Witnessed by: TCM · Western · Unani
Oregano (Origanum vulgare), of the Lamiaceae family. Hardy aromatic perennial with wiry stems, oval leaves and clustered pink-purple flowers; native range: The Mediterranean and temperate Eurasia, on dry sunny banks and stony ground. Globally recognized as niu zhi (牛至) in Chinese, marzanjosh (مرزنجوش) in Arabic, and oregano, wild marjoram in English. The part used is flowering aerial parts; the essential oil. Warm, pungent, camphoraceous scent with a peppery, slightly bitter bite from the crushed leaf.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
OREGANO
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Oregano
- Scientific name
- Origanum vulgare L.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Form
- Part used
- flowering aerial parts; the essential oil
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · bitter
- Western
- pungent · aromatic · bitter
- Unani
- pungent · aromatic · bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cool
- Western
- warm
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd–3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Spleen · Stomach
- Western
- digestion · lungs · nerves
- Unani
- stomach · brain · uterus
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- aromatically resolves dampness and releases the exterior, clears summerheat and harmonizes the Stomach — for summer damp-heat colds and indigestion
- Western
- carminative, expectorant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue; the oil strongly antiseptic and antifungal
- Unani
- muharrik (stimulant), mufatteh (deobstruent), mudir-e-haiz (emmenagogue); for cold nervous complaints and headache
Cautions
Contraindications: medicinal and oil doses in pregnancy (emmenagogue)
Toxicity: the undiluted essential oil irritates skin and mucous membranes
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: high-dose oil brings mild antiplatelet effect and vitamin-K interference
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