The Herb Quarterly

Abscesses,toothaches,and painful neuralgia: In the old days, folks cleaned abscesses and mouth wounds with a remedy made from a tablespoon of dried oregano flowers boiled in a glass of full-bodied red wine for ten minutes.The strained flowers made an effective poultice. Today,oregano oil poked into a cavity with a wad of cotton will still relieve a toothache.Purchase this potent,volatile oil at the pharmacy.
Asthma,slow digestion,and rheumatism: Prepare a decoction by slowly bringing to boil three tablespoons dried oregano leaves and flowers in four cups of water for ten minutes.Strain,sweeten with hon- ey,and sip hot as needed during the day.
Menstrual pains,seasickness,and nasal inflammation: Make oregano tea by pouring boiling water into a cup with two teaspoons of dried oregano flowers.Sweeten with honey and drink slowly,two or three times a day,while hot.
Stuffy colds: To lighten your head,crush a pinch of dried oregano leaves into a very fine powder.Sniff the powder as you would tobacco snuff to provoke sneezing.This will relieve your stuffy head.
Insomnia: Add a small pouch of fresh,bruised oregano leaves to your bath water to help you relax before bedtime.Fill another small pouch and tuck it under your pillow.The aro- ma will calm your mind.
General aches and pains: For a medicinal tonic liquor that stimulates dull appetites (as an aperitif),helps digestion (as an after-dinner liquor),and relieves menstru- al pains,asthma,and stuffy colds (taken as needed):
Place six stems of oregano,flowers and all, together with one-half-cup of granulated sugar in a quart- sized glass canning jar.Cover tightly and set in the sun for four days,shaking occasion- ally.Then fill the jar with grappa or vodka;cover it again.Set it in a dark,cool place for a month. Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth to remove all the oregano pieces, then pour it into attractive bottles.After two weeks,the oregano liquor will be ready.Store it in the freezer and enjoy it icy cold.