Oregano is an aromatic and very healing plant that comes from the mountains of the Mediterranean countries. Oregano is one of the most powerful herbs and the most effective natural antibiotics. Its fungicidal effect is also interesting.

Oregano – the wild marjoram

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is also called common dost or wild marjoram, but should not be confused with marjoram (Origanum majorana), as it is a different plant species. The two spices from the mint family belong to the same plant genus (Origanum) and look visually similar, but differ in taste. While the Dost tastes rather tart, marjoram goes more in the sweet direction.

Oregano originally comes from the Mediterranean region. It is one of the main ingredients of Italian spice blends and is therefore traditionally found in pasta and pizza, but also in vegetables and salad dressings. So if you like to cook and eat Mediterranean food, you can’t avoid the Dost.

Where can I find recipes with oregano?

Oregano gives dishes of all kinds a fine, tart, spicy taste. The culinary herb goes perfectly with ratatouille, tomato sauce or in a Mediterranean herb bread. In our recipes section you will find numerous recipes with wild marjoram.

How to use oregano? Fresh or dried?

The aroma of wild marjoram can vary in strength. Its intensity depends on the location, the climate and the soil conditions. The more barren and dry the soil, the hotter the weather, the stronger its taste. It may even be that the plant has no aroma at all in the coming spring and you think it can’t be oregano at all when you see and taste it in the garden. But that will change in the course of the summer.

Wild marjoram tastes best fresh. As soon as it is dried, its aroma and unfortunately also its healing power decrease somewhat. Nevertheless, dried wild marjoram is still an effective helper for health problems of all kinds.

How does wild marjoram work?

Chinese doctors have been using wild marjoram for centuries for fever, vomiting, diarrhea and skin problems. Since the Dost has an expectorant effect, among other things, it is also prescribed for respiratory diseases. It is also so hostile to parasites that it is said to be able to drive away intestinal parasites ( 1 ). According to studies, the spice has an effect on ( 2 ) ( 3 ):

• antibacterial
• antiviral
• antifungal (against fungi)
• Antioxidant
• anti-inflammatory
• Anti-diabetic

The reason for this is the essential oil in the Dost, which is composed of up to 85 percent of the two substances carvacrol and thymol. The dost consists of about 0.1 to 1 percent essential oil ( 4 ) ( 5 ).

How does oregano essential oil work?

Oregano oil contains the concentrated healing power of the plant and is not only much stronger than the dried herb, but also better than the fresh herb.

Against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The essential oil is an exceptionally powerful natural antibiotic. A study from Georgetown University found that it can be used in place of antibiotics to treat MRSA staphylococci infections (6).

MRSA staphylococci are multi-resistant bacteria that have already developed resistance to conventional antibiotics and therefore cause many thousands of deaths every year. The polyphenols (antioxidants) contained in Dost, on the other hand, also destroy bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.

Oregano oil can therefore be used very well for bacterial infections of the ears and respiratory tract. However, it not only kills pathogenic germs, but is also said to inhibit the formation of inflammatory messengers, indicating that the plant fights disease on various levels.

Against Candida and other fungal infections

Oregano oil also has an extreme anti-fungal effect, which is why it can be used very successfully (internally and externally) for fungal infections, such as infections with Candida ( 7 ). Since coconut oil also has a fungicidal effect, the combination of coconut oil and oregano oil is a therapy option for fungal diseases – also for Candida auris (see paragraph “The application”).

Against cancer?

The fungicidal secondary plant substances (rosmarinic acid, thymol and thymoquinone) contained in wild marjoram, together with the high antioxidant content of the plant, also have an inhibiting effect on the division of cancer cells (in cell studies), so that an anti-cancer effect is also discussed.

The application

Below we present various possible applications of wild marjoram:

Smoothie and tea

The best known is its use as a culinary herb for sauces, dips and salads.

But you can also add a few sprigs of it to your green smoothie.

A tea can also be brewed from the medicinal herb, although it takes some getting used to, as the taste is always reminiscent of Italian delicacies. The tea is particularly suitable as a home remedy for respiratory problems such as coughs or colds, as it has an expectorant effect.

For a tea, either one tablespoon of the dried or two tablespoons of the fresh herb are poured over 250 ml of boiling water and left to steep for about 10 minutes. Then remove the tea and drink it in small sips.

Candida cleanse with oregano oil

Oregano oil is particularly helpful for specific symptoms of a Candida infection (flatulence and/or fatigue, skin rash, etc.). Put a drop of it in a teaspoon of organic coconut oil and take this mixture one to three times a day for at least 10 days. (Start with once a day and – depending on tolerance – slowly increase to three times a day).

If the symptoms have not disappeared after these 10 days, take a five-day break and then start taking it again for 10 days (this time you can start taking it three times immediately).

Alternatively, the essential oil can be taken in the form of capsules. Their application is much less complicated than the one described above and the active ingredient dose of the required antioxidants is standardized for high-quality preparations.

At the same time as the Candida program, it is necessary to drink a lot of water to support the organism in detoxification. The oil kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. In the process, toxins are released, which can be excreted better and faster the more you drink.

In addition, a teaspoon of zeolite should therefore be taken once or twice a day, as these mineral clays absorb the killed microorganisms and thus facilitate their excretion.

The oil/coconut oil mixture can also be applied externally for skin fungal problems.

Caution: Oregano essential oil is a fat-soluble substance only (like all essential oils), therefore does not mix with water and could lead to mucous membrane damage in the mouth and throat if taken with water. Therefore, always take essential oils only with fatty drinks/foods. And never put it undiluted on your skin as it will burn.

What to look for when buying oregano oil?

You can buy oregano oil in liquid or capsule form. For liquid oil, you should rely on pure, 100 percent essential oil, which is also of food quality. There are also oils as so-called seasoning oils to buy in the supermarket, but these consist of a base oil (e.g. sunflower oil) with a small amount of essential oil and are generally bad quality.

Capsules are basically the same: they should be filled with 100 percent pure, oregano essential oil. In addition, no additives such as artificial flavors or stabilizers should be included. The capsules are ideal, for example, if you don’t like the pungent taste of the oil or to make it easier to take. You can also put the essential oil in empty vegetable capsules and take them as you make them.

Since conventional culinary herbs are often contaminated with pesticides, you should also make sure that the respective products come from organic cultivation.

Possible side effects

Oregano essential oil should only be taken diluted and should only be applied diluted when used externally, otherwise skin irritation could occur. It is best to test how you react to the oil on an area of the skin before applying it over a larger area.

Caution in case of iron deficiency

Those who suffer from iron deficiency should take the essential oil two hours before or after meals, as it could hinder iron absorption.

Thin blood

As an undesirable side effect, oregano oil is sometimes referred to as having a blood-thinning effect. “Undesirable” because the oil could enhance the effect of blood-thinning drugs.

Do not take during pregnancy

The oil should not be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as it could trigger premature labor. Babies and children should also not be treated with the oil, as it is a very powerful natural remedy. Wild marjoram for seasoning, on the other hand, is not a problem in the usual doses ( 10 ).

How to grow oregano yourself?

The Dost is grown in the garden or in a pot on the balcony, ideally in a sunny, warm location. The plant prefers permeable soil – it does not tolerate waterlogging at all. On the other hand, it survives shorter dry periods in the bed without any problems. In pots, on the other hand, it should be watered regularly in midsummer.

Although the Dost is a sun-drenched plant, some species can also overwinter outdoors in Central Europe. The Greek oregano (Origanum heracleoticum), for example, can withstand temperatures of up to minus 15 degrees. Other varieties should be covered with fir branches or mulch from the first frosts. In the pot, you can place the Dost against a wind-protected wall and cover it with a fleece or bubble wrap.

Harvesting and drying

If you want to harvest a larger amount, you should wait until flowering in midsummer, because that’s when the leaves taste most aromatic. To do this, it is best to cut off the shoots above a branch. This stimulates growth. However, you should not cut into the woody part, otherwise no new shoots will grow back.

After harvesting, you can tie the twigs into an airy bundle and hang them in a warm, dry place until the leaves are completely dry (about a week). The leaves should then be easy to crumble with your fingers. Finally, rub the leaves off the branches and pour them into an airtight jar, which is best stored in a dark place. This means that the dried Dost can be kept for about a year.

Freeze

Alternatively, you can freeze whole twigs and thaw them again as needed, or fill the finely chopped leaves with water in ice cube molds. In this way, they can be easily portioned while cooking. In contrast to dried Dost, frozen Dost retains its color to a large extent.