The Herbarium
Part I · Medicinal herbs
Herb. No. 065
Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Lamiaceae
A hot Mediterranean mint — pizza leaf, and a traditional winter antimicrobial tea.
Culinary herb. Oil of oregano is a concentrated product, not a kitchen pinch.
- Parts used
- Aerial parts
- Traditional notes
- Wet cough · Sore throat gargle · Kitchen seasoning · After heavy meat
- Grow · USDA 6b
- Perennial, USDA 5–9 Division or plants. Seed is tiny. In work: May · Jun · Jul · Aug
- Harvest
- Cut as flowers open; flavor peaks then.
- Bake it. Oregano in shade is minty and weak.
- Cut as it begins to flower for the strongest leaf.
- Greek types are hotter; Italian is milder — know what you planted.
Safety
Undiluted oil internally Large medicinal teas in pregnancy
Companions
Plant with Broccoli, Garden sage, Grape, Lavender, Rosemary, Sweet basil.
Lore
The joy of the mountain — oros ganos. Pizza is a delivery system for carvacrol. Oil of oregano is a caustic extract, not a pinch from the jar, and the two should not be confused at 2 a.m.
The Herbarium — a teaching catalog, not a clinic. Traditional use is history, not a prescription. USDA 6b dates are a week either way, not a promise. Do not eat, drink, or harvest a plant you cannot name.