Oregano plant. Oregano - medicinal properties and contraindications

Oregano (Origanum vulgare).

Other names: dushmyanka, motherwort, dushinka, forest mint, spirit flower, bee lover, incense.

Description. Perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family. The rhizome is branched, brown, often creeping.
The stem is erect, branched in the upper part, tetrahedral, softly pubescent, from 30 cm to 90 cm in height. The leaves are oblong-ovate, pointed at the apex, petiolate, opposite, dark green with translucent glands, 1 - 4 cm long.
The flowers are small, numerous, reddish-lilac or mauve, collected in a corymbose-paniculate inflorescence. The corolla is two-lipped and has five petals. The plant blooms in July - August. It has a fragrant, pleasant aroma that resembles the smell of common thyme.
The fruits ripen in August - September. The fruit is four single-seeded brown or brown nuts. The plant reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. It grows in sparse coniferous and mixed forests, on forest edges, clearings and clearings, on dry meadows, and rocky slopes. It often grows in groups of several plants. Oregano is widespread throughout Europe, Western and Central Siberia, Central Asia.

Collection and preparation of raw materials. Oregano herb (Herba Origani vulgaris) is used for medicinal purposes. Harvesting is carried out at the beginning of mass flowering. If raw materials are prepared in more late dates, then the content of essential oil in it will be less, therefore the quality of such raw materials will be lower.
The tops of oregano are cut at a height of 20 - 30 cm from the ground. The collected oregano raw materials must be dried in the shade in the open air. It can be used in rooms with good ventilation, in attics. It can also be dried in special dryers with forced ventilation of heated air up to 35 - 40°C. Oregano is harvested in the same places no earlier than every 2 years. The shelf life of raw materials is 1 year.
Composition of the plant. Oregano contains essential oil (up to 1.2%), tannins, ascorbic acid (up to 500 mg/%), flavonoids. The main components of the essential oil are: thymol, carvacrol, bi- and tricyclic sesquiterpenes, geranyl acetate. Beneficial features oregano, namely antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, are largely due to the content of carvacrol. Essential oils who have high content Carvacrol is superior in its properties to many existing antibiotics.

Useful, medicinal properties oregano, application, treatment.
Oregano has soothing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, diuretic, anthelmintic, and insecticidal properties.
Oregano also increases intestinal tone and enhances its peristalsis, stimulates the secretion of bile, the secretion of digestive, bronchial, sweat glands, improves appetite, tones the smooth muscles of the uterus, regulates the menstrual cycle, increases lactation.
Oregano is used for disorders of the digestive tract, poor digestion, poor appetite, for the treatment of enterocolitis, which is accompanied by constipation and flatulence, with cholecystitis and biliary dyskinesia.
Oregano gives good results in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, as it stimulates the secretion of the bronchial glands, has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
In treatment women's diseases Oregano preparations will be indicated for primary and secondary amenorrhea, algomenorrhea, depressed mood, insomnia, increased nervous and sexual excitability. For douching, an infusion of oregano is used for leucorrhoea, chronic colpitis, and vaginal itching.
In otorhinolaryngology, the infusion is recommended for the treatment of acute rhinitis; inhalation - with chronic sinusitis, chronic tonsillitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis and laryngitis.
In folk medicine, oregano is used for pulmonary tuberculosis, stroke, convulsions, asthenia, acute respiratory diseases, stomach colic, flatulence, diarrhea, gastritis, dyspepsia, hepatitis, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, neuralgia, rheumatism.
Externally, in the form of rinses, oregano infusion is used for stomatitis, gingivitis, and sore throats. Compresses - for abscesses, boils, swelling, itchy rashes and eczema. Baths - for itchy rashes, eczema, neurodermatitis, edema, vitiligo, diathesis, rickets and scrofulosis in children.
Wash your hair with this infusion for migraines, insomnia, and hair loss to get rid of dandruff.
Oregano extract is part of the drug Urolesan, which is used in urological practice.
In homeopathy, the essence is used for erotomania, nymphomania, and hysteria.
In everyday life, oregano is used as an insecticidal plant (against moths).

In the treatment of diseases, oregano is used both as a single plant and as part of a collection with other medicinal plants.
In the treatment of acute or chronic bronchitis, as an expectorant, oregano can be used together with coltsfoot and marshmallow.
A sedative infusion is taken for increased nervous excitability, insomnia, to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, and improve the quality of sleep. To prepare an infusion, oregano is used together with lemon balm, hop cones, and hawthorn flowers.
In the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enteritis, colitis, enterocolitis), oregano is used together with woodruff, lemon balm, and wild strawberries (dried berries).

Dosage forms and doses.
Oregano infusion: 10 g (2 tablespoons) pour a glass of boiling water (200 ml), leave for 20 minutes, filter. Take the infusion warm, half a glass (100 ml) twice a day before meals.
Herbal infusion for baths: 40-50 gr. raw materials, pour 3 liters of boiling water, leave for 3 hours, filter. The decoction is added to a bath of water. Baths are done for 20 minutes, every other day, for 3 weeks.
Herbal infusion for douching: 10 gr. raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water, leave until cool. Use warm. Douching is done 2 times. per day, for 2-3 weeks.
For compresses and washes, the infusion is prepared in the same way as for internal use.
Shredded into powder dried leaves and the flower tops are sniffed for headaches and runny nose, sprinkled on the feet for hyperhidrosis.
Oregano juice squeezed from flowering grass. Take 1 tablespoon with honey three times a day 15 or 20 minutes before meals.
In everyday life, oregano is used as an insecticidal plant (against moths).

Infusion for the treatment of bronchitis(acute or exacerbation of chronic). To prepare the infusion take:

2 parts of dry crushed coltsfoot leaves;
2 parts of dry crushed marshmallow roots.
1 dessert spoon of this mixture is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, left for 20 minutes, filtered. Take half a glass (100 ml) 3-4 r. in a day.

Soothing infusion. To prepare the infusion take:
1 part dry crushed oregano herb;
1 part dry crushed lemon balm leaves;
1 part dry crushed hop cones;
2 parts hawthorn flowers (dry or fresh).
1 tablespoon of this mixture is poured into 300 ml of boiling water, left for 30 minutes, filtered. Take half a glass 2-3 r. in a day.

Infusion for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation. To prepare the infusion take:
1 part dry crushed oregano herb;
2 parts of dry crushed woodruff herb;
2 parts of dry crushed lemon balm leaves;
3 parts dried fruits wild strawberries.
1 tablespoon of this mixture is poured into 300 ml of boiling water, left for 20 minutes, filtered. Take half a glass (100 ml) 3 rubles. in a day.

Contraindications. You should not take oregano preparations during pregnancy, with increased gastric secretion, or with severe diseases of the cardiovascular system. If oregano is used as a means to stimulate menstruation, then you need to be sure that the delay in menstruation is not associated with pregnancy.

During periods of cold weather and bad weather, our body becomes especially vulnerable to all kinds of colds and viral infections. Trying to resist diseases, we begin to brew herbal infusions, giving special preference aromatic plant oregano. People consider the grass to be a unique potion; it was believed that the grass should be collected only with good thoughts and on the eve of the holiday on Ivan Kupala. The purple flowers of the plant not only helped to recharge with vigor, providing a tonic effect, but also had an analgesic effect.

In different regions where oregano grows, traditional healers They call it in their own way, but each name contains the basics of the words “good” and “mother” - “dobromysl”, “materinka”, “mother-dushka”. These names confirm how our ancestors valued the various properties of this plant. And it’s not surprising. When studying the chemical composition of the herb, scientists agreed that the rich chemical composition of the herb can have beneficial effects on our body therapeutic effect. Thus, oregano tea can replace a lot of medications, including expensive antibiotics, and the essential oil of the herb is an excellent natural antidepressant.

Oregano - 10 medicinal properties

Boosts immunity

Often, when visiting a doctor, we hear the phrase: “Boost your immunity - you won’t get sick!” Oregano leaves containing vitamin C, A, fatty acid Omega-3 has a positive effect on the body. A small amount of them added to your daily diet activates protective forces body. Possessing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, it will even help get rid of yeast infections.

Oregano extracts will add a unique aroma to tea and will be a pleasant and healthy addition to the daily menu.
Helps clear your breath

In parallel with strengthening the immune system, oregano extracts are recommended as prophylactic for diseases respiratory tract. Its components are capable of having a mucolytic effect and freeing the lungs and bronchi from mucus accumulation.

Dosage form oregano in the form of a decoction is prepared from 2 tablespoons of herbs and half a liter of boiling water. The mixture is infused in a water bath for about 30 minutes and taken 150 ml (a third of a glass) throughout the day. Course up to two weeks. Strengthen if desired expectorant effect, one tablespoon of honey and a pinch of ginger can be added to the decoction.
Help with gallstone disease

The medicinal qualities of oregano are used for diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder and liver. Most medications for such ailments have serious contraindications, but herbal extracts and essential oils obtained from the motherwort help remove sand from the kidneys and are beneficial for renal colic. It’s not for nothing that essential components and concentrated herbal extract are one of the components of the drug “Urolesan”, intended for the treatment cholelithiasis.

The tandem of oregano infused with alcohol and coffee has interesting properties. On the one hand, coffee is a tonic drink for the nervous system, and oregano has a calming effect. But when combined, this drink is used to reduce congestion in the liver. It is not difficult to prepare such a remedy. A glass filled with grass is filled with 70% alcohol and allowed to brew for three weeks. Then add 5-6 drops to a cup of coffee.
Healing properties for women

One of the names of the grass is “motherland”, which speaks of its beneficial influence on women Health. Its components are included in gynecological herbal preparations, helping in the treatment of erosions and uterine bleeding. Mother's milk decoctions and infusions have a stimulating effect, helping women quickly regain strength after childbirth and improve lactation.

In case of painful periods they will remove painful sensations, helping not to notice discomfort in lower parts belly.
Help the digestive system

The presence of thymol and carvacrol in plant extracts will be useful for diseases gastrointestinal tract. So 2 - 3 drops of oregano essential oil added to a glass warm water, will reduce the manifestations of flatulence, help with colitis, improve food digestion, and relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane during gastritis.

The presence of thymol allows the addition of oregano to teas as an anthelmintic.
Tonic

Remedies with the addition of the plant are used by neurologists to treat patients suffering from insomnia, neuroses, seizures and epilepsy. If you feel depressed or weak, you should drink a cup of tea with a pinch of oregano.

The leaves of the plant will fill the surrounding space with their aroma. This remedy will lift your spirits and help you feel dramatically better. Anyone can perform aromatherapy procedures with oregano at home. You just need to add a few drops of herbal essential oil to the aroma lamp and enjoy its smell, receiving a natural supply of vigor.
Antibacterial and antifungal properties

Many Scientific research have repeatedly confirmed the antibacterial qualities of this plant. Oregano infusions prevent the development of many pathogenic bacteria. This is due to the presence in chemical composition Vitamin C plants. The herb is rightfully considered a leader in its presence. The leaves contain about 565 mg of the “youth” vitamin. Thanks to this fact, oregano has pronounced antibacterial and wound-healing qualities.

Infusions and decoctions of aromatic herbs will help with inflammatory processes throat, stomatitis, gingivitis. They are recommended to be added to steam inhalations for laryngitis and sinusitis.

Known property oregano to resist fungal infections will provide an indispensable service to men suffering from excessive sweating feet caused by fungal growth.
Antioxidant properties

If there is insufficient intake of substances into the body that have antioxidant properties, the risk of diseases associated with cell damage increases significantly. Elixirs, decoctions, oregano infusions, rich in vitamins C, A, E, can protect the body cells, preventing them degenerative changes and slowing down oxidation processes.
Application in cosmetology

High concentration Essential oils in oregano are widely used in cosmetology. In the form of rinsing and rubbing, oil is added during hair care procedures. Its ability to penetrate deeply into subcutaneous tissue structures and eliminate muscle inflammation is used in massage manipulations. One of the components of anti-cellulite products is oregano oil.
Analgesic property

The main active analgesic component of the plant is the substance thymol. It is this substance that gives the medicinal raw material of oregano analgesic, anti-inflammatory qualities that can relieve spasmodic pain in the intestines and gall bladder. Get rid of pain an herbal infusion prepared from 2 tablespoons of raw materials infused in 1 glass will help hot water. Take this remedy 3 times a day, 50 ml, 30 minutes before meals.

Oregano - contraindications

Along with the beneficial, medicinal properties, oregano preparations and essential oils have a number of contraindications.

Their use is prohibited if there is increased secretory activity of the stomach.

People with a weak cardiovascular system.

Caution should be taken when medicinal fees plants with a tendency to allergic manifestations.

Helpful information

The leaves of the plant will be a valuable addition to salads, baked goods and preserves. Its aromatic smell will add piquancy meat dishes and pickled vegetables.

Using the plant, you can dye wool threads brown and black.

Oregano is an extraordinary herb. It can, if not cure, then alleviate the condition of many diseases. You just need to choose it correctly. After all, plant oil is often synthesized, mixed with components of other oils, ultimately resulting in a product that is far from corresponding to the qualities of the plant.

What is oregano?

What is oregano, medicinal properties and contraindications, and does it have any other beneficial properties? These questions often arise among those who care about their health and are interested in traditional methods treatment, in particular treatment with medicinal plants. And this interest is understandable. Maybe in this article, to some extent, you can get an answer to these questions.

Oregano is a plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae (or Lamiaceae) family. Folk names she has a lot: dushmyanka, oregano, spirit flower, bee-lover, motherwort, forest mint, flea grass, boron bone-breaking grass, bedbug grass, bedbug grass, incense grass.

Her homeland is the coast Mediterranean Sea and North America. Oregano was grown in Ancient Egypt And Ancient Greece. Now it is cultivated in many countries of Europe, Asia and North America. And in its wild form, oregano can be found throughout Russia, the Caucasus, Western and Central Siberia, Central Asia and Kazakhstan; it is not found only in the Far North and Far East.

Oregano is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 90 cm tall, with a branched, creeping rhizome. The stems are straight, branched, pubescent, tetrahedral, purple in color. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, oblong-ovate. The flowers are small, whitish or pale purple. The fruit consists of 4 nuts. It blooms from July to September, the fruits ripen in August – September. Oregano was introduced into culture.

It is propagated by seedlings or seeds. Sowing is carried out in early spring to a depth of 1.0–1.5 cm. The grass is collected in the mass flowering phase (July - the first half of August).

It usually grows in groups of several plants in coniferous and mixed forests, on their edges, clearings and clearings, in dry and floodplain meadows. Blooms in June-August. The fruits ripen in August-September.

Benefits of oregano:

Its aerial part contains essential oil (0.01–2.17%), which includes thymol and carvacrol (up to 40%), sabinene, ocimene, linalool, triterpenoids (0.3%), saponins, alkaloids, coumarins (0.7%), tannins (up to 19%), flavonoids (7.5%), steroids (0.03%), carbohydrates, anthocyanins, organic acids; vitamin C (in leaves - up to 665 mg%, in flowers - up to 166 mg%, in stems - up to 58 mg%), vitamins B1, B2, carotene, free alcohols (up to 15%). The seeds contain fatty oil (10.1–29.2%).

Oregano herb contains macroelements (mg/g): potassium - 19.8, calcium - 12.40, magnesium - 2.10, iron - 0.63; trace elements: manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, aluminum, vanadium, selenium, nickel, strontium, lead; boron – 13.20 µg/g.

The plant concentrates iron, molybdenum, selenium, especially selenium.

In the human body, oregano causes various actions: антимикробное, антисептическое, антиспазматическое, бактерицидное, ветрогонное, гемостатическое, желчегонное, лактогенное (молокогонное), мочегонное, общеукрепляющее, отхаркивающее, потогонное, кровоостанавливающее, обезболивающее, ранозаживляющее, выраженное седативное (успокаивающее), противосудорожное, противовоспалительное, противоопухолевое, сокогонное, легкое снотворное .

She improves gastric digestion, stimulates gastric secretion, increases appetite, enhances intestinal motility, eliminates spasms of the stomach and intestines, relieves nausea, heartburn and vomiting.

Oregano, or rather medicinal preparations based on oregano, have a calming effect, relieve stimulation of the nervous system, stimulate the secretion of the digestive glands and bronchial glands, improve peristalsis of the intestinal tract, have a stimulating effect on it, tone the smooth muscles of the walls of the uterus, improve lactation in nursing, useful for lack of appetite.

Main active ingredients of this medicinal plant are, firstly, essential oil, and secondly, its main component - thymol, which has a local anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial effect.

It has beneficial properties, thanks to which it is included in sedative collections of medicinal plants used for neuroses. In folk medicine, this herb in the form of an infusion is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, for stroke, to relieve seizures, for asthenia, for the treatment of female diseases, and against digestive disorders.

Baths with oregano were used to treat skin rashes and scrofula. As a lotion, this plant is used for furunculosis. In the form of a decoction, oregano is used to remove headache and stimulate hair growth. In Armenia during the Middle Ages, oregano was used to treat hypertension, epileptic seizures, radiculitis, and was used as a remedy for ear pain. Residents of Siberia used it for epigastric pain.

Harm of oregano:

Firstly, it is strictly contraindicated internal use oregano preparations for pregnant women. This plant causes contractions of the uterus, which can lead to termination of pregnancy.

Since oregano is traditionally considered more of a “female herb”, preparations based on it are undesirable for long-term use men. They say that man, long drinking a decoction from oregano, there is a risk of sexual impotence.

If you have high acidity of gastric juice, decoctions and infusions from it are contraindicated for you. The same applies to people suffering from stomach and intestinal ulcers. This may cause deterioration. This herb should also not be used as a seasoning for food. In all these cases, oregano can only be used as an external remedy.

People suffering from renal, intestinal or hepatic colic should use oregano-based preparations very carefully. Especially when it comes to their internal use.

For people suffering from severe hypertension or frequent increases in blood pressure, it is contraindicated even in the form of essential oil for aroma lamps.

And finally, before using a decoction or infusion of this herb for treatment, you should consult your doctor.

Medicinal properties of oregano:

In folk medicine, oregano has been used since ancient times and is used for treatment various ailments. Infusions and decoctions, tinctures, powders, oils are prepared from dry medicinal raw materials. fresh leaves squeeze out the juice. Dry herb is used for insomnia - fill a canvas bag and place it next to the pillow, oregano soothes nervous system, promotes falling asleep quickly and improves sleep.

It is used to relieve expectoration in respiratory diseases; as a means of stimulating appetite and normalizing digestive processes (for hypo- and anacid gastritis), for liver diseases, for pulmonary form tuberculosis, hypertension, as anticonvulsant, at epileptic seizures, with neuroses, excessive sexual activity and menstrual pain.

Oregano infusion:

An infusion of the herb is taken for gastric atony, accompanied by constipation, aerophagia, lack of appetite, spasms of the stomach and intestines, hiccups, constipation, epigastric pain, hemorrhoids, enterocolitis, accompanied by constipation and flatulence, dyspepsia, chronic hypo- and anacid gastritis, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence.

The choleretic effect of oregano is most pronounced during the first two hours after their intragastric administration. Along with an increase in the volume of secreted bile under the influence of oregano, there is a noticeable decrease in the amount of cholesterol in the bile, and the excretory function of the liver improves. Oregano is a hepatoprotector for poisoning and viral infections(hepatitis), preserves the detoxification function of the liver. An infusion of the herb is useful for gallstone disease, acute and chronic cholecystitis(inflammation of the gallbladder), cholangitis (inflammation bile ducts), biliary dyskinesia.

An infusion of the herb is also taken for rheumatism, joint stiffness, arthritis, kidney and urolithiasis, hypertension, stroke, pain in the heart area, amenorrhea, algomenorrhea, inflammatory diseases female genital area, painful menstruation, to regulate menstruation when they are delayed, with premenstrual syndrome, general weakness, after fainting, with edema, dropsy, cystitis, as a hemostatic, especially after childbirth.

Tea with oregano, constantly consumed by a nursing mother, increases lactation.

It perfectly calms the nervous system.

An infusion of this medicinal herb is useful for various mental ailments, anorexia, asthenia, cerebral atherosclerosis, coronary arteries, for seizures, paralysis, epilepsy, convulsions, insomnia, depressive and stressful conditions, nervous tension, bad mood, grief, melancholy, increased nervous excitability, hysteria, panic, increased sexual excitability in both women and men, with erotomania, nymphomania, migraine, headache, chronic alcoholism, smoking.

An infusion of this herb is taken and used in the form of inhalation for diseases of the upper respiratory tract: acute and chronic tracheitis, acute rhinitis, acute and chronic laryngitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis, pulmonary tuberculosis with sputum production, bronchopneumonia, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, whooping cough, convulsive, spasmodic cough, shortness of breath.

Strong tea made from oregano herb causes profuse sweating.

Herbal infusion is useful in complex treatment malignant neoplasms various localizations, to remove radionuclides from the body.

Externally, infusion, decoction of oregano herb is used in the form of compresses, lotions, washes, baths for rheumatism, arthritis, joint stiffness, neuralgia, itchy eczema, hemorrhoids, pustular skin diseases, diathesis, erysipelas, scrofula, lichen, boils, neurodermatitis, vitiligo, various gynecological diseases, rickets and scrofula in children, paralysis, bruises, to accelerate wound healing.

For those who suffer from headaches and hair loss, it is useful to wash your hair with a warm herbal decoction. After washing, it is recommended to tie a warm scarf around your head.

An infusion or decoction of the herb is used as a gargle for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa, pharynx, pharynx, sore throat, stomatitis, gingivitis, thrush, gum infection, toothache, bleeding from the gums, chronic tonsillitis.

Inhalations with infusion and decoction of this herb are used for acute and chronic rhinitis, for chronic sinusitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis, chronic tonsillitis, acute and chronic laryngitis, tracheobronchitis.

How to prepare an infusion of oregano?

Prepare an infusion of oregano herb as follows:

10 g (2 tablespoons) of medicinal raw materials are poured into an enamel container with 200 ml of hot boiled water, then heated in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then the infusion is cooled for 45 minutes at room temperature, strained, and the remaining medicinal raw materials are squeezed out. Add boiled water to the resulting infusion (up to a volume of 200 ml). You should drink the infusion half a glass 2 times a day, 15 minutes before meals.

The infusion has a strong diuretic effect, especially in combinations with black elderberry, white acacia, heather, St. John's wort, meadowsweet, birch leaves, dandelion, and cherry stalks.

Oregano and other herbal diuretics not only do not remove potassium from the body and do not cause its deficiency, but, unlike synthetic diuretics, they supply it to the body a large number of potassium

Oregano juice is obtained by squeezing the herb flowering plant. You need to take 1 tablespoon of juice with honey (in a ratio of 1:3) three times during the day, 15 minutes before meals.

Dried leaves and inflorescences of this herb, crushed into powder, are sniffed for headaches and nasal congestion.

An interesting video about oregano in the program “Live Healthy!”:

Recipes:

Infusion recipe for bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia:

Pour two teaspoons of fresh chopped herbs into one glass of cold boiled water, leave for two hours, then heat to a boil, strain and drink as tea. To improve the effect, add honey and lemon.

Infusion for neurodermatitis and skin problems:

Brew 50 grams of oregano with two liters of boiling water, let it cool, strain and use as baths and lotions. The course of treatment is 10 days - daily or every other day.

Decoction for the treatment of diathesis and allergic rash:

Pour 2 teaspoons of the herb into a glass of boiling water, boil for three minutes, strain and apply lotions to the affected areas.

Sweatshop tea:

Take 2 tbsp. spoons of a mixture of 2 parts dried raspberries, 2 parts coltsfoot leaves, 1 part oregano herb, pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, strain and drink hot 3 times a day, ½ cup.

Carminative collection:

Take 1 tbsp. spoon of a mixture of 1 part chamomile flowers and 1 part oregano herb, pour 1 glass of boiling water, place in water bath and boil for 5-7 minutes, cool, filter and take 1 glass in the morning and evening.

Anti-inflammatory collection:

For external use (for rinsing the mouth and throat). Take 2 tbsp. spoons of a mixture of 6 parts of common oak bark, 4 parts of oregano herb, 1 part of marshmallow root, pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, filter, cool and, when warm, use to rinse the mouth and throat several times a day after meals.

Infusion recipe for the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, and severe cough:

Pour 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials into two glasses of boiling water, leave, strain, take 30 minutes before meals, drink the infusion in three doses.

Dear readers, today I want to talk on the blog about the herb oregano, its beneficial and medicinal properties, and its uses for health. Many of you probably know it, love it and often use it for health and taste pleasure. I can’t describe the aroma from her. It is no coincidence that the name is oregano. Let me make a reservation right away that we often confuse the herbs oregano and mint. But this is completely different herbs. I hope you understand this.

Do you know how the word “oregano” is translated? This is an herb that brightens our pores. Isn't that great? If we look at the back of the oregano leaf, we will see that it looks like silver. Beautiful, fragrant and also very good for health and preserving our beauty and youth. And I’ll immediately note that oregano and oregano are one and the same. This is simply the Italian name for the herb Origanum vulgare.

I treat all medicinal plants with great respect, distinguish them in right time I was taught how to collect, dry and use correctly by my grandmother, who lived in a remote village, where it was difficult to get to a pharmacy or a doctor. big problem, so she herself was treated and treated her grandchildren only with herbs.

I try to grow medicinal plants on my site, but there are some that have to be collected in the vicinity of the village where our dacha is located. One of these plants is my favorite herb, oregano, this aromatic herb known as different names, it is popularly called spirit flower, bone-breaking grass, flea grass, forest mint, motherwort, which indicates its wide use.

Oregano. Photo

Oregano. Benefit for health. Useful and healing properties

Essential oils were found in the composition of oregano herb, thanks to which this herb has such strong smell. And since the grass contains essential oils, this always means that it has some useful and medicinal properties. Let's talk about this in more detail.
It contains vitamin C, bioflavonoids, tannins and much more, which allows this herb to be widely used in folk medicine.
The herb oregano is rich in fiber.
The herb oregano protects us from cancer.
Decoctions and infusions of oregano calm the nervous system, relieve seizures, and are used for headaches and insomnia.
Oregano renders positive action on many organs of our body, this is the stomach, the liver, and gallbladder. Infusions of oregano are used for intestinal atony, flatulence, decreased appetite, it is prescribed for decreased secretion gastric juice, with cholecystitis.
There is nothing as an expectorant or inflammation reliever better than plants, the properties of which are given to us by nature itself, and in this case it is oregano that is good. A warm infusion of oregano herb taken at night for a cold helps you sweat well, and this is often enough to feel healthy in the morning.
Oregano kills germs. In the form of lotions and compresses, this herb is used for various skin problems such as eczema or pustular diseases skin. If your gums are inflamed or you suffer from stomatitis, you need rinsing and inhalation using a decoction of oregano. We can recommend simply chewing washed, clean oregano leaves for stomatitis and diseases of the oral cavity.

How to choose oregano?

If you buy or collect the oregano herb itself, first of all, pay attention to its appearance. The leaves should be green and bright, crush the leaf in your hands, the aroma comes immediately. Its smell is very sharp, an ethereal smell that cannot be confused with anything else. Buy oregano in fresh now there is almost an opportunity all year round in our supermarkets.

How to store oregano?

We store fresh oregano like flowers. Place it in a jar of water, it’s better to cover it with something on top, you can use a plastic cup, and put it in the refrigerator. We change the water every day. In this form, oregano can be stored for up to a week. It is better to buy special gadgets for storing greens, which are sold in stores. Pay attention to this. It is very convenient to place it on the side wall of the refrigerator.

The dried oregano herb should be placed in a glass jar, sealed tightly and stored in a dark place.

AND great way If you can store oregano, freeze it. Chop finely, place in molds, add water. And then, as needed, take it out and use it. Can be used in soups, meat, fish. These cubes can also be used for cosmetic purposes.

Advice from me: Try making frozen oregano paste. Chop it finely, mix it a little with olive oil and place it in a container in the freezer. You will take it out as needed.

How to eat oregano with health benefits?

You can use oregano both fresh and frozen and dried. All beneficial properties of oregano are preserved. But fresh oregano, in my opinion, is always preferable.

I suggest watching another video about Oregano.

Oregano. Application

As you can see, the spectrum of action of this plant is quite wide, and now I want to give you recipes for traditional medicine based on oregano, used for various ailments.

At nervous diseases pour a tablespoon of dried herb into one glass of boiling water, let it brew for 20 minutes, strain and take 1/2 glass 20 minutes before meals three times a day

For cooking soothing bath take 200 grams of dry oregano herb and brew it with three liters of boiling water, simmer in a water bath for about 15 - 20 minutes, then leave until it cools and pour into a bath of water.

For diseases of the stomach and intestines Pour 2 tablespoons of dry oregano into a glass of boiled warm water, place in a water bath for 15 minutes, then leave for another 30 minutes, strain and add boiled water up to a glass. Take the infusion 1/2 cup twice a day 20 minutes before meals. This infusion relieves intestinal colic And stomach cramps, improves intestinal motility.

For diseases of the upper respiratory tract More effective is the collection of various plants, which also includes oregano. To make a collection, you need to mix a tablespoon of oregano and coltsfoot herbs and two tablespoons of marshmallow root. Grind everything and to prepare the infusion, take one teaspoon of the mixture per glass of boiling water. Leave for 40 minutes, then strain and take half a glass three times a day when heated.

For headaches use an infusion prepared according to the first recipe; to enhance the effect, you can prepare an infusion for rinsing hair after washing your hair, for which three tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured into a liter of boiling water, leave for two hours and rinse your hair several times, generously wetting the entire head. Blot with a towel and dry in a natural way without using a hair dryer.

After insect bites and for any skin inflammation Brew dry oregano with a small amount of boiling water to form a thick paste, and apply this paste to the inflamed area under a bandage. If there fresh grass, then it needs to be kneaded until the juice is released and also applied to the sore spot, changing the bandage several times a day.

Fresh oregano juice helps for joint diseases To do this, mix a tablespoon of juice with three tablespoons of honey, take a teaspoon of this mixture three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is long, but it is better to take courses of two weeks with a week's break, and so on for two summer months, until fresh oregano can be found blooming.

Oregano is also used for fighting house moths , just hang thick fabric bags filled with dry grass in the closet.

I suggest watching another video about the use of oregano for health from a herbalist.

Oregano for beauty

This aromatic herb is used not only for treatment various diseases, it can be successfully used to care for facial skin, as well as to strengthen hair. You can prepare an infusion and use it instead of lotion or freeze it in a special container and wipe your face in the morning, the skin will become much fresher and cleaner.

Add a decoction of oregano to your bath and rinse your hair regularly with it, this will benefit both your skin and hair.

The perfume industry uses essential oil extracted from oregano; it is added as a fragrance to various perfume compositions.

Oregano in cooking

It is used in meat, poultry, and egg dishes, added to sausages, and seasoned with legume dishes. It has a spicy, slightly bitter taste, very specific, which gives dishes a certain piquancy. Personally, I really like it.

In some countries, oregano is used in home canning to add flavor and pungency.

I can offer you my recipe in which I use dried oregano:

I cut the potatoes into thin slices, add a little salt and pepper, put the tomatoes cut into slices on top so that they completely cover the potatoes, sprinkle with salt. I beat the eggs together with grated hard cheese, add dried oregano to the mixture and pour over the potatoes and tomatoes. I put it in the oven and after 20 minutes it’s fragrant. tasty dish ready.

I also recommend that you try infusing olive oil with oregano and oregano. Make a small portion the first time. Add a sprig of oregano to a container with olive oil, let it brew and use. Very simple and flavorful. You can then add this oil anywhere. Start with a salad. Really great.

Collection and preparation of oregano

You can find oregano on forest edges, on hillocks and dry meadows, among thickets of bushes. It also grows along roads, but, of course, you can’t collect it there. For medicinal purposes, oregano is collected at the beginning of flowering, cutting off the above-ground part of the plant at a height of approximately 20 centimeters, under no circumstances uprooting it, otherwise the plant will die. This is best done in dry, sunny weather.

It is convenient to dry oregano in small tied bunches, hanging them in any ventilated area where direct contact does not penetrate. Sun rays and there are no drafts. Oregano can also be dried, like any other herb, by spreading it on clean thick paper in a layer of 5 centimeters and turning it over periodically.

Properly dried grass does not change its color, retains its smell and specific taste, and the stems become brittle. It is best to store dry raw materials in glass jars with tight lids in a dark place for three years.

Oregano. Harm. Contraindications

Despite the beneficial properties of oregano, it, like any other medicinal plant, has its contraindications.

If you are prone to bleeding, or are expecting a child, oregano is strictly contraindicated for you. This herb should not be used by those suffering peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum, as well as those with increased acidity of gastric juice.

Serious disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are also a contraindication for ingesting oregano preparations.

I hope that the information about the beneficial and medicinal properties of oregano was useful to you.

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motherwort, incense, oregano, spirit flower, flea beetle, chives, winch, forest mint, bee lover, zvirazh, swan grass, bug grass

A perennial herbaceous plant that is used in folk medicine as an expectorant, secretory, carminative, bactericidal, antihistamine, diaphoretic, and sedative.

Name in Latin: Origanum vulgare

Name in English: Origanum

Family: Lamiaceae or Lamiaceae

The beneficial properties and contraindications of oregano have been well studied. Latin name"origanum" came from Greek language and is translated as “the joy of the mountains.” In Ancient Greece, the herb was used to treat toothache and headaches, and was used as an antidote for bites of poisonous animals and poisoning, and to heal wounds. In Rus', it was affectionately called “motherland”, “swan”, and also called “the herb of love” and was often used as a love potion, and kvass was made from it. And in Europe, aromatic beer was brewed from grass.

Features of the plant

Habitat

Oregano, or oregano natural conditions found everywhere throughout Europe, especially in South and Central. Its homeland is considered to be the Mediterranean basin. In Russia, the grass does not take root only in the Far East and the Far North. Oregano loves dry and floodplain meadows, valleys, ravine slopes, and also grows on the edges and clearings of forests, in bush thickets, and along the side of field roads.

Botanical description

Common oregano. Botanical illustration from the book “Bilder ur Nordens Flora” by K. A. M. Lindmann, 1917-1926.

Oregano does not like clayey, acidic soils. On these soils it hardly grows or develops weakly.

Root. Creeping, with many branches.
Stem. Up to 90 cm high. Erect, with four edges, branched on top, green or purple.
Leaves . Oblong in shape, pubescent, at the top of the stem the tips of the leaves are pointed, 2 to 4 cm long, darker on top, lighter below.
Flowers . They grow in the form of inflorescences and spreading panicles. The flowers are small, pink-violet.
Fruits. In the form of a cup with four nuts, brownish in color.

If you rub the flowers and leaves of the motherboard, a pleasant, expressive smell appears. The herb has an astringent, bitter-spicy taste.

Growing and harvesting

Growing. The motherboard belongs to unpretentious plants. It can even be grown in boxes on the balcony. It takes root well in garden plots and gardens, is not afraid of drought and frost, and can grow in any soil, with the exception of damp places and acidic soils. The grass should be planted in a sunny place; it can be sown both in spring and early autumn. You can prepare seedlings by sowing seeds in March, then there is high probability that the mother plant will bloom in the first year. If the seeds are sown immediately in the ground, flowering will only take place next year. During growth, oregano should not be over-watered or, conversely, the soil should not be dried out, otherwise the content of essential oils will decrease. In one place, grass can grow for a long time - up to 25 years.
Collection. The tops of the stems along with inflorescences and leaves (height up to 20 cm) are cut off with a knife. The grass blooms from June to August, but experienced herbalists recommend collecting the mother plant at the beginning of mass flowering.
Making oregano essential oil. To obtain essential oil, fresh raw materials are used, which are processed using hydrodistillation.
Drying. It is better to break off coarse stems, since they contain less valuable substances. Dry oregano on fresh air, but in the shade. It is important that the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight and does not overheat. It must be dried at a temperature no higher than 35°C, otherwise the beneficial substances will evaporate.
Storage . Dry raw materials are placed in thick canvas bags and wooden boxes. They are stored in a dry and cool place. The motherboard also needs to be stored separately from others. medicinal herbs, since they can absorb its aroma. You can thresh the dry motherwort by removing all the coarse branches. The threshed grass is placed in glass jars, close tightly. In this form it can be stored for 3 years.

In Russia, oregano is rarely cultivated for industrial purposes. But, for example, in France and the USA it is a popular agricultural crop that is used in Food Industry and pharmacology.

Oregano is one of the plants that can be used not only in medicine, but also in cooking. There are very few risks when taking it. Oregano contraindications: pregnancy in any trimester. With increased stomach acidity, heart and vascular diseases, liver and renal colic, stomach ulcers, hypertension and any chronic diseases, you need to consult a doctor before taking the herb.

Healing effect and application

IN medicinal purposes The flowers and upper leaves of the plant are used. They are used to treat a number of chronic and acute diseases as a tonic, restorative, sedative, anticonvulsant.

What are the benefits of oregano? The most valuable things in the herb are thymol, geranyl acetate, and carvacrol. There is a lot in the upper leaves ascorbic acid, there is much less of it in flowers and very little in stems. It also contains tannins, free alcohols, and flavonoids.
Oregano for coughs, sore throats and oral mucous membranes. The herb is effective against acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia, and acts as an expectorant. You can also gargle with its decoctions, make inhalations for pharyngitis, laryngitis, in a hoarse voice. For stomatitis and gingivitis, the motherboard acts as a natural antiseptic and promotes fast healing wounds on the mucous membrane, eliminates bad smell from mouth.
For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The use of oregano herb is effective for atonic constipation, when peristalsis and receptivity are impaired. nerve endings intestinal mucosa. Herbal decoctions and infusions increase muscle tone intestines, gastric secretion (increase acidity), normalize appetite, relieve intestinal cramps, promote the removal of gases, help with inflammation of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Oregano disinfects well digestive tract, acts like anthelmintic, stimulates the pancreas.
For skin diseases. Chronic dermatoses, eczema, diaper rash, purulent inflammation, boils are well treated with lotions from mother’s decoctions. You can also take baths with the addition of decoctions.
At nervous disorders . Mother essential oils act as a sedative and have a mild sedative effect. For neuroses, stress, convulsions, epileptic seizures, insomnia, depression, and increased sexual excitability, it is useful to drink tea with mother tea.

In addition to traditional medicine, oregano is used in the food and perfume industries, and in cosmetology. It is also an ornamental plant and decorates personal plots and front gardens with its color and scent.

Use in gynecology

Oregano is a feminine herb. It is used to treat gynecological diseases. What is important to know?

Oregano during pregnancy. Decoctions for oral use and douching are strictly prohibited. This can be explained by the fact that the herb tones the smooth muscles of the uterus, which can lead to its contraction and miscarriage.
Oregano for delayed menstruation. Decoctions and infusions of herbs provoke menstruation when they are delayed. Self-medication in case of failure is not recommended menstrual cycle. It is necessary to undergo an examination and find out the reason for the regular delays.
For painful periods and menopause . Oregano acts as a sedative, relieves spasms and pain, and evens out the emotional state during menopause. Oregano is often used in gynecology as a component of preparations, which usually include: nettle, knotweed, elecampane, radiola, yarrow, rose hips.

People believed that women's herbs should not be drunk by men. There was an opinion that men lose potency when taking oregano for a long time. This opinion remains at the level of myth. The effect of the herb on sexual potency has not been proven.

Medicinal forms of oregano

Decoctions, infusions, teas, and essential oils are prepared using oregano.

Motherwort is often included in breast, diuretic, diaphoretic, lactation, and carminative preparations.

What are the main medicinal properties of oregano? First of all, it is recommended for diseases of the digestive organs - stomach, pancreas, liver, large and small intestines. Thanks to your antiseptic properties oregano is effective in treating respiratory diseases, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.