Oregano Has Medical Use

Get back to your roots

Herbalist Mariam Khan is keen to share her knowledge of natural remedies on her monthly herb walks. NAOMI LEACH meets her

If you’re feeling ill, are stricken with seasonal hay fever or are struggling with a lingering ailment, put down those prescription drugs, urges herbalist Mariam Khan. The expert in traditional medicinal practices believes people’s health would benefit from turning to nature first rather than depending solely upon science. And furthermore, she is keen to teach people how to pick plants and herbs for themselves.

Despite it being only 9am, the blistering heat begins to pierce through the clouds and the idea of walking around Athalassa forest is growing less and less appealing. But just as Mariam has anticipated, the pine trees of the forest provide an unexpected coolness and welcome shade. As we sit to talk, Mariam comes across as polite, well spoken and earnest about her mission to “break the Cypriot mindset about medicine” and to change the contents of people’s home medicine cabinets. “Aspirin was developed from the willow plant after all,” she reminds.

“We’re on the path to becoming a medicated nation. Doctors don’t have feelings and don’t spend time with their patients. I used to have a ‘word of mouth’ clinic with a friend and I would book one hour for patients. You can replace the cabinet of medicines with herbs even for major illnesses. It’s about the patient believing and taking responsibility,” Mariam explains.

Despite recent EU measures to ban most alternative medicine in favour of pharmaceuticals, Mariam stresses that people can find remedies for themselves.

“My mission is to teach individuals what they can pick themselves to cure their own illnesses. Yes there are new laws but what upsets me is that herbal medicine is so expensive when your garden provides it for you. Don’t panic when there’s something wrong, everything is here for you to cure it and it’s free. It’s nice to share knowledge and it’s important to say I’ve experienced a real miracle and it works,” she enthuses.

Mariam is one of the people who established the Cyprus Herb Society and she began her herb walks earlier this year. The monthly morning seminars are held for six to ten people so that she can introduce them to the herbs of the forest. Each walk and seminar will be based on a specific topic and Mariam shows people how to make extracts for tinctures too.

Herbs: Cuban Oregano: Culinary, Medicinal Uses and Nutrition

Refers to Ambon, a mountainous, fertile island located in the Maluku Islands near Indonesia. From there the plants propagation spread throughout the East Indies, Africa, and was eventually naturalized in Latin America by the Spanish, who named this herb ‘oregano de la Hoja Ancha‘. Cuban oregano can still be found growing wild in the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, and because it is easy to grow, and can survive considerable neglect, it is a popular house plant found worldwide.

Cuban oregano is one of 350 plant species, of the Plectranthus genus, mostly grown as ornamental house plants. This herb has velvety textured leaves and small lavender flowers in spring and summer. Varieties to look out for, for the herb or kitchen garden include; Marble, Golden Ruffles, Silver Shield, Well-Sweep Wedgewood, and also attractive variegated types.

Culinary Uses: In India, Cuban oregano is known as Indian borage and because of its strong aromatic flavor is often used in fish curries and mutton dishes. Because the taste of this herb is considered similar to oregano; thyme, sage or the spice ajowan or ajowan caraway, it is interchangeable with those herbs. In fact, some store bought brands of ground oregano (Origanum vulgare) or spice blends might also contain Cuban oregano; look for “oregano flavored” as a clue.

In the West Indies this herb is dried and added to some jerk seasoning blends, and in Cuba it is added to black beans or frijoles negros, and also salsa’s. In Japan the leaves are prepared and cooked like spinach.

Medicinal Uses: In Singapore and China this herb is called dao shou xiang, which roughly translates as “makes the hands fragrant”. It is grown as a potherb and primarily valued for its benefits as an ingredient in medicinal tea. Plectranthus amboinicus is thought to help soothe digestion, relax spasms, and it has antibiotic, expectorant and laxative effects. The leaf juice is mixed with sugar and given to children for coughs. In Venezuela this herb is taken to expel kidney stones, and in Curacao and Aruba it’s taken to relieve headaches.