Marjoram Leaf (Certified Organic) 450 mg by TerraVita

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Asthma. Preliminary clinical research in adults shows that taking marjoram oil 2 drops daily for 3 months along with conventional treatment for asthma improves some measures of lung function. Forced vital capacity (FVC) increased by 0.3 mL with marjoram compared to 0.1 mL in the control group. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) increased by 4.1% with marjoram compared to 2.7% with control. While these improvements were statistically significant compared to baseline, statistical analysis between groups was lacking (76944).
• Dysmenorrhea. Preliminary clinical research in women aged 19-45 years with primary dysmenorrhea shows that massaging the lower abdomen with a cream containing lavender, clary sage, and marjoram essential oils (2:1:1 ratio) diluted in unscented jojoba cream to a 3% concentration, in a dose of two grams daily, starting at the end of menstruation and continuing until the beginning of the next, might decrease the level and duration of pain when compared with a placebo cream containing synthetic fragrances. The decrease in pain duration, from 2.4 days to 1.8 days in the essential oils group, was statistically significant when compared to baseline (58095). It is unclear if these effects are due to marjoram, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Parkinson disease. Preliminary clinical research in patients with Parkinson disease who are stabilized on levodopa shows that drinking a tea containing 5 grams of dried marjoram leaf daily for 30 days does not lower Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III motor scores (USPDRSIII), but does decrease scores on the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), when compared with placebo tea (108498).
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Preliminary clinical research shows that drinking marjoram leaf tea 250 mL twice daily for 1 month modestly reduces levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and insulin in women with PCOS. Body weight, fasting glucose, and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and testosterone did not improve (95325). More information is needed to rate marjoram for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Marjoram and its essential oil have Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (4912).

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when the leaf is used orally and appropriately in tea, short-term (12,18). ...when marjoram oil is used orally and appropriately, short-term (11).

POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when the flower, leaf, and oil are used orally, long-term. Marjoram contains arbutin, a hydroquinone glycoside (2,18). Studies in animals suggest that long-term use of hydroquinone can damage the liver and kidneys and might cause cancer (2,76395,95524). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of marjoram when used topically.

PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when used in medicinal amounts; marjoram has the potential for stimulating menstruation (19,95324). Avoid amounts greater than those found in foods.

LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid amounts greater than those found in foods.

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ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity (31438,76912). Theoretically, using marjoram in medicinal amounts along with anticholinergic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of marjoram or the anticholinergic agent.  Details Some anticholinergic drugs include atropine, benztropine (Cogentin), biperiden (Akineton), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane).

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion (76932). Theoretically, marjoram might increase the risk of bleeding when used in medicinal amounts along with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.  Details Some anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

CHOLINERGIC DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity (31438,76912). Theoretically, using marjoram in medicinal amounts along with cholinergic drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of cholinergic side effects.  Details Cholinergic drugs include bethanechol (Urecholine), donepezil (Aricept), echothiophate (Phospholine Iodide), edrophonium (Enlon, Reversol, Tensilon), neostigmine (Prostigmin), physostigmine (Antilirium), pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol), succinylcholine (Anectine, Quelicin), and tacrine (Cognex).

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General ...Orally, marjoram and its essential oil are well tolerated in amounts commonly found in foods (4912). Marjoram leaf and marjoram oil seem to be well tolerated when used appropriately for medicinal purposes (2,11,12,18). However, marjoram flower, leaf, and oil should not be used long-term due to the arbutin content (2,76395,95524).
Topically, there are rare reports of allergic skin reactions with marjoram use (33865,58049).

Immunologic ...Possible allergic contact dermatitis in children with pre-existing childhood atopic eczema was observed in a randomized clinical trial employing extended use of essential oils, including sweet marjoram essential oil (58049). A case report describes a 38-year old woman who had an exacerbation of perioral dermatitis after eating food seasoned with marjoram. The dermatitis resolved within 3 weeks on a marjoram-free diet, but reappeared when she was rechallenged with marjoram (33865).

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