Herbs from Distant Lands: Lippia micromera

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Lippia micromera - Jamaican Oregano, False Thyme

Polska wersja

PLANT PROFILE

While for people of temperate climate regions, Oregano means strictly mediterrean Origanum vulgare, in tropics it means usually Plectranthus amboinicus, Poliomintha bustamanta (or P. longiflora ) or Lippia micromera (or Lippia graveolens). Even though those four herb genuses look quite different, it all have very similar taste, aroma and medicinal values, thanks to carvacrol and thymol, that they all contain. Lippia micromera is native to North of South America and Caribbean Islands, and is widely cultivated throughout tropics up to the Philippines (where many people believe that it is Origanum vulgare or Marjoram). It has long history of use as a spice and medicine in Caribbeans, Central America and North South America.
It's common names include Jamaican Oregano, Dominican Oregano, Carribean Oregano, Mexican Oregano, Spanish Thyme, Oregano del Pais, Oregano Poleo, Puerto Rican Oregano, Oregano Chiquito, False Thyme, False Oregano, Petite Thyme, Oregato and Oreganillo.

CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

Lippia micromera is sun loving, perennial, tropical bush with thin, tender, wheeping branches, reaching usually less than 2m, and tiny leaves around 1cm short and smaller flowers. It naturally inhabit dry hillsides and edges of forests. It like sandy loam and well-drained soils, with neutral or alcaline pH. Jamaican Oregano will survive on very pore soil, but to thrive it needs more compost. This plant will stand well in strong heat and severe draught, but excess of water might kill it. It is not hardy but can be grown as container houseplant in temperate regions.

CULINARY USES

Fresh or dried leaves of Jamaican Oregano are traditionaly used as a spice in Caribbean cuisine. It can be used in same wide way as Greek Oregano, but it's taste and aroma is more intense and ritcher . It is used for meat or fish dishes, pizzas, stuffings, stews, soups and salads. To prevent its aroma to evaporate with the steam it is best added in last minutes of cooking.

MEDICINAL USES

Lippia micromera is traditionaly used for asthma, bronchitis, common cold, cough, flu, oliguria, to support digestion and ease stomach infections, it is eaten fresh or drunk in form of tea. Strong infusion can also be used for mouthwash. It acts as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-yeast, diuretic, depurative, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic, antiemetic, demulcent, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, diuretic. Chemical composition of Lippia micromera's essential oil strongly vary in proportions of carvacrol (26,5 - 48%), thymol (7,1 - 33,7%), y-terpinene (4,5 - 22,5%), p-cymene (11,5 - 16,2%), beta-caryophyllene (12,1%),1,8-cineole (2,2%), it also contain small amounts of limonene, linalool, geranial, eugenol, neral and menthol.
This herb is one of most commonly used herbs in Caribbean culture to fight ''fright'', caused by shock, fear or worry. Lippia micromera should not be taken in significant amounts, during pregnancy.