Oregano: Spice with Healing Properties

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is nowadays commonly known as “pizza spice“. It is impossible to imagine modern cuisine without this tangy, aromatic herb, although this plant has only been used for seasoning for about 200 years. As a remedy, however, oregano was already used by the ancient Greeks, which is why its name comes from the Greek language and translated means “ornament of the mountains” (Oros= mountain; Gonos= ornament, shine). Thus, this herb was originally native to the Mediterranean region. Today, oregano has also spread to Asia, southern Europe, Austria and Switzerland, where it grows wild in rough pastures and dry, sunny limestone and gravel soils.

Oregano: healthy and time-honored

In Germany, the healthy oregano is known as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages. Since that time, the plant also known as “Dost” or “Wild Marjoram” can be found in our herb gardens. However, the German names refer only to the variety of oregano found here, the seasoning and healing power of the more southern varieties is greater.

In the herbal pharmacy, the entire oregnao plant can be used. The best harvest time of the medicinal herb is at the flowering time of the plant, while the leaves can be used as herbal seasoning for dishes throughout the growing season.

Active substances and healing properties of oregano.

Ingredients of oregano with medicinal effects are mainly the tannins, bitter compounds and essential oils. The latter include mainly:

  • Thymol
  • Carvacrol
  • Cymol
  • Borneol

The medicinal plant oregano is used especially for ailments of the entire digestive tract (stomach, intestines, liver, gall bladder) and respiratory diseases and has an anti-inflammatory effect, especially in the mouth and throat.

Oregano essential oil, with its high content of phenols, is considered in aromatherapy as the most powerful natural antibiotic.

Prepare oregano tea yourself

For healing oregano tea, 1 teaspoon of the dried herb is poured over ¼ liter of boiling water and allowed to steep for 5 minutes.

Oregano as a spice

The most intense flavor is imparted by Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum). In tomato sauce, as a pizza seasoning, in salads or on steamed fish, oregano has long been used in Mediterranean cuisine. But fried potatoes, grilled meat, scrambled eggs and chili con carne also taste very good when prepared together with this appetizing spice.

Oregano should be cooked for a long time, because the herbs develop their strongest flavor during cooking.

Care and grow oregano

Oregano, which belongs to the labiates, shows its first flowers in our country in June. They are arranged in panicles and are usually pink, rarely white in color. Until late August, oregano serves as a “bee pasture”, but also attracts many butterfly species. The oregano herbs themselves grow 30-60 cm tall and have woody shoots at the base, on which glandular hairy ovate to elliptical leaves grow.

Oregano is considered the “sturdier brother” of marjoram and quickly feels at home in warm, sunny spots in the garden. Once planted, it spreads quite quickly by self-seeding and root runners and can survive the winter cold in our latitudes. Oregano is easy to care for and should only be watered sparingly. According to its homeland, it loves sunny, calcareous locations.