Oregano is a common culinary herb. It seems, however, that Hildegard did not use oregano as a common kitchen herb. She used oregano for medicinal purposes only. She actually felt it was dangerous for a healthy person to consume it. She prescribed it to be used topically to treat  leprosy. For example, she suggests pounding oregano and bran into a warm paste to use on the skin sores.

In what seems to modern ears to be a bit of dark humor, she wrote the following regarding the use of this oregano-bran paste as a remedy: “[The one who is ill] should tie a bandage over this and keep it there for some time, until he becomes warm from it. If he does this frequently, he will, without a doubt be cured, unless he dies [or unless God does not wish him to be cured]. In other words, it will either save him or kill him!” (59)

Hildegard was a 12th century healer. We have learned so much more over the last 900 years than what she had access to in her time, including the many health benefits of consuming oregano. Nonetheless, so many of her natural remedies that were accurately understood continue to be used by herbalists today.

Here at the Hildegard Haus, we love oregano! So do our honeybees! We have it growing in the front herb gardens near our Shepherdess Rosa, as well as in the back raised boxes. We allow it to go to flower (rather than keeping the flowers pinched back) because the pollinators enjoy it so much.