It's difficult to think of a common kitchen herb like Oregano as a medical remedy, but it has in fact been used as a drug since the time of the ancient Greeks and Chinese.
n China, doctors prescribed it to relieve fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and itchy skin, while the Greeks made compresses from the leaves to treat sores and aching muscles.
The primary ingredients in Oregano are thymol and carvacrol, which are also found in thyme. These compounds, researchers have found, help loosen phlegm in the lungs and relieve spasms in the bronchial passages.
Many commercial cough remedies, including cough drops and skin rubs such as Vicks VapoRub, contain thymol.
Harvested during the flowering season and dried on the field or under a roof, Oregano has bright purple flowers and an aromatic scent. Its medicinal value lies in the oil found in its leaves.