Thyme Benefits
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme, Common Thyme, Garden Thyme, common garden thyme, mother of thyme
Southern Europe, Western Asia
Leaves and flowering tops
Thyme is primarily known for its anti-microbial qualities, which make it a naturally powerful anti-septic. It can be used externally for infected wounds,
Thyme is also an expectorant so it can be used internally for colds, coughs, flus and also for respiratory infection, laryngitis, tonsillitis and sore throats. It is an excellent cough remedy as an anti-spasmodic, it can calm the spasms of a hacking cough. It may be used in bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma.
As a carminative agent Thyme is also indicated for digestive infections, as it will settle the digestive system, relieve flatulence and put up a fight against any microbial invader.
" Useful for all types of cough.
" For asthma (steam inhalation), chronic asthma, nervous cough, dry cough, hacking cough, whooping cough, infection of lung or bronchial tubes, and bronchitic asthma.
" Used for intestinal infections, intestinal worms, fungal growths, thrush and mouth fungi (mouthwash and gargle), wound cleanser, liver diseases, indigestion, and as a skin disinfectant (washing wounds before dressing).
" The tea is used for colds, nervous conditions, colic, and headache
" The steam is inhaled from the infusion for congestion; often combined with marjoram and chamomile.
To make an infusion:
Pour a cup of boiling water onto 2 tsp of the dried herb and let infuse for l0 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture:
take 2-4ml of the tincture three times a day.
The name Thyme is derived from from the Latin thymus, which goes back to Greek thymós "spirit", originally meaning "smoke".
The name thyme, has also been attributed to Theophrastus, the Third Century B.C. philosopher and naturalist, though it was well known and well used prior to his naming it. Thyme has been given several beneficial properties by the Greeks which include its use to restore strength and clarity to the mind, and its ability to clear the air of illnesses and diseases.
Thyme was burned as a religious incense, and also to give courage in difficult circumstances. It was one of the chief ingredients in ritual altar fires, purifying the animal sacrifices to make them acceptable to the gods, and also to season them.
Thyme was also used to mark the key human events - at funerals, placed in the coffins of the dead. It was thought that the souls of the dead took up residence in the flowers of the thyme plant.
Volatile oil, of highly variable composition; the major constituent is thymol, with lesser amounts of carvacrol, with l,8-cineole, borneol, geraniol, linalool, bornyl and linalyl acetate, thymol methyl ether and a-pinene.
Flavonoids; apigenin, luteolin, thymonin, naringenin and others
Miscellaneous; labiatic acid, caffeic acid, tannins etc.
Avoid in the conditions of epilepsy, pregnancy and high blood pressure.
