The homeland of oregano is considered to be the Mediterranean, it is distributed almost throughout Europe, in Russia this plant can be found anywhere except in the Northern regions. Oregano grows in the forest-steppe and steppe zone, on the edges, meadows, in open dry places, on hillsides, its stems are erect, purple in color. Oregano herb is used in folk and traditional medicine. It can grow up to 900 mm, grass without roots is used as raw material, coarse stems are usually not used, since they have few vitamin substances.
The best quality is the raw materials collected during flowering (from June to September). The collected grass is tied in bunches, they must be dried in special well-ventilated dryers, under a canopy or roof in the shade. The drying temperature should be no more than 35 degrees; at a higher temperature, valuable oregano essential oil evaporates. The dried oregano is processed on a coarse mesh sieve, stored in tightly sealed glass containers for about three years. The plant has a fragrant smell and a bitter-astringent taste.
By its chemical composition, the grass is rich in tannins and dyes, it contains a lot of essential oil and free alcohols, it also contains a large amount of vitamin C. The listed components are very useful in the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract. During illness, oregano is added to tea. Also, this plant is part of breast collections - this is due to its disinfectant and antispastic (expectorant) properties.
In medical practice, oregano has been used in the form of soothing infusions for chronic insomnia, nervous diseases, it is recommended for almost all disorders of the nervous system. Well established infusion in the treatment of bronchitis, as an expectorant and diaphoretic.
In addition, oregano infusion is used in the treatment of urological diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver diseases, convulsions, hypertension and a number of other ailments. Great healing power in relation to many health problems has oregano juice mixed with honey, which should be taken regularly, in a tablespoon.
Oregano broth is used externally for inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx, for the preparation of aromatic baths. Oregano oil is used for toothache, and is also used in external ointments. With a runny nose and headaches, you can smell finely ground flowers and leaves of oregano.
Traditional medicine advises drinking an oregano broth with pain in the heart, abdomen, gynecological diseases, nervous diseases, insomnia, colds, coughs, etc. Tea from oregano, infusion mixed with chamomile and sage - traditional medicine plays a large role in these drinks. Traditional healers practice the treatment of various wounds using a decoction of herbs such as oregano. The use of this decoction also helps in the treatment of whooping cough and bronchitis (for therapeutic baths). For this, a hundred grams of grass is boiled in a liter of water, insisted for about 10 minutes, then added to the prepared bath.
Oregano has been used not only in traditional and traditional medicine, it is actively used in cooking and perfumery. The leaves of the plant are a wonderful spicy supplement to meat and vegetable dishes, salads and homemade cakes, sausages and ham. The perfume industry uses the pleasant smell of plant essential oil to make ointments and soaps. In the application of oregano and its components there are limitations. The use of oregano in severe forms of heart disease and pregnancy is not recommended. It is also undesirable to use it for hypertension, chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer and stomach.