Oregano

Diseases and effects: diseases of the digestive tract, toothache, abscesses.

Active substances: tannins, essential oil, thymol.

Collection time:  June – August

Lamiaceae family – Labiatae\r

Perennial herbaceous plant with a straight tetrahedral stem, the height of which can reach 70-80 cm. The leaves are simple, oblong-ovate, on short petioles, whorled. On the stem, whorls are formed together by branches and leaves. Small pinkish-lilac flowers form oval spikelets, collected in rather large corymbose-paniculate inflorescences. Blossoms in nurse – August.\r

In the Far East, oregano is an adventive plant. It is found in Primorye and the Amur region.\r

In the aerial parts of oregano, tannins and an essential oil with a rather strong and pleasant smell were found, it contains thymol, the disinfectant (antimicrobial) properties of which have long been known.\r

The plant is used in diseases of the digestive tract. It is believed that it enhances the motility of the stomach and intestines, improves appetite. It is not uncommon to prescribe oregano also as an expectorant. An alcoholic tincture of oregano herb is used for toothache (wet a small ball of cotton wool, which is put into the hollow of a diseased tooth). Externally, oregano is used for compresses for abscesses and for aromatic baths. Oregano herb is also included in a number of nursing, diaphoretic and carminative collections and a collection for gargling.\r

The most commonly used infusion of oregano, for the preparation of which one and a half tablespoons of chopped grass is poured into a glass of boiling water and, after cooling and straining, take a tablespoon 3 times every day. To prepare the tincture, 10 g of dried chopped herbs are poured into 100 g of 70% wine alcohol and, with regular stirring or shaking, are kept for 7-10 days. After straining the resulting tincture, take it 30-40 drops 3 times every day for half an hour before meals.\r

Medicinal raw material is oregano herb, which is harvested during flowering, cutting off the upper parts of the stems along with the branches. Dry it should be under a canopy or in the attic. After drying, the rough stems are removed, so that in fact the flowers and leaves of the plant are mainly used for the preparation of medicines.