Oregano

Oregano is a culinary and medicinal herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family of angiosperms. It has been used in medicine and cooking for thousands of years. It adds flavour and aroma and has many health benefits.

Oregano takes its name from the words “mount” meaning mountain and “ganos”, meaning to give joy-brightness. It was considered the plant that gave beauty and joy to the mountains of Greece. It typically grows at high altitudes , reaching about 50 cm in height and has purple leaves about 2 to 3 cm long.

The compounds that give oregano its unique and pleasant smell are: thymol, pinene, limonene, carvacrol, ocimene and caryophyllene. It is known to contain powerful antioxidants and to have antibacterial properties.

Oregano is also a rich source of dietary antioxidants, which help protect cells from the effects of free radicals and improve the body’s ability to fight infections.

Its most widespread use is as a seasoning in Greek cuisine, flavoring recipes based on meat, fish and poultry, but it also successfully accompanies many vegetables and salads. As a beverage it is not commonly drunk on its own, but is mostly found in herbal blends.

Benefits

Oregano was used in herbal medicine by the Ancient Greeks. Aristotle claimed that if a goat was wounded by an arrow and ate wild oregano, the wound would heal, while Hippocrates used it as an antiseptic. He also recommended it for treating skin infections from psoriasis, as well as for stomach problems. Furthermore, it was believed that the infusion of this wondrous herb cured spasms, poisoning, colic, external swellings and chronic rheumatism.

Possible medicinal uses of oregano include the treatment of respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal tract disorders, menstrual pains and urinary tract disorders. With topical application it can help in the treatment of certain skin conditions such as acme and dandruff.

Oregano also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists from Germany and Switzerland have identified an active ingredient in oregano, known as beta-caryophylline (E-BCP), which may help treat disorders such as osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.

In 2014, food scientists also discovered that the popular culinary herbs oregano, rosemary and marjoram contain compounds that may have the potential to manage type 2 diabetes in a similar way to certain drugs currently prescribed.