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  3. MARJORAM
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MARJORAM

Origanum majorana L o Origanum hortensis o Majorana hortensis

Description

It is an annual herbaceous plant, some times it is biennial, very scented, perennial of up to 50 cm in height. Stem is erect and square, like the one of wild marjoram and branched with opposite leaves which can be both oval-shaped or lanceolate, densely pubescent. Leaves come in false verticils which are protected by dark green bracts, masked by a fine layer of white hair that gives them the whitish look. In the upper leaves axil, small white, pink or purple cup-shaped flowers sprout. They gather in dense peduncle racemes forming a spike at the upper half of stems. The 4 mm corolla is slightly longer than bracts which have glandular dots and coated with a kind of fluff. Bracts are round and imbricate; they exude, like wild marjoram, small yellow drops of essence. Fruits are four oval-shaped achenia. The whole plant gives off a pleasant scent; it tastes bitter, though. It belongs to the Labiatae family.

It is located at the north east of Africa (Egypt) and runs from Saudi Arabia to India. It was introduced to the western hemisphere in the Middle Age, by the time of the Crusades. It was so well accepted that soon spread throughout Europe, where it was more popular than in its native countries, especially for its culinary use, as a spice to elaborate sausages or stews. It blooms between July and September. The apex is harvested when the plant is just about to bloom, between spring and summer, depending on the weather. As flowers do not grow all at the same time, it is not necessary to wait for all of them to open completely; otherwise, some will die waiting for the others to mature.

Part used

Flower apexes are used.

Indications

Internal use

  • Digestive disorders: nervous dyspepsia (indigestion), hyposecretive dyspepsia, flatulence and meteorism, spasms or gastrointestinal colic, lack of appetite and diarrhea.
  • Respiratory disorders: Pharyngitis, common cold, rhinitis, dry cough, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma.
  • Urinary infections: nephritis, cystitis, urethritis. Urinary retention, edemas.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease, dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods), amenorrhea, pre-menstrual syndrome.
  • Nervous disorders: insomnia, nervousness, anxiety.
  • Neurovegetative disorders.
  • Hypertension, headache, migraine.

External use

  • Rheumatic and muscular pain, arthralgia, stiff neck, neuralgia, to be applied topically in poultices or frictions on the skin.
  • In wounds, ulcers, dermatomycosis, itching, insect bites, etc.
  • In otitis, rhinitis, sinusitis and odontalgia.

Bibliography

- Plantas Medicinales y Drogas Vegetales para infusión y tisana. S. Cañigueral, R. Vila y M. Wichtl.

- Fitoterapia aplicada. J.B. Peris, G. Stübing y B.Vanaclocha.

- PDR for Herbal Medicines. Medical Economics Company, Montvale. Second Edition. 2000; pp 833-5.

- Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine, Expanded Commission E Monographs. Integrative Medicine Communications, Newton. First Edition, 2000; pp201-4.

- Fitoterapia. Vademecum de prescripción. B. Vanaclocha y S. Cañigueral. Editorial Masson. 4ª edición.

- J. Bruneton. Farmacognosia.Editorial Acribia, S.A. 2ª edición.

- Max Rombi. 100 Plantes Medicinales. Editions Romart. Deuxieme Edition.

- Catálogo de plantas medicinales. Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos. 2003.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, Pinkas, Toeck, Trotin.Maloine S.A. 1980. Plantes médicinales des régions tempérées. Paris: Maloine, 1980.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Les Plantes dans la Therapeutique Moderne. 2ª. Paris: Maloine, 1986.

- Blumenthal, Busse, Goldberg et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. 1998. 

- Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine, Expanded Commission E Monographs. Integrative Medicine Communications, Newton. First Edition, 2000.

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