Winter savory

Winter savory, also known as mountain savory and by its Latin name Satureja montana, is a plant whose leaves and stems are used to make medicine. Winter sav ory is used for intestinal disorders including cramps, stomach upsets, diarrhea, nausea and flatulence. Winter savory is also used to treat coughs and sore throats, as well as a reduced sex drive and as a tonic. In industrial production, the oil of winter savory is used as a flavoring agent.

How does winter savory work?

Wintersavory may act as a diuretic by increasing urine production and by dilating the blood vessels.

How effective is winter savory?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of winter savory for stomach upset, stomach and intestinal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, sore throat, cough and reduced sex drive. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of winter sav ory in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Winter savory is safe and harmless in the amounts used in food. However, there is not enough information to say whether it is safe and harmless in larger amounts used as medicine.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of winter savory during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from using it.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining winter savory with the following medications:

Lithium

Wintersavory may have a dehydrating (diuretic) effect. Taking winter savory may interfere with the body's excretion of lithium, which could result in increased lithium levels and serious side effects. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor before using winter savory if you are taking lithium. The lithium dosage may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

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

References

1. Sanchez de Rojas VR, Somoza B, Ortega T, et al. Vasodilatory effect in rat aorta of eriodictyol obtained from Satureja obovata. Planta Med 1999;65:234-8. view abstract.