Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Origanum syriacum L

Biblical Hyssop, Syrain Oregano, Wild Majoran

Family

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Synonym(s)

Majorana syriaca (L.) Kostel. Majorana syriaca (L.) Raf. Majorana syriaca (L.) Feinbrun

English name(s)

Biblical Hyssop
Syrain Oregano
Wild Majoran

Arabic Name(s)

sa'tar صعتر/ سعتر
za'tar barri زعتر بري
za'tar زعتر

Hebrew Name(s)

ezov matzuy

אֵזוֹב מָצוּי

Life Form

Chamaephyte

Habitat

Batha
Mediterranean maquis and forest
Phrygana
Hard rock outcrops

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Origanum syriacum L

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Ageing	Forgetfulness	Nootropic	1.Eat leaves + olive oil. 2. Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup /day. 3. Grind dry leaves, mix + sesame + oilve oil & add mixture to flour; prepare dough as pastry & eat.	Leaf	B
Cancer	Cancer	Anti-carcinogenic	1.Decoct aerial parts & drink x 2 /day until recovery. 2. Decoct aerial parts + mint (Mentha spicata) & drink x1 cup/day until recovery. 3. Add ground leaves to flour, prepare dough as pastry & eat when available.	Aerial parts, Leaf	B
Cardiovascular	Heart disease	Cardiac	Decoct leaves & drink x1-2 cups/day as needed.	Leaf	B
Cardiovascular	Heart pain & swelling of legs/ body (? Heart failure)	Analgesic, Cardiac, Diuretic	Prepare tea from leaves/ non-woody parts of stems + rosemary + sage. (Admin. not specified.)	Leaf, Stem	Z
Dermatological	Scabies	Scabicide	Crush fresh aerial parts & rub over affected area.	Aerial parts	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Earache	Analgesic	Mix leaves / non-woody parts of stems + Ruta sp. + olive oil & apply as drops to ear.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Throat inflammation	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Soak leaves in boiling water & drink 1 cup x2/day for 3 days.	Leaf	B
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Obesity	Anti-obesity	1. Mix aerial parts + equal amounts rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis) + silver nail root (Paronychia argentia) + lady`s mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora); boil in water for 2 min & drink x1-2 cups/day. 2. Decoct aerial parts & drink 1 cup x2/day.	Aerial parts	B
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain/ stomach ache	Carminative	1. Decoct leaves & drink x1-2 cups /day as needed. 2. Decoct aerial parts + mint (Mentha sp.) & drink x1 cup when needed. 3. Mix leaves + leaves of; chamomile (Matricaria recutita) + aniseed (Anisum vulgare) + cumin (Cuminum cyminum) + sorghum (Sorghum bicolor )+ roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) + sage (Salvia fruticosa)+ dill (Anethum graveolens); add small amount of this mixture to boiled water & drink x1-2 cups/day. 4.Prepare infusion of aerial parts & drink x 2-3 cups/day (+honey as required).	Aerial parts, Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	Decoct leaves & drink x1-2 cups/day as needed.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Dysentery	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	1. This recipe is in 2 parts A & B: A. Grind aerial parts of plant & eat. B. After eat a hardboiled egg. 2. Cook overground parts of plant + Rhus fruits & eat.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Pain, spasms of digestive tract	Anti-spasmodic, Carminative	1. Decoct leaves & drink x3 cups/day. 2. Mix leaves & non-woody parts of stems + Salvia sp. + Matricaria sp. + Rosmarinus sp. (Preperation not specified); drink the mixture. 3. Cook leaves & non-wody parts of stems in water & drink.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Gastrointestinal	Stomach ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Decoct aerial parts + oak bark (Quercus calliprinos) + fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) + anise (Anisum vulgare ) + black cumin (Nigella ciliaris); drink 1 cup x3/day.	Aerial parts	B
General	Fever	Anti-pyretic	Decoct leaves & drink 1 cup x3/day until well.	Leaf	B
General	Oedema	Anti-hydropic	Decoct leaves in water & drink instead of water for 40 days.	Leaf	Z
Helminth infections	Intestinal worms	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	1. Mix 2 teaspoons flowers + 3 teaspoons thyme oil & take small amount (equall to a Chickpea seed) x3/day for 1 week. 2. Prepare infusion of aerial parts & drink x1-2 cups/day.	Aerial parts, Flower	B
Infectious Diseases	Herpes infection	Anti-herpetic	Crush fresh aerial parts & rub over affected area.	Leaf	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic	Diuretic	Cook leaves & non-woody parts of stems in water & drink.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary tract infection	Anti-Infective	Boil aerial parts in water for 10 min, filter & drink 1 cup x3 /day for 3 days.	Aerial parts	B
Mental Health	Depression	Anti-depressant	1. Decoct aerial parts & drink x1 cup before bed. 2. Decoct aerial parts + mint & drink x1 cup when needed.	Aerial parts	B
Mental Health	Insanity & as a tranquilizer	Anti-psychotic, Sedative	Mix leaves & non-woody parts of stems + almonds (Prunus amygdalus) + passulae (type of raisin i.e.Vitis vinifera) + walnut (Juglans sp.) + garlic (Allium sativum) + Nigella sp. + Cinnamon + Piper nigrum + sesamum + olive oil. (Further details Preparation/Admin. not specified.)	Leaf, Stem	Z
Men`s Health/ Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups /day.	Leaf	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Arthritis	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Decoct aerial parts in water for 10 min, filter & drink 1 cup x3 /day as needed.	Aerial parts	B
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Muscle spasm	Anti-spasmodic, Muscle relaxant	Mix aerial parts + oils of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) + clove (Syzygium aromaticum); place on cloth & apply to affected area x1-2 /day.	Aerial parts	B
Nervous System	Headache	Analgesic	1. Mix leaves & non-woody parts of stems + Ruta sp. + olive oil & apply to ear.(Z) 2. Prepare extract/infusion of leaves & non-woody parts of stems & apply to ear. (Z) 3. Decoct aerial parts + mint (Mentha spicata) & drink x1 cup and/or inhale the steam. (B)	Leaf, Stem	Z
Opthalmic	Eye inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	1. Add 1 teaspoon ground, dried leaves to 1 cup water; add piece of radish to solution & rub mixture over affected eye hourly until relief. 2. Boil flowers in water & expose affected eye to vapour x1/day until healed. .	Flower, Leaf	B
Oral Health	Gingivitis	Anti-gum disease	1. Decoct aerial parts & drink x 1 cup as needed. 2. Decoct leaves & use as mouth wash x1-2/day.	Aerial parts, Leaf	B
Oral Health	Tooth pain	Analgesic	1. Decoct flowers & drink x3/day.(B) 2. Decoct plant leaves & use as mouth wash x1-2 /day. (B) 3. Decoct aerial parts & drink x 1 cup as needed. (B) 4. Chew fresh aerial parts. (Z) 5. Cook aerial parts + vinegar + cumin + olive oil & apply to tooth.	Aerial parts, Flower, Leaf	B, Z
Respiratory	Allergic cough	Anti-allergy, Anti-tussive	Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day or x1 large cup as needed.	Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Asthma	Anti-asthmatic	Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day or x1 large cup as needed.	Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Breathing difficulties	Anti-asthmatic	Soak leaves in boiling water & use steam as inhalation x3 /day.	Leaf	B
Respiratory	Chest pain (with cough)	Analgesic	Soak aerial parts in boiling water & drink x1 cup/day until recovery.	Aerial parts	B
Respiratory	Common cold	Anti-Infective	1. Prepare infusion of aerial parts & drink x2-3 cups/day (+ honey as required). (B) 2. Decoct leaves in water & drink x2 cups/day. (Z)	Aerial parts, Leaf	B, Z
Respiratory	Cough	Anti-tussive	1. Decoct leaves in water, leave 10 min & drink x2-3 cups/day for 5 days. 2. Decoct in water mixture of leaves +black cumin (Nigella ciliaris)+ chamomile (Matricaria recutita)+ aniseed (Anisum vulgare) +cumin (Cuminum cyminum) + sage (Salvia fruticosa) + dill (Anethum graveolens); drink 1-2 cups x3/day. 3. Decoct leaves & drink x1-2 cups/day as needed. 4. Boil leaves + dried fig fruits for 5 min, filter & drink 1 cup x2/day for 3 days. 5. Prepare infusion of leaves & drink x2-3 cups/day (+honey as required).	Leaf	B
Respiratory	Influenza	Anti-Infective	1. Decoct leaves &/or aerial parts, leave 10 min & drink x1 cup/day for 2 days or 2-3 cups day for 5 days or (with aerial parts) 1 cup x 3/day. 2. Boil leaves + dried fig fruits (Ficus carica) for 5 min, filter & drink 1 cup x2/day for 3 days. 3. Boil aerial parts in water + chamomile (Matricaria recutita) + anise (Anisum vulgare) + cumin (Cuminum cyminum) +black cumin (Nigella ciliaris) + sage (Salvia fruticosa) + dill (Anethum graveolens); drink 1-2 cups x3/day. 4. Decoct aerial parts + chamomile (Maticaria aurea) & drink 1 cup x2/day for a week. 5. Prepare infusion of aerial parts & drink x2-3 cups/day (+honey as required). 6. Decoct aerial parts + lion's Foot (Alchemilla xanthochlora) + rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) & drink x1-2 cups/day.	Aerial parts, Leaf	B
Venoms, Bites & Stings	Dog bite	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	Mix plant + salt + mashed onion & apply to bite.	Aerial parts	Z
Women`s Health	Antiseptic for female genitalia	Anti-septic	Mix leaves & non-woody parts of stems + Ruta sp. + Pelargonium sp. + Rosmarinus sp. + Curcuma + salt. (Admin. not specified.)	Leaf, Stem	Z
Women`s Health	Cracked nipples	Emollient	Boil ? kg leaves in 1L water & use topically in bathing x1/day.	Leaf	B
Women`s Health	Ease labour pains	Analgesic, Tocolytic	1. Prepare tea from leaves & non-woody parts of stems & drink. 2. Cook leaves & non-woody parts of stems in water & drink.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Wound Healing	Wound antiseptic	Anti-septic	Grind leaves to fine powder & apply to wound.	Leaf	Z

Other Uses

Origanum syriacum L

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Culinary	Condiment in cooking	Nutritive, Seasoning	Preparation/ Admin. not specified. (See NOTES)	Leaf, Stem	Z
Veterinary	Appetizer for animals	Stomachic	Decoct aerial parts in water, filter & add to animals drinking water (cows, sheep, goats etc).	Aerial parts	B
Veterinary	Flatulence in animals	Carminative	Boil aerial parts in water, filter & add to animals drinking water (cows, sheep, goats etc).	Aerial parts	B
Veterinary	Respiratory problems in animals	Anti-Infective	Boil aerial parts in water, filter & add to animals drinking water (cows, sheep, goats etc).	Aerial parts	B

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

Ground leaves & stems of Origanum syriaca are commonly used as a seasoning in cooking.