known as Oregano de la Sierra is found in Arizona and Central and Northern New Mexico. HABITAT: -------- It is found on dry, calcareous or gravelly but nut- rient rich soils in warm positions, especially on hedgebanks, woodland clearings, peripheries of road- sides and edges of corn fields to 2,000 metres alti- tude. In North America it is found in moist canyons, forest clearings, fringes of meadows and slight raised clearings above and below roadsides. CULTIVATION: ------------ It is foundin the wild commonly in Southern Italy, but is cultivated commercially in North America. It is propogated from seed sown in late spring on a warm site and later thinned to 30 cm. apart. It needs full sun with soil on the dry side and well drained. In North America it is best propogated by by trailing roots dug up in the fall but it can also be grown from the seeds which are collected in the late fall after its blossomless puff has faded in color. It should be grown in rich,mulchy soil with a fair amount of shade and lots of moisture. It grows best around bushes and under trees. Single plants do poorly Seeds are more tricky. They should be sewn before the first snowfall and be lightly covered with peat. It is difficult to grow at low altitudes. However, it will grow indoors and gives off a nice scent. COLLECTION: ----------- Can be done anytime but is strongest when in flower, which is from mid-July to mid-September. MEDICINAL PART: --------------- The herb. HISTORY: -------- It is recorded in the bible that hyssop, which is probably a species of oregano, was used by priests. It was also thought to have been used by the Assyrians and the Iapis (used Dihany, which was probably European oregano). It is found in England and this variety has crimson flower heads. It was used for strewing the rooms, for fumigation, and also as a tea. It was also known to the early Aryans and was sacred to the Vishnu. The essential oil is distilled from O. Marjorana (from North Africa). Colonial housewives used the tops of wild marjoram to obtain a purplish color on wool or a reddish brown color on linen. In ancient Egypt marjoram was dedicated to Osiris the sun god. The folklore from Greece has marjoram as a symbol of peace and happiness. It was also planted at graves to ensure the contentment of the departed. CONSTITUENTS: ------------- Essential oil 0.5% Thymol to 15% Origanene Carvacrol Bitter principles Tannic acid Resins4 USES: ----- - dried flowering plants - occasionally the oil Expectorant Aromatic Antiseptic Pungent Anesthetic Stimulant Antispasmotic Emmenagogue Carminative Diaphoretic Tonic Diuretic Anti-inflammatory Stomachic Oregano has been traditionally used for many things. It appears to be well known as a stomachic and is used to promote proper digestion and is thus a good aid for sour stomach, fermentation, bad breath, morning sickness, gastritis, colic and indigestion. It strengthens the stomach, promotes appetite and expels gas from the stomach and bowels. An infusion of the flowers is said to cure seasickness and to have a calming affect. It also expels poisons. Its other main use is in respiratory infections. It is especially useful in coughs and upper respiratory infections, thus it has been used for whoopingcough, consumption and sore throats. As an antisepticand anesthetic it is used as a gargle or tea for a sore throat and should be drunk hot to help promote sweating. It is good for suppressed urine and menstruation, menstrual cramps, dropsy, yellow jaundice, scurvy and itch. To stimulate menstruation it should be drunk as a cold tea. According to Culpepper, it is a remedy for the infirmities of the spleen and for bites from venomous beasts and from poisonings from hemlock, henbane and opium. The extracted juice is excellent for deafness, pain, and noise in the ears. Simply put a drop in the ear. It also melts ear wax. Theoilis put on an aching tooth to stop the pain. As a tonic it is used to treat nervousness, fears, depression, and to allay nightmares, and check bed- wetting. It has been of some benefit in nervous headache and irritability. Externally it has been used in baths, as an inhalent or as a poultice where an antiseptic is needed. The poultice is beneficial for painful swellings, sprains, felons, boils and carbuncles. As a compress it is applied for sore throats. Its oil is one of the most desirable of all essential oils. It is put into salves, ointments, linaments and lotions. The bruised leaves can be made into a sleep pillow and used for insomnia. The tea may be used in a bath for a calming and tonic effect. OTHER USES: ----------- As a spice. The flowers are hot ( add to saba or chile dishes ). The leaves are used interchangably with Mexican or Greek oregano. As a herb it is used to flavour artichokes, baked goods, dairy foods, egg dishes, fish, shellfish, lamb, meat dishes,marinades, onions, pasta sauces, pork, poultry and game dishes,salad dressings, sauces, savoury rice, soups, stews, stuffings, tomatoes and vegetable dishes. Oregano was used at one time to flavour beer. The oil and herb are used in the cosmetic industry. In southern Europe the plant is more pungent and has a different flavour than in the North. The flowers can be used fresh in summer arrangements or dried and put into winter wreaths and bouquets. OIL OF ORIGANUM: ---------------- Is a yellowish, transparent volatile oil from the flowering tops of origanum vulgare that turns red with age. It contains carvacrol and terpenes. The oil is slightly soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol. It should be stored in a well closed container, protected from the light and in a cool place. It is used in perfumery. CARVACROL: ---------- 2-p-cymenol 2-hydroxy-p-cymene isopropryl-o-cresol isothymol Is a liquid with a thymol odor. It is volatile with steam. It is practically insoluble in water but is freely soluble in alcohol or ether. It is used as a disinfectant and in organic synthesis. For its medicinal use see thymol. THYMOL: ------- 5-methyl-2-isopropyl-1-phenol 1-methyl-3-hydroxyl-4-isopropyl benzene 3-p-cymenol 3-hydroxy-p-cymene m-thymol The characteristic odor of thymol is pungent and somewhat caustic. It is used for destroying mold and herbarium parasites. It is also used for preserving anatomical specimens and urine. Embalming is another use. It can also be used to prevent mildew growth and as an antimold for paper. Medicinally it is used topically as an anti-fungal. Internally it is used for actinomycosis and as a antihelmintic. Topically it is in 1-2% in an ointment, solution or dusting powder. Side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, albuminurea, and cardiac depression. In veterinary use it has been used as an antihelmintic versus intestinal strongylus in young horses and for ascaris and hookworms in dogs. It is an intestinal antiseptic. RECENT RESEARCH: ---------------- In an experiment on the antimicrobial activity of essential oils it was found that the carvacrol and thymol types were best for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermitis, Micrococcus flavus and Bacillus subtilis. Thymol was most effective for Escherichiae coli, Klebsiella pneumonii, Proteus vulgaris and pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was stressed that the research was not consistant and it was hard to reproduce the exact essential oil composition. This is because the compositon of the oil depends upon the botanical source, the time of harvesting (time of day, stage of development), whether the plant material was fresh or dried and the type of isolation technique used (steam distillation, hydrodistillation, extraction). DISCUSSION: ----------- It would suggest from the scientific evidence that oregano would indeed be effective in treating upper respiratory infections, some gastrointestinal problems and be effective for external applications. The possible anti-microbial effect plus the disinfectant properties make it a useful herb to have handy. It seems a shame that this common seasoning it not used for more medicinal purposes. Perhaps someday it might be proven homeopathically. Every herbal garden should include oregano if not for its health benefits at least for its color and wonderful fragrance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DR. STEVEN'S WATER - 17th CENTURY CURE FOR ALL ILLS AND PROLONGING LIFE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1 gal. good Gascoyne wine - Add 1 dram of each ginger galingale synamon nutmeg bruised cloves fennel seeds caraway seeds origanum - Add 1 handful of each sage wild marjoram penyroyal mints red roses thyme pellitory rosemary wild thyme cammomille lavender 1) Bray the spices small and bruise the herbs 2) Put into wine and let stand 12 hours 3) Only stir divers times 4) Distill by a Lymbecke and keep the first water by itself. Then keep the second water. The last neglect it not for it is very wholesome though the worst of the three. It comforteth the spirits and vital parts amd helpeth all inward diseases that cometh of cold and whosoever useth this water moderately will make him seem young in old age. This water will be much better if it be set in the sunne all summer. BIBLIOGRAPHY ------------ 1. Moore,M., Medicinal Plants-The Mountain West, Museum of New Mexico Press,1979. 2. Leyel,Mrs.C.F., The Magic of Herbs-A Modern Book of Secrets, Butler & Tanner Ltd., London,1926,p.186. 3. Law,Donald, Herb Growing for Health, Arc Books, New York,1969. 4. Stuart,Malcom, The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism, Orbis Publishing, London, 1979. 5. Shauenberg,P., Guides des Plantes Medicinales, Delachaux & Niestle S.A., Paris,1955. 6. Grey, Edith, Medicinal Plants and Their History, Dover Publications Inc., New York, 1974, p.64,51. 7. Kloss,Jethro, Back to Eden, Beneficial Books, New York, 1977. 8. Simmons,Adelma Grenier, The Illustrated Herbal Handbook, Hawthorn Books Inc., New York,1972. 9. deBairacli Levy,Juliette, Common Herbs for Natural Health, Schocken Books, New York, 1974. 10. Culpepper,Nicholas, Culpeppers Complete Herbal, Omega Books London, 1985, p.183. 11. Cook,W.H., The Physio-Medical Dispensatory, Eclectic Med, Pub. 1985, p. 600,1420. 12. Planta Medica, "Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils", Thieme Medical Publishers Inc., New York, Vol. 53, No. 5, Oct.p. 395-408. 13. The Merck Index, 8th Edition, Merck & Co. Inc. Rahway, New Jersey, U.S.A., 1968, p.760, 214, 1050. 14. Foster,Gertrude,B., Herbs for Every Garden, E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1973, p.144-146. 15. Richardson,Rosamond, Countryside Herbs, Piatkus Publishers Ltd, London, 1985, p. 73-77.