Winter savory (Satureja montana)



Updated 29 January 2024

Botanical Characteristics

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Division: Magnoliophyta 
  • Class: Magnoliopsida 
  • Order: Lamiales
  • Family: Lamiaceae
  • Genus: Satureja
  • Part used: Flowering tops, leaves
  • Country of origin: Spain, France, Mediterranean regions

Precautions for use

Caution! Winter Savory essential oil is for adults and adolescents only.

It is not to be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by children under the age of 6.

This essential oil is not suitable for inhalation.

Other forms of use are permitted, but precautions should be taken, especially with dermal applications, due to its dermocausticity.

Other precautions

Warning:

  • People with asthma should seek medical advice before use.
  • People with epilepsy should consult a doctor before use due to the epileptogenic risk of this essential oil in high doses.

Cutaneous use:

  • Make sure to dilute the essential oil to a maximum of 10% in vegetable oil before applying to the skin (10% essential oil in 90% vegetable oil).

Ingestion:

  • The oral use of winter savory essential oil is reserved for therapeutic use.
  • This essential oil can be used in cooking if it is first diluted in a fat (oil, cream, yoghurt, milk) or sweetened (syrup, honey). It should not be used pure.

Diffusion:

  • Winter Savory essential oil should be diluted between 5 and 10% in other essential oils when used in diffusion.

Allergenic components:

Winter savory essential oil contains biochemical allergenic components:

  • Limonene (≤3%)
  • Linalool (≤3%)
  • Geraniol (≤1%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

 Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

  Oral

 Diffusion

Risks of use

 Cortison-like

 Skin irritation
 Pure dermocautic
 Respiratory irritant
 Hepatotoxic

 Properties

  • Important anti-infective, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral agent 
  • Immunostimulant 
  • Regulates intestinal peristalsis 
  • General tonic and stimulant, digestive, circulatory, nervous and sexual tonic 
  • Percutaneous analgesic 
  • Hypertensive, hyperthermic 
  • Endocrine: progesterone and adrenal action 
  • Aphrodisiac 

Indications

Directions for use/usual dosage

  • Bacterial or parasitic intestinal infections: orally on a suitable support and externally on the affected organ, diluted in a vegetable oil.
  • Physical, nervous or sexual fatigue: massage along the spine, diluted in a vegetable oil.
  • Nail fungus or warts: apply locally on a cotton pad and leave in place for several hours, in combination with other essential oils.