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Botanical illustration of Oregano

Plate IX · Leaf herb

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

A fragrant Mediterranean herb of the mint family, prized in cooking for its warm, peppery leaves.

Type
Leaf herb
Family
Lamiaceae
Origin
Mediterranean & western Asia

Oregano is a hardy perennial with small oval leaves and clusters of tiny pink to purple flowers. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it is a pillar of Greek, Italian and Mexican cooking, and its flavour intensifies when the leaves are dried.

How oregano is prepared

Oregano is used fresh or dried as a culinary herb, steeped as a tea, or steam-distilled into a highly concentrated essential oil. The culinary herb and the essential oil are very different in strength. In ASPHODEL Botanical Complex, oregano is one of the supporting botanicals in the 18-in-1 blend.

Tradition, research, and what is established

We keep these three things separate, because they are not the same.

Traditional use

Oregano has a long history in Mediterranean folk practice, where it was taken as a tea and used as a culinary herb.

Preliminary research

Oregano’s aroma comes largely from carvacrol and thymol. These compounds are of active laboratory interest, but laboratory findings do not establish effects in people.

Established

Carvacrol is the principal aromatic compound in many oregano varieties, and the concentrated essential oil is far stronger than the culinary herb.

Reading a supplement label

On a supplement label, look for three things: the scientific name (Origanum vulgare), the part used (typically the leaf), and the amount per serving listed in the Supplement Facts panel. Those details, taken from the supplier’s documentation, tell you more about a product than any marketing claim.

Oregano in the ASPHODEL collection

In the ASPHODEL collection, you will find this ingredient in ASPHODEL Botanical Complex. Each product page lists its ingredients and label details from verified supplier documentation, and the Botanical Journal explores the history and research behind the plants and fungi we work with.

Botanical reference: Origanum vulgare on Wikipedia

This page is educational and describes the history and characteristics of a botanical. It is not medical advice and does not describe the effects of any ASPHODEL product.

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Products with Oregano

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