Marjoram
Parts Usually Used
The herb, fresh or dried
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Sweet marjoram occurs in both annual and perennial varieties; a spreading plant 1 1/2 feet tall produces attractive golden leaves in spring that turn green in late summer. the square, branched, four-angled, stem is downy with gray hair and bears small, petioled, opposite, elliptical leaves, also with gray down. Terminating the stems and borne on long stalks in the axils of the upper leaves are dense clusters of tiny rose-purple, two-lipped flowers.
The flower clusters are partly hidden by purplish bracts. Bloom from July to September. Full sun. Zones 3-10. Closely related to Oregano, the main difference being that marjoram is less hardy and has a more distinctively sweet yet more delicate flavor. Another variety; The Chinese marjoram (Origanum marjorana) is called Ching-chich, used mainly as a relief for headaches.
Where Found
Growing wild in the Mediterranean are and in Asia; cultivated in the United States. Native to Europe, naturalized in disturbed areas, usually on calcareous soils, from Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to North Carolina and west to Oregon and California. Widely cultivated.
Medicinal Properties
Diaphoretic, carminative, expectorant, aromatic, and digestive, sedative, antispasmodic, tonic, condiment, emmenagogue
Biochemical Information
Essential oil, terpenes (terpinene, terpineol and borneol) and tannins
Legends, Myths and Stories
Sweet marjoram was on of the Greeks’ favorite herbs. According to Greek legend, Aphrodite first cultivated the marjoram, and its sweet scent came from her gentle touch. Because of its association with Aphrodite, the ancient Greeks wore wreaths of it as wedding flowers. They also considered it an antidote for snakebite. And if it failed in that use, they planted it on the grave in the belief that it would help the dead to sleep in peace.
Marjoram was used in herbal smoke mixtures to flavor tobacco and snuff. In Germany, the dried herb is occasionally suspended in a cask of beer to correct its tart or acid taste. The flavor of marjoram is similar to thyme; aromatic, peppery. It is said that if you rub a little marjoram on your skin before you sleep, you’ll dream of the one you’ll marry.
Uses
Historically, herbalists prepared marjoram as a tea, which was traditionally consumed for sleeplessness, intestinal and menstrual cramps, nervous stomach upset, poor appetite, headaches, coughs, and seasickness. Folk traditions also utilized the infusion for dropsy, jaundice, scurvy, and bladder complaints, as well as to encourage bowel regularity and act as a diuretic. Sweet marjoram tea was occasionally given to children for colic, while practitioners also employed the herb for gastritis.
Externally, the oil of marjoram was traditionally applied for toothaches, varicose veins, gout, rheumatism, and stiff joints, while the plant material was sometimes sewn into herb pillows intended to soothe rheumatic discomfort. Historical preparations were also used for insect bites, snakebites, and skin itching. Beyond domestic and folk medicine, marjoram was widely utilized as a culinary herb and in perfumery.
How Sold
Powder
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine , by Dr. A. , 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. , Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants , by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992).
Old Ways Rediscovered , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988 The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living , by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988). , West Nyack, NY, 1987. The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc.
, 1974 The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. Country Home Book of Herbs , Meredith Books, Editorial Dept. RW240, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023, copyright 1994 The Healing Plants , by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. , Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992