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Oregano

Coleus amboinicus Lour.

Oregano

Description

Suganda/oregano is an erect, spreading, branched, rather coarse, strongly aromatic, green herb, with fleshy stems. Leaves are fleshy, broadly ovate, 4 to 9 centimeters long, often heart-shaped, and somewhat hairy, with rounded toothed margins, with the tip and base decurrent. Flowers are small, and occur in distant whorls. Calyx is bell-shaped; the throat is smooth inside, with two lips, the upper lip being ovate and thin, the lower lip having four narrow teeth. Corolla is pale purplish and 5 times longer than the calyx, with a short tube, inflated throat, and short lips. 

Uses

  • Centipede and scorpion bites
  • Otalgia/earaches
  • Burns
  • Headache
  • Asthma
  • Dyspepsia
  • Chronic coughs
  • Bronchitis
  • Colic
  • Flatulence
  • Rheumatism
  • Carbuncles/boils
  • Sprains
  • Painful swellings
  • Sore throat
  • diarrhea
  • epilepsy
  • nephro-cystolithiasis
  • fever
  • indigestion
  • malarial fever
  • hepatopathy
  • renal and vesicle calculi
  • hiccup 
  • helminthiasis 
  • colic 
  • convulsions.

Plant Part Used

Leaves

Distribution

  • Introduced; not naturalized.
  • Cultivated for its aromatic leaves.
  • Native to Angola, Burundi, Eswatini, India, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, Tanzania, Yemen.

Preparation

  • Macerated fresh leaves applied externally to burns · 
  • 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 (earaches), 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.
  • Expressed juice applied around the orbit to relieve conjunctival pain
  • Respiratory ailments like cough, asthma and bronchitis: Squeeze juice of the leaves. Take one teaspoon every hour for adults. For children above 2 years old, 3 to 4 teaspoons a day
  • Leaves are applied to cracks at the corners of the mouth, for thrush, headaches; against fever as a massage or as a wash
  • Homemade Oregano Oil Infusion (for Topical or Mild Use) 
  1. Ingredients: Equal parts (e.g., ½ cup) dried or crushed fresh oregano leaves and a food-grade carrier oil like extra-virgin olive oil. 
  2. Preparation: Gently crush the leaves to release their natural oils. Warm the oil slightly, combine it with the oregano in a sterilized glass jar, and let it infuse in a dark place for 2 to 6 weeks, shaking daily before straining 

References

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