Common Savory

Botanical Overview

Common Savory (Satureja vulgaris) belongs to the Lamiaceae family. While not among the most extensively documented medicinal plants, this species has recorded uses that warrant attention from researchers and practitioners. The mint family (Lamiaceae) includes aromatic herbs and shrubs with square stems, opposite leaves, and two-lipped flowers. Many species produce essential oils in glandular trichomes on their leaves and stems. This family is one of the most important sources of culinary and medicinal herbs worldwide.

General Description

Clinopodium vulgare, or the wild basil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae.

ⓘ Information
Description adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Family Context

The Lamiaceae family is large and widely distributed. Notable medicinal members include:

  • Basil — 86 documented uses
  • Rosemary — 60 documented uses
  • Agbo — 54 documented uses
  • Sage — 49 documented uses

Traditional Uses

Common Savory has been traditionally used for reproductive health.

Reproductive health.

  • Emmenagogue

In traditional contexts, reproductive health applications typically involve internal preparations such as teas or decoctions. The herb may be taken at specific times during the menstrual cycle.

Active Compounds

Phytochemical research has identified 2 compounds in this species: caryophyllene, germacrene-d.

ⓘ Information
Information on this page is compiled from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (USDA ARS), a public domain resource. Consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal preparation.

Complete Use Records

CategoryCultural Context
EmmenagogueSpain
WartEurope

Complete Chemical Inventory

CompoundFormulaMW
CARYOPHYLLENEC₁₅H₂₄204.35 Da
GERMACRENE-DC₁₅H₂₄204.35 Da

Data from PubChem (NIH/NLM, public domain).


References & Further Reading

External Research Links

Data Sources