Marjorana, Oreganum; Marjoram and Oregano
Marjoram: Sweet Marjoram, Marjoram gentle
Oregano: Wild or Winter Marjoram
Oregano: Wild or Winter Marjoram
Oregano (left) and Marjoram (right)
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563
Oregano and Marjoram
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Left Oregano; Right Marjoram
Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1804
Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1804
Botanical name:
Oreganum spp.
O. marjorana (Marjoram), O. vulgare (Oregano)
A number of related species are used.
Parts used:
Leaf; Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Classifications:
MARJORAM:
2B ATTENUATERS. 2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD. 2H. CARMINATIVE. 2Q. ANODYNE
3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3M. ARTHRITICS. 3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES.
4a. CEPHALIC. 4b. OPTHALMIC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4j. NERVINE
OREGANO:
2B ATTENUATERS. 2F. PURIFYING. 2G. CLEANSING. 2H. CARMINATIVE. 2K. RESOLVENT
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC. 3F. LITHONTRIPTIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES.
4a. CEPHALIC. 4d. PECTORAL. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4i. UTERINE. 4k. ARTHRITIC
Oreganum spp.
O. marjorana (Marjoram), O. vulgare (Oregano)
A number of related species are used.
Parts used:
Leaf; Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Classifications:
MARJORAM:
2B ATTENUATERS. 2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD. 2H. CARMINATIVE. 2Q. ANODYNE
3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3M. ARTHRITICS. 3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES.
4a. CEPHALIC. 4b. OPTHALMIC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4j. NERVINE
OREGANO:
2B ATTENUATERS. 2F. PURIFYING. 2G. CLEANSING. 2H. CARMINATIVE. 2K. RESOLVENT
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC. 3F. LITHONTRIPTIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES.
4a. CEPHALIC. 4d. PECTORAL. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4i. UTERINE. 4k. ARTHRITIC
Uses:
1. Settles Wind, Moves the Blood, Eases Pain:
-Headache, Apoplexy, loss of Speech, Tinnitus, Dizziness, Vertigo
2. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-Colds, Flu, and in Fevers
3. Moves Blood, Clears Stasis, Promotes Menstruation:
-good for the Uterus; promotes Menstruation: Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea (Oregano)
4. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-difficulty urinating; scanty or painful urination
5. Moves Qi, Benefits the Stomach:
-'scarcely a better herb growing for relieving a sour Stomach, Loss of Appetite’.
-Indigestion, Dyspepsia, Colic, Flatulence, Nausea and to prevent Vomiting
6. Moves the Blood, Opens the Liver:
-‘draws forth by stool black and filthy humours’. (Pliny)
-‘bad color which comes of the Jaundice’. (Oregano, Gerard)
7. Externally:
-topically for Fibroid Tumors of the Breast
-topically for all Pain and Inflammations
-salve is applied to ‘members that are out of Joint ... the Oil ... warms and fastens the Sinews’ (Turner 1551)
-‘putteth away black and blue marks after stripes and bruises, being applied thereto’ (Gerard)
-applied to Sores and Ulcers
NOTE:
Marjoram and Oregano are used similarly. Oregano is generally regarded as stronger, better to promote Menstruation, and better to promote sweat. Marjoram was more commonly used.
DOSE:
3–9 grams (dried) in Decoction: 10–30 grams fresh.
2–4 grams in Powder
SUBSTITUTES:
... available in PRO version
Marjoram and Oregano are used similarly. Oregano is generally regarded as stronger, better to promote Menstruation, and better to promote sweat. Marjoram was more commonly used.
DOSE:
3–9 grams (dried) in Decoction: 10–30 grams fresh.
2–4 grams in Powder
SUBSTITUTES:
... available in PRO version
Main Combinations:
1. Colds, Oregano with ... available in PRO version
2. Catarrh:
i. Oregano ... available in PRO version
ii. Marjoram ... available in PRO version
iii. Marjoram and Oregano ... available in PRO version
3. Promote Menstruation, Oregano with ... available in PRO version
4. Nausea and Dizziness during Menstruation, ... available in PRO version
5. To promote Urine, Marjoram with ... available in PRO version
6. Stomach disorders Marjoram with ... available in PRO version
7. Stomach pain, Marjoram ... available in PRO version
8. Headache and Migraine:
i. Marjoram ... available in PRO version
ii. Marjoram and Oregano ... available in PRO version
9. Vertigo, Marjoram ... available in PRO version
10. Tinnitus, Marjoram with ... available in PRO version
11. Loss of Memory:
i. Marjoram with ... available in PRO version
ii. Marjoram with ... available in PRO version
12. Cold Pains of the Head, Nerves, or Sinews, Marjoram ... available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Cephalic Decoction (Charras)
Decoction for Stomach Pain
Decoction for Difficult Childbirth (Barbette)
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Powder for Catarrh (Grulingus)
Powder to Strengthen the Memory (2)
Powder of Great Use Against Forgetfulness (Grulingus)
Cautions:
Not used during Pregnancy
Main Preparations used:
Marjoram: Distilled Water of the fresh Leaves, Conserve of the Tops, Confection of the Seed, Distilled Oil of the Leaves, Balsam of the Distilled Oi
Oregano: Distilled Water, Distilled Oil, Salt of the Ashes
Not used during Pregnancy
Main Preparations used:
Marjoram: Distilled Water of the fresh Leaves, Conserve of the Tops, Confection of the Seed, Distilled Oil of the Leaves, Balsam of the Distilled Oi
Oregano: Distilled Water, Distilled Oil, Salt of the Ashes