Marjoram is a flavorful, aromatic herb.
Herbal medicines are an option for individuals seeking natural alternatives for treatment of certain conditions, but herbal remedies are not without significant risk. Marjoram is a perennial herb that is routinely included as seasoning for dishes, but an essential oil steam-distilled from marjoram is also marketed as an all-natural remedy for a variety of ailments. If you are considering incorporating marjoram into a natural health regimen, consult your doctor and assess your risk before taking the herb. Does this Spark an idea?
Allergies and Asthma
Marjoram is a member of the mint family, so avoid contact with marjoram or sweet oil of marjoram if you have an allergy to mint. Ingesting marjoram in small doses in cooking is rarely enough to cause an adverse reaction, but essential oil extracts contain highly concentrated doses of marjoram that can cause skin reactions. Even for those without any known herbal allergies, essential sweet oil of marjoram can irritate the bronchial passages of people with asthma or other impaired breathing conditions, particularly if it is used as part of an aroma therapy treatments. Another risk when using a marjoram extract is purity; some manufacturers combine sweet oil of marjoram with other oils or extracts to yield a different scent. If you are unaware of the additional ingredients, you may expose yourself to an unknown allergen.
Pregnancy Risk
Even essential oils that are deemed safe for use during pregnancy are meant to be diluted before use, but marjoram is particularly dangerous to use during pregnancy. Sweet oil of marjoram carries a risk of causes uterine contractions. Uterine contractions in the third trimester may cause premature labor, and uterine contractions earlier in a pregnancy may result in a miscarriage. Culinary marjoram used in cooking does not present the same pregnancy risk as sweet oil of marjoram.
Low Blood Pressure Risk
In herbal medicine, sweet oil of marjoram is often applied as a treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure. Though little conclusive evidence exists to support the notion that marjoram oil can cure cardiac disorders, herbal practitioners advise against using sweet oil of marjoram for people with low blood pressure. Essential oil of marjoram has mild sedative effects. An accidental overdose can significantly lower blood pressure and pose a risk for people with naturally low blood pressure.
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