Medicinal plant: OREGANO
Scientific name: Origanum spp.
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The genus name, Origanum, and common name oregano derive from the Greek words oros and ganos, meaning "joy of the mountain", in reference to the plant's beuty and mountainous origins.
Oregano is perennial (in warm climates) native to northern Africa, Europe, and asia but is cultivated worldwide. It bears small, opposite, oval, grayish, green leaves on a square stem and can grow to about 2 1/2 feet tall. It produces pinkish to purple hermaphroditic flowers in erect spikes. It can grow in almost any kind of soil and thrives in dry conditions with lots of sun.
Oregano, fresh or dried, is a common culinary herb. It can lose much of its aromatic qualitis if heated, so using, it in its raw form, or adding it at the end of meal preparation, its ideal. Oregano is sometimes used to flavor beer, bitters, and vermouth. It makes a spicy tea.
Romans made wreaths of oregano to crown young couples, as the herb symbolizes love, honor, and happiness. The essential oil is used in perfumery and soap making; smelling it helps lift depression. In the garden the plant repels ants. In folkloric tradition, oregano is used in love spells and when carried is said to intensify love, increase prosperity, and give protection against sickness.
The oregano part used are the aboveground plant. Some physiological effects of the oregano are anti-inflammatory,antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and tonic.
Oregano is rich in essential oils that have a wide range of antiseptic properties. It improves respiratory capacity and increases circulation to the digestive tract. It is used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, colic, cough, delayed menses, dysmenorrhea, dyspepsia, fever, flatulence, flu, headache due to nerves, high cholesterol indigestion, measles, motion sickness, mumps, nausea, neuralgia, pleurisy, rheumatism, and tonsillitis.
Topically, oregano can be prepared as a linimente poultica, or compress to treat bruises, headache, joint pain, sprains, and swelling. It can be used as a bath herb or prepared as a steam inhalation to treat colds and flu and clear congestion from the lugs and sinuses. to relieve toothache,the leaves can be chewed or the diluted essentisl oil applied.
Contraindications:
Avoid large dosage during pregnancy; using it as a culinary seasoning, however, is safe.
