Marjoram

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Marjoram

Other Names : Garden Marjoram, Gartenmajoran, Knotted Marjoram, Majoran, Majorana Aetheroleum Oil, Majorana Herb, Majorana hortensis, Majorana majorana, Marjolaine, Marjoram Essential Oil, Marjoram Oil, Marubaka, Marwa, Mejorana, Origanum majorana, Sweet Marjoram.
People make medicine from marjoram’s flowers, leaves, and oil.
Marjoram is a member of the mint species and it was originally found in the Mediterranean. In ancient Greece people would use this plant to make wreaths and garlands as it was used to basically express peace, harmony and happiness.

Special Precautions of Marjoram

  • Avoid skin contact with fresh marjoram. It can cause eye and skin swelling.
  • Marjoram might not be safe when used long-term. There is some evidence that it could cause cancer.
  • Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is UNSAFE to use marjoram in medicinal amounts if you are pregnant. It might start your period, and that could threaten the pregnancy.
  • Not enough is known about the safety of using marjoram in medicinal amounts if you are breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
  • Children: Do not give marjoram to children in medicinal amounts. It might be UNSAFE for them.
  • Allergy to basil, hyssop, lavender, mint, oregano, and sage: Marjoram can cause allergic reactions in people allergic to these plants and other members of the Lamiaceae family of plants.
  • Lithium interacts with marjoram.
  • This sweet-flavored and mildly spicy herb is often mistaken to be oregano.

The benefits of Marjoram are

As with most other herbs marjoram contains a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals, but it's most notably a remarkable source of vitamins C and K. For every 100 gram of fresh marjoram leaves, you can get approximately 86 percent of the recommended daily intake. As for vitamin K, it will provide up 518 percent of the recommended daily intake. Although vitamin K often goes unnoticed, it does encourage osteotrophic activity in the bones and can play a vital role in the brain by diminishing possible neuronal damages suffered through afflictions such as Alzheimer's disease.

  • Gastric Ulcers : In 2009 the American Journal of Chinese Medicine reported the results of a study in which the effects of marjoram extracts were analyzed after being administered to rats displaying gastric ulcers. It's at doses ranging between 250 and 500mg per kilogram of body weight that the marjoram extracts were guaranteeing the best possible effects. Not only were they capable of reducing the number of ulcers but they also helped nourish the depleted intestinal walls, while also diminishing the concentration of malondialdehyde. Researchers also believed it had the innate ability to prevent ulcers from occurring in the first place without producing any toxicity by the same token.
  • Coughs.
  • Colds.
  • Runny nose.
  • Stomach cramps.
  • Colic.
  • Liver problems.
  • Gallstones.
  • Headache.
  • Diabetes.
  • Menopause symptoms.
  • Menstrual problems.
  • Nerve pain.
  • Muscle pain : When used in a massage, marjoram can ease the pain of sore muscles. It may also help to relieve other types of pain, caused by inflammation, seasonal illnesses or other causes. This oil has antispasmodic properties, and can alleviate cramps and muscle spasms, making it a great workout companion.
  • Sprains.
  • Promoting breast milk.
  • Improving appetite and digestion.
  • Improving sleep.
  • Sore Throat.
  • Breast cancer : A study originating from the Middle East certainly has scientists intrigued after noticing marjoram's ability to stop tumors from growing and expanding. Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University tested marjoram extracts on breast cancer cells in mice. It seems that by even using minimal amounts of the extracts, they were able stop cancer cells from dividing and therefore spreading.
  • Marjoram helps to improve circulation, and may expand the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure as well as the risk of heart attack and stroke.
  • Aromatherapy : Aching muscles, amenorrhea, bronchitis, chiliblains, colic, coughing, excessive sex drive, flatulence, hypertension, muscle cramps, neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains, strains, stress, ticks.

references

Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-65.