Winter savoury
Satureja montana
In cosmetics
Properties: Perfuming, soothing skin, conditioning, masking, antibacterial, antioxidant, astringent
Skin: Crushed winter savoury leaves rubbed on insect bites and bee or wasp stings brings instant relief
An ointment made from the plant is used externally to relieve arthritic joints
Hair: The essential oil forms an ingredient in lotions for the scalp in cases of incipient baldness.
As a medicine
Properties
Mildly antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, mildly expectorant and stomachic
Effects
Taken internally, it is said to be a remedy for diarrhoea, colic and flatulence, and is also used to treat gastro-enteritis, with an effect upon the whole digestive system.
Winter savoury can also treat cystitis, candida, bronchial congestion, sore throat and menstrual disorders.
Contraindications
It should not be prescribed for pregnant women
Culinary uses
Winter savoury has been used for hundreds of years. Both it and summer savoury have been grown and used, virtually side by side. Winter savoury’s strong spicy flavour goes particularly well with any type of mushroom, or in white sauces, and is very good in potato salads. Small amounts spice a regular salad well.
In cooking, winter savoury has a reputation for going very well with both beans and meats, very often lighter meats such as chicken or turkey, and can be used in stuffing. It has a strong flavour while uncooked but loses much of its flavour under prolonged cooking.
Savoury is commonly used in herb blends, particularly a Middle Eastern blend za’tar, which is a mix of savoury, thyme, and marjoram.
Interesting facts
Winter savoury and its near relative
The plant has a stronger action than the closely related summer savoury.
In traditional herbal medicine
Summer savoury was believed to be an aphrodisiac, while winter savoury was believed to inhibit sexual desire.
In history
Romans used this herb for cooking and introduced it to England during Caesar’s time.
The American colonists brought both winter and summer savoury to North America, they were planted around beehives to flavour the honey.
In the garden
It is used as a companion plant for beans, keeping bean weevils away, and also roses, reducing mildew and aphids.
Origin of name
It is derived from the word satyr, the half-man, half-goat creature in mythology who owned the savories.
Other Names
Ajedrea, Calamintha montana, Herbe de Saint Julien, Mountain Savory Oil, Poivre d’Âne, Sadrée, Sarriette, Sarriette des Montagnes, Sarriette Vivace, Satureja montana, Satureja obovata, Savory, Savourée.
Mythologies and stories
Savoury was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The genus Satureja is named after the satyrs, ancient Greek mythical demigods of the forest who where known for their lusty habits and half-man/half goat shape. Legends held that the satyrs wore crowns of savoury, and the herb was once held to be an aphrodisiac.
Native range
Native to warm temperate regions of southern Europe and Mediterranean.
Family/genus
perennial herb in the family Lamiaceae
Description
It is a perennial plant growing to 16 in (41 cm) tall. The leaves are opposite, oval-lanceolate, 1–2 cm long and 5 mm broad. The flowers are white.
Constituents
rosmarinic acid, thymol, ursolic-acid
