Today's Nature post features Marjoram! Marjoram, Origanum Majorana, is a perennial herb or shrub that is also known as Knotted Marjoram and Sweet Marjoram. Belonging to the plant genus Origanum, Marjoram is related to dill, cumin, fennel, and often confused with, oregano. Native to Mediterranean areas, this plant can be found throughout areas such as southern Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. It has a preference for growing in well-drained lime soils and can grow up to approximately 30 inches tall with oval shaped, dark green leaves, tiny pink-white flowers, and a fuzzy stem. As an herb, Marjoram is known for it's sweet flavor and pungent, citrus taste. Marjoram possesses a vast array of beneficial properties such as phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals that aid in reaching better health. Many of the compounds found in Marjoram work together as anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds. this plant contains high levels of Vitamin-C, beta-carotene, vitamin-A, and powerful antioxidants such as xanthins, carotene, and lutein. Vitamin- A is known for aiding in healthy eyesight while the Vitamin-K found in Marjoram is known to aid in building bone mass as well as treating Alzheimer's disease. Incredibly, Marjoram also possesses minerals like iron, potassium, copper, zinc, magnesium, and more. Because of so many beneficial properties of this herb, it is used in multiple functions for health benefits. These include being taken in moderation for menstruation pains, in tea for relieving nausea, and as essential oils for multiple uses such as muscular pain and rheumatism. The oils within Marjoram are even known to have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Inhaling Marjoram essential oils for aromatherapy is known to calm the nervous system and provide benefits to your cardiovascular system by lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow. Marjoram has also been used to treat dizziness, migraines, coughs, digestive problems, depression, nerve pain, and paralysis. It's ability to aid in digestion, menstrual cramps, and easing flatulence is due to it's ability to relax the muscles of the digestion system as well as the womb. However, do not ingest while pregnant. Able to stimulate circulation, Marjoram gives a warm feeling associated with it's role in increasing happiness and love. The uses for Marjoram go back far into history. In Greek tales, the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was known to love Marjoram and it was used often for love potions. It was also common in culinary practices by being added to stews, salad dressings, and various dishes. It's Latin name translates to "Mountain Joy" which is apt due to it's history of being made into wreaths for young couples to wear on their wedding days. It was also used in hand fasting rites due to it's ability to spread joy, bring good fortune, and aid in protection. Marjoram is sacred to the Greek God Hymen, son of Aphrodite, who watches over marital unions. This herb is also noted as enabling those to connect with their ancestors or deceased love ones and was even planted on graves because it was thought to give indications of the state of the deceased in other realms. Marjoram is associated as a masculine plant and connected with the element air.