SATUREJA HORTENSIS

SUMMER SAVORY

Description:  Natural Order, Labiatae.  This is a well-known garden plant, with bushy stems, very small leaves, and little pink flowers, extensively cultivated as a fragrant pot herb.   It yields an essential oil by distillation, and has an odor and taste similar to thyme.

Properties and Uses:  This herb is seldom used in medicine, but is quite an efficient aromatic stimulant.  A warm infusion induces perspiration, and is useful in recent colds, incipient fever, measles, and painful and acutely obstructed menstruation. It is also a good carminative.   The better method of using it, is to combine a drachm of the leaves with an ounce of asclepias tuberosa; or it may be associated with angelica and anise for colic and flatulence.