Oregano, also known as wild marjoram, is a perennial in the mint
family that is native to the Mediterranean region. Although its
notoriety as the “pizza herb” in the US didn’t catch until World War II
soldiers returned home from southern Italy, they were more likely to
encounter the herb in the local cuisine as seasoning for grilled or
roasted meats and vegetables.
Owing to high concentrations of the antimicrobial agents, thymol and
carvacrol, oregano also has a long history of use as a topical
antiseptic. In fact, Hippocrates, the Greek physician also known as the
Father of Medicine, endorsed the use of oregano for this purpose.
