Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Flowers: Late summer. Height: 30 – 60cm (12 – 24in).
Oregano is native to Britain and known as Wild Marjoram. Its sweet aroma also meant that it was commonly used as a strewing herb in churches. It was often found growing in graveyards and if it was found growing on a grave, folk tradition says that the departed person was happy.
Medicinal: Medieval herbalists made an oil to ease rheumatic pain and it was also regarded as a preventative against sickness and used to promote appetite. Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) stated “There is scarcely a better herb growing for relieving a sour stomach”. When added to honey as a drink it was used to treat headaches, while as an infusion it was used to treat sore throats. It also helped measles, deafness, dropsy and women’s ailments. An infusion of of the dried leaves were a relaxant used to settle nerves.
Culinary: Added flavour to meat, poultry, soups and stews and used to flavour sweets and drinks. Before the widespread use of hops, Oregano was used in beer making.
