Part of the plant used for medicinal purposes: Common thyme plant (Thymi vulgaris herba)
Other names: common thyme, German thyme, garden thyme.
Description and harvesting
Thyme is a flowering perennial plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its tiny flowers are light pink. It grows as a bush 15-30 cm in height and 40 cm in width. It may not survive the winter because of frost, so it should be planted in sunny positions. It is cultivated in many European countries. For medical purposes, thyme leaves are removed from stalks. Dried thyme must include 5 ml of essential oil per 1 kg of dried plant, if it is to be used for therapeutic purposes.
Constituents and medicinal use
Thyme essential oil contains two main components: thymol and carvacrol, which have antiseptic properties. Thyme also contains many flavonoids, rosemary acid and other substances. It has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic properties. It has been proven as effective against Candida albicans. It is used to treat respiratory viral and bacterial infections. It is added to tea blends for stuffy nose because it liquefies mucus in the airways, helps with dry cough and destroys viruses in case of cold or bronchitis. It works well on a sore throat, oral mucosa infection, tonsillitis and bad breath. For this purpose, prepare a dilution for gargling by adding 15 thyme drops to water or tea. Do not forget to brush your teeth prior to gargling.
It effectively eliminates intestinal parasites in children and adults. In case of worms, take 15 thyme drops three times a day.
It is used to soothe itching after insect bites and stings. Apply thyme drops to a cloth and put it on the affected area. As a compress, it also soothes rheumatic pain.
To stimulate appetite, drink 15 thyme drops in a glass of water half an hour before a meal.
In traditional medicine, it is used to promote liver function, which is why it is used in case of skin problems such as dermatitis, oily skin or acne. When the liver function improves, the body eliminates toxins more easily and efficiently by transforming toxins in the liver into a substance that is more easily eliminated by the kidneys.
Thyme preparations should be taken in case of physical weakness, such as after an illness, because thyme has a tonic effect. It also increases the elimination of urine and, hence, helps to eliminate toxins from the body.
Monk Simon Ašič’s product containing thyme:
Sources:
1. Domača lekarna patra Simona Ašiča. Priročnik za nabiranje zdravilnih rastlin. Celjska Mohorjeva družba, Celje, 2014.
2. Reddy P. Thymus vulgaris. Traditional Uses and Pharmacological. Departement of Biotechnology, Gitam Institute od Technology, Visakhapatn
3. Galle-Toplak Katja. Zdravilne rastline na Slovenskem. Založba Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, 2002.
4. Karlin M. Slovenska imena naših zdravilnih rastlin. Priloga Farmacevtskega vestnika, št.1-3/XV.
Display plants in alphabetical order
