Oregano contains much health benefiting essential oils such as carvacrol thymol limonene pinene ocimene and caryophyllene. Its leaves and the flowering stem has antiseptic antispasmodic carminative cholagogues (emptiesallbladder collection of bile juice) diaphoretic (sweat production) expectorant stimulant and mildly tonic properties. Its decoction is taken by mouth for the treatment of colds influenza mild fevers indigestion stomach upsets and painful menstruation conditions.