Oregano (Coleus aromaticus Benth.)

English: Oregano
Tagalog: Oregano

An aromatic Eurasian plant related to marjoram, with small purple flowers and leaves used as a culinary herb.

Strongly aromatic erect, spreading plant, with many branches, with fleshy leaves and stems.

Leaves are heart-shaped, 4 to 9 cm long, the margins toothed and rounded, with small flowers.

Chemical constituents and Medicinal Properties

•  Aromatic, carminative, emmenagogue, diaphoretic, tonic, stimulant.
•  Fresh leaves yield 0.055 volatile oil, largely carvacrol.

Distribution

•  Cultivated in the Philippines.

Parts utilized

•  Leaves

Medicinal uses

• The juice of the leaves for dyspepsia, asthma, chronic coughs, bronchitis, colic, flatulence, rheumatism. The dose is one tablespoonful of the fresh juice every hour for adults and one teaspoonful every two hours, four times daily, for children. As an infusion, 50 to 60 grams to a pint of boiling water, and drink the tea, 4 to 5 glasses a day. For children, 1/2 cup 4 times daily.
• For otalgia (ear aches), pour the fresh, pure juice into the ear for 10 minutes.
• For carbuncles, boils, sprains, felons, painful swellings: Apply the poultice of leaves to the affected area, four times daily.
• For sore throats, a decoction of two tablespoonfuls of dried leaves to a pint of boiling water, taken one hour before or after meals.
  Decoction of leaves is given after childbirth.