Oregano

Oregano

This week I'm going to provide information about Oregano.  Basil's brother in a lot of ways, Oregano is another herb prominently used in Italian cooking.  It has a savory flavor, is good fresh or dried, and is readily available in any market. Its availability makes it a plant not many people grow at home anymore, but growing it is relatively simple.  Much like basil and mint, it grows like a weed!

I picked up a very detailed description of Oregano, and will provide a link to the page at the bottom of this note, as there was also folk remedies listed there too, which I will also share.

"Suganda is an erect, spreading, branched, rather coarse, strongly aromatic, green herb, with fleshy stems. Leaves are fleshy, broadly ovate, 4 to 9 cm long, often heart-shaped, and somewhat hairy, with rounded toothed margins, with the tip and base decurrent. Flowers are small, and occur in distant whorls. Calyx is bell-shaped; the throat is smooth inside, with two lips, the upper lip being ovate and thin, the lower lip having four narrow teeth. Corolla is pale purplish and 5 times longer than the calyx, with a short tube, inflated throat, and short lips." 

Before I go in to the medicinal uses of Oregano, the standard disclaimer:

If you want to use this or any holistic remedy you should consult your physician first.  Make certain you are not allergic to the plant in question, and be careful when using essential oils.  Always dilute them.  Do not burn any plant you are not certain is safe.

Some information about Oregano:

Holistic uses:

-Make a pulp of fresh leaves and apply this to burns to soothe them.

-Bandage leaves that have been bruised (press them between your fingers) over bug stings to soothe them.

-Rub the fresh leaves on your temple to alleviate headaches.

-Drink a strong tea made of the leaves to help with dyspepsia, asthma, chronic coughs, bronchitis, colic, flatulence, and rheumatism.

-Drop fresh juice of the oregano leaf into your ear to alleviate ear aches.

-A weak tea can be drunk an hour before or after a meal to help with a soar throat.

-Some countries even use it to treat Epilepsy! (extra disclaimer: Epilepsy is a very serious condition and I don't suggest doing this.  In fact, if it might have properties that help with this, you should mention this to your doctor before introducing it to your diet, because it may interfere with medications you are already on).

-A few drops of fresh juice from the leaves can help stop diarrhea.

-Take an oregano tablet (available at most vitamin stores) when you start to feel a cold or flu coming on the shorten the duration or avoid the illness.

-It has antimicrobial and antibacterial  properties so you can use a few drops or oregano oil in a wash for surfaces.

-High in antioxidants

-Please see the links below to read about even more holistic uses for oregano!

Magical Uses:

-Happiness - Burn an incense with oregano, or an candle ith a few drops of the oil.

-Tranquility - Hang a satchel with oregano around your neck for all-day inner peace.

-Animal blessings - Smudge around their bedding, or rub them somewhere they can't lick (like behind their head where you put flea medication) with a fresh leaf.

-ease grieving - Baked goods with Oregano have tremendous comfort power.

-Harmony - Burn an oregno candle or some incense with oregano when things get our of synch in your home.

-Love - Give your love a newly sprouted oregano plant and take care of it together.  When it is mature, make a meal together and use Oregano in every dish.  You will certainly find yourselves deeper in love!

-Peace 

-Protection - Hang satchels of dried oregano over your doors, or smear the oil on your window sills. 

-Psychic Development - Use an oregano scented candle, or anoint yourself with fresh oregano leaves while meditating and strengthening your psychic powers. 

-Wedding blessings or charms for a flawless wedding day -  Fresh Oregano leaves in the floral arrangements and bouquets will keep things going smoothly. 

Oregano is good for use in satchels, charms, or as anointing oil for candles.  I don't suggest putting the essential oil, even diluted, directly on your skin other than fingertips for anointing,  The scent is very strong and can be overwhelming.  Instead, get some fresh Oregano leaf and use that to anoint your skin.

Oregano Blessing of Tranquility

Make a tea of oregano using six tablespoons of dried leaf to four cups of water.  Fill a spritzing bottle with it.  You can also pulp a cup of fresh leaves, add a couple of cups of water, and strain the pulp with cheesecloth.  You may prefer the smell, as it is sweeter when you use fresh rather than dried.

Start at the front door of your home, outside.  Walk clockwise around your home and spray the perimeter, saying "Plant of tranquility, Venus blessed, keep my home safe, Allow us all rest."

Finish by entering your home and placing a satchel with dried Oregano and a piece of Dragon's blood over the door or tying it to the doorknob.  You may also spray the oregano mixture on the windows, door frames, and around any other doors in your home.

From www.foodnetwork.com:

Corn and Tomato Salad with Fresh Oregano

Ingredients

§             15 ears of fresh corn
§  2 tablespoons salt
§  10 Italian Roma tomatoes, cored and diced
§  2 yellow peppers, diced
§  2 medium red onions, minced fine
§  2 jalapeno or Serrano chiles, stemmed, deveined, seeded if desired and minced
§  2 cloves of garlic, minced or pureed
§  1/4 cup lime juice
§  1 teaspoon salt
§  1/2 teaspoon pepper
§  1/2 cup canola oil
§  2 bunches fresh oregano, washed and picked over to yield 1/4 cup leaves

Directions

Bring large pot of water to the a boil and add salt, When it returns to the boil, add 5 ears of corn and cook 3 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside to cool. Drop another five cobs, and repeat process until all corn is cooked. When cool, cut corn from cobs with a sharp knife. Combine cut corn, tomatoes, yellow peppers and red onion in a large bowl. Place chiles, garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Drizzle in oil while whisking so as to form an emulsion. Pour over vegetables and stir gently to combine. Can be held in refrigerator 2 days or at room temperature 1 hour. Stir in oregano right before serving.

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Oregano.html

http://windspirit57.tripod.com/id4.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/corn-and-tomato-salad-with-fresh-oregano-recipe/index.html