Herb lovers around the world appreciate the medicinal and culinary uses of many herbs. In California, we lean towards growing native, drought-tolerant varieties. We may also look for pollinator friendly plants that host beneficial insects while deterring pests. During the current coronavirus crisis, we may search out herbal teas that calm like lavender and chamomile. Different herbs work best in fresh, dried, or essential oil form. Let’s examine an exemplary herb that does all the above – oregano!
The word oregano comes from the Greek words “oros,” which means mountain, and “ganos,” which means joy. One only has to sample chicken marinated in olive oil, oregano, and lemon at a local Greek festival to understand why the ancient Greeks and Romans have associated oregano with pure happiness for thousands of years! For "Six Reasons to Grow Oregano, read this.
Herbal expert and East Bay Herbals proprietor Anna Marie Beauchemin returns to Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center to teach the popular “Growing and Using Herbs” workshop for the third year in a row. Due to the current stay-in-place situation, please check the SCOCO website or THIS LINK to confirm date changes.
Oregano, a member of the mint family and a close relative of sweet marjoram, comes in over 40 varieties and is native to Mediterranean and Eurasian regions. It prefers hot, dry climates with full sun, so it’s perfect for the East Bay area and you can expect it to grow pretty much perennially. Here's a short article on growing oregano.
Oregano’s aromatic scent and complex bittersweet flavor add a delicious zing to Mediterranean recipes. Snip off fresh oregano leaves and sprinkle them onto grilled beef, chicken or fish. The edible white and pink flower buds provide color to your garden, are beloved by honeybees, and provide an appealing garnish. Dried oregano is more pungent than fresh and pairs well with tomato-centric and olive oil based recipes. You can use it in sauces, soups, stews, salad dressings, meat marinades, and even as an earthy substitute for basil in pesto.
Health Benefits of Oregano
Oregano is a well-known powerhouse in your arsenal of medicinal herbs. The science is still out but there are some impressive claims about this unassuming perennial. It is high in anti-oxidants and has anti-microbial properties, which means it inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. There is evidence it relieves inflammation that leads to rheumatoid arthritis, allergic asthma, and other afflictions. Several test-tube studies indicate oregano is effective against certain strains of bacteria, and some studies show that two compounds in oregano, carvacrol and thymol, inactivate viral infections that cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. Apparently oregano neutralizes free radical damage and even prevents or inhibits cancer cell growth, although this article does not make any such health claims and you would not want to use it while pregnant or breastfeeding without consulting your doctor first. Here is a medical research article about oregano from the Journal of Zhejiang University.
Oregano essential oil is the preferred method for treating various ailments, but in oil form it can be potent, both in taste and in effect, so you may have to cut it with olive or other oil in a 1:3 ratio. If you have an oregano bush at home, here’s a simple concoction for oregano tea that may help a sore throat or cough: Steep three tablespoons of crushed fresh oregano (or one tablespoon of dried oregano) in boiled water for 5 – 10 minutes, depending on your preferred strength. Flavor with honey and lemon and drink. To loosen congestion, boil a bunch of the bushy plant and inhale the rising steam. For more on the medicinal uses of various herbs, check out: https://nutritionkey.com/recipe/best-tea-cold-flu/
In the meantime, Internet searches on oregano and countless other herbs will provide you with lots of quality quarantine time. Be well and stay safe.
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