Summer savory

Summer sav ory, also known as garden savory and by its Latin name *Satureja hortensis, is a plant whose leaves and stems are used to make medicine. Summer savory is used for coughs, sore throats and disorders of the digestive tract including cramps, stomach upset, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea and loss of appetite. People suffering from diabetes use summer savory to relieve constant thirst. It is also used as a tonic and as an aphrodisiac to increase sex drive. Some people apply summer savory directly to the skin for insect bites. Summer sav ory is used as a spice in food. The oil is used as a flavoring agent.

How does summer savory work

The chemicals contained in summer savory are believed to reduce muscle spasms and kill bacteria and fungi.

How effective is summer savory?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective summer savory is for loss of appetite, coughs, flatulence, intestinal cramps, stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, thirst in diabetics and sore throats, as well as when applied to the skin for insect bites and when used to increase sex drive.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of summer savory in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Summer savory is safe and harmless in food-grade amounts and appears to be safe and harmless for most people when taken orally in medicinal amounts or when the diluted oil is applied to the skin.

Summer savory can cause skin problems. The concentrated, undiluted oil is a strong irritant and should not be used.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of summer savory during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid summer savory.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between summer savory and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of summer savory depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for summer savory. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.