Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) is an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region known for its aromatherapeutic and culinary uses. Its botanical name means "joy of the mountain" in Greek.
Marjoram is classified as a perennial, and can grow as high as 2 feet tall, and sometimes a little bit higher. It has woody square stems, an upright appearance and opposing pairs of leaves. It's closely related to (and often confused with) oregano, because of their similarity in appearance.
To make things even more confusing, their botanical names defy logic. Origanum vulgare, which is commonly known as the common oregano, is also known as wild marjoram. It can be very tricky, so thorough research must be done first before you purchase either of these plants.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Marjoram
Depending on how it's used, marjoram is known to provide the following health benefits:
- Improved digestive function — When used to make tea, marjoram can improve your digestion by increasing production of digestive enzymes that help break down food. In addition, marjoram tea can help alleviate common digestive disorders such as flatulence, constipation, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
- Protection against common illnesses — Marjoram contains various compounds that have effective antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. As such, it can help reduce your risk of diseases such as the common cold, measles, mumps, influenza, food poisoning and various staph infections.
- Improved heart health — Marjoram can help improve your overall cardiovascular health by maintaining normal blood pressure levels, which lowers your risk of hypertension. It's also known for helping reduce the buildup of cholesterol in your arteries, which can prevent heart disease.
- Anti-inflammatory effects — When added to food, marjoram can help reduce your risk of developing inflammatory reactions. It can help with conditions such as asthma, fever, muscle aches, sinus headaches and migraines.
- Psychological well-being — Marjoram, in its essential oil form, can help uplift your mood and improve your psychological well-being. It can be used to help relieve insomnia and reduce stress and anxiety.
The Various Uses of Marjoram
The beauty of marjoram is that it can be added to various dishes that use different cooking methods, such as:
- Soups — It gives vegetable soups more flavor
- Roasted meats — Marjoram can add an herbal aroma to roasted meats, such as chicken
- Sauteed vegetables — Side dishes such as sauteed vegetables become more flavorful with a dash of marjoram
- Marinades — Upgrade the taste of your marinated meat and fish dishes by adding marjoram to the marinade
Marjoram Essential Oil Has Unique Benefits
Marjoram oil happens to be popular among aromatherapy enthusiasts, and is known for providing a warm, spicy and woody scent that can provide a vast array of benefits, such as:
- Analgesic — Helps alleviate pain related to colds, fevers, inflammation and headache.
- Antiseptic — Applying marjoram essential oil on wounds can help prevent them from becoming infected.
- Antibacterial — Helps kill bacteria that may cause various skin and digestive infections.
- Carminative — Can help solve digestive problems such as flatulence by relaxing the muscles in the abdominal region.
- Diuretic — Can help increase your frequency and quantity of urination, thereby helping improve your ability to eject excess water and harmful toxins from your body.