Natural Society February 21 2013
An herb whose name means “mountain joy”, oregano is a savored spice widely used in Italian, Mediterranean, and Mexican dishes. But few know just how healthy this herb can be. As with many flavorful kitchen herbs, when you cook with oregano, you are getting far more than a flavorful punch—you’re also receiving a range of health and healing benefits. And if you wanted to experience oregano benefits by growing oregano yourself, you’ll be happy to know that raising this herb from a seed is fun and easy.
A woody herb related to marjoram and even called “wild marjoram” in some parts of Europe, oregano is native to Northern Europe and popular in Mediterranean dishes. It’s important to note that we aren’t talking about a related herb called Mexican Oregano here, though that’s a tasty one too. This variety (Origanum vulgare) wasn’t brought to the west until the 20th century.
Oregano History
Historically, oregano wasn’t only recognized for its flavor, but was said to be a symbol of joy and happiness. Brides and grooms of ancient Greece and Rome would wear laurels of oregano on their heads in celebration of their nuptials. Carried in satchels, it was said to attract luck, health, and positive feelings. Used as a charm, it was planted around homes to protect them from outside forces.
Medicinally, it’s similarly been used for centuries. In traditional Chinese medicine and European folk medicine, it’s been useful to treat and prevent a variety of ailments—ailments it can still successfully treat today.