Herb & supplement monograph

Marjoram Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Marjoram interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Marjoram is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Marjoram is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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On this page

Marjoram Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Marjoram drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and every one rests on lab research rather than studies in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The combination we would watch most closely is marjoram with blood thinners such as warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel, because lab studies suggest marjoram may make platelets less sticky, which could in theory raise bleeding risk. Marjoram may also affect an enzyme involved in nerve signaling, so it could in theory add to the effects of medicines like donepezil or work against anticholinergic drugs such as benztropine. These concerns apply to marjoram taken in medicinal amounts, not the small quantities used to season food.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications reflects a few broad drug categories rather than hundreds of separate problems. Every interaction here is theoretical, based on how marjoram extract behaved in laboratory tests, and none has been confirmed to cause meaningful changes in people. That does not rule an effect out, but it means most combinations are unlikely to cause trouble in practice.

Check your medications against Marjoram

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Marjoram interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Marjoram

338 medications have a known interaction with Marjoram, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Marjoram using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Marjoram interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Marjoram combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Marjoram affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Marjoram is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Marjoram interacts with

Anticholinergic DrugsAnticoagulant/antiplatelet DrugsCholinergic Drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. Theoretically, using marjoram in medicinal amounts along with anticholinergic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of marjoram or the anticholinergic agent.
Some anticholinergic drugs include atropine, benztropine (Cogentin), biperiden (Akineton), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion. Theoretically, marjoram might increase the risk of bleeding when used in medicinal amounts along with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
Some anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cholinergic Drugs

In vitro research suggests that marjoram extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. Theoretically, using marjoram in medicinal amounts along with cholinergic drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of cholinergic side effects.
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).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Marjoram: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Marjoram is a Mediterranean kitchen herb related to oregano that is widely used in food and traditional medicine for digestive, sleep, and respiratory complaints. Most of its health claims rest on traditional use and small lab or animal studies rather than strong human trials. It is generally considered safe as a food, but concentrated supplements and essential oils should be used with caution and avoided in pregnancy.

Scientific name: Origanum majorana
Family: Lamiaceae
Part used: Leaves, flowering tops, and essential oil
Common forms: Culinary herb, tea, capsules, tincture, essential oil (for aromatherapy)

People commonly use it for

Digestive upset
Sleep and relaxation
Respiratory complaints (cough, congestion)
Menstrual discomfort
Aromatherapy for stress

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally safe as a food, but concentrated extracts and essential oils have limited human safety data.

PregnancyPossibly Unsafe

When used in medicinal amounts; marjoram has the potential for stimulating menstruation. Avoid amounts greater than those found in foods.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

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

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is an aromatic herb in the mint family that is closely related to oregano. It is native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Western Asia, and it is now grown in many warm climates around the world.

People have used marjoram for centuries as a cooking herb to flavor soups, sauces, and meats. Beyond the kitchen, its leaves and flowering tops are made into teas, capsules, and tinctures, and its essential oil is used in soaps, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.

In traditional medicine, marjoram has been used to ease digestive problems, support sleep, calm nerves, and relieve coughs and congestion. It is also valued as a source of antioxidant plant compounds.

How it works

Marjoram contains a mix of plant compounds, including essential oils (such as terpinen-4-ol and other terpenes) and antioxidant substances like flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Laboratory and animal studies suggest these compounds may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity, and may relax smooth muscle in the gut. Some research has also looked at possible effects on hormones and blood sugar.

It is important to know that most of these findings come from test-tube or animal research. How well they apply to people taking marjoram by mouth or breathing in its aroma is not well established.

Effectiveness

Does Marjoram work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 5 uses evaluated

5 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Marjoram, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 5 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Asthma