Łódź, Botanical Garden

Native to Mediterranean countries and western Asia. Bees feeding plant. Edible plant - leaves raw or cooked as a potherb; oregano is an important flavouring herb in Mediterranean cookery, and is often used dried rather than fresh; a herb tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering stems. Herbal plant - leaves and flowering stems are strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and mildly tonic; the plant is taken internally in the treatment of colds, influenza, mild feverish illnesses, indigestion, stomach upsets and painful menstruation; externally, oregano is used to treat bronchitis, asthma, arthritis and muscular pain; this plant is one of the best natural antiseptics because of its high thymol content; the essential oil is used in aromatherapy to treat the same kinds of complaints that the herb is used for.