Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Taste: pungent,
Aromatic, herbaceous, warm, stimulating to immunity but relaxing to tissue, thereby penetrating and loosening Energetics:
Expectorant, anti-viral, anti-
Bacterial, anti-fungal,
Carminative,
Antioxidant,
Antispasmodic, diaphoretic,
Emmenagogue, diffusive Organ System Affinity:
Lungs,
Stomach,
Immune system, mucous membranes,
Skin
Contraindications: none known
Part of plant used: flowers with leaves
Plant family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Used fresh, dried or both: both fresh or dried
Best menstruums for extraction: water, honey; alcohol or oil
Medicine Making Dilutions: fresh tincture 1:2; dried 1:5 (75% alcohol, 25% water); tea- 1-2 tsp. steeped in 8 oz. of hot water covered for 10 min.
Dosage: tincture- 3-10 drops 3-4 times daily; tea- 1-2 cups daily
The name thyme has an interesting origin, and people don't necessarily agree what the name means. In some circles, I hear that it is derived from the Greek word thumus, meaning courage. Maude Grieve makes note of this origin. But she also states that the word 'thyme' translates as 'to fumigate'. Seeing as the plant was recognized for its pleasing scent, but also for its stimulating effect, it's possible both translations are correct.
Uses:
Relaxes the
Autonomic
Nervous system, and tissue in mucous membranes.
Culpepper says it is a 'noble strengthener of the
Lungs'.
I have used it successfully in formulas for damp
Coughs, and for dry
Coughs.
An exceptional plant in formulas for RSV, whooping
Cough,
Bronchitis and
Pneumonia. It combines especially well with garlic for these illnesses. You may also use thyme for symptom relief with
Antibiotics.
Colds, flu and
Respiratory illnesses with stuck and stagnant mucous. It loosens thick
Mucus and relieves
Congestion, as it is penetrating. While it is warming, it is diffusive, meaning it helps to move heat.
Intestinal
Spasms and general
Gastrointestinal problems. It has been historically viewed as having a strong affinity for the
Gastrointestinal tract when there is
Spasms, gas,
Colic,
Bloating, poor
Digestion and elimination.
Topically, thyme as an infused oil or essential oil is an excellent remedy for
Fungal Infections,
Rheumatic and joint
Pain,
Sprains and strains.
Sample Formulas:
Topical
Pain and
Inflammation-
Cold and flu
Wet
Coughs- tincture of osha, thyme, elecampane, wild cherry bark
Dry
Coughs - syrup of garlic, thyme; tincture of thyme, elecampane, Solomon seal, lobelia
Gastrointestinal di
Stress, general- tea of thyme, peppermint, holy basil
http://www.redrootmountain.com/mediterranean-medicinal-plants-thyme-sage-oregano-and-sweet-marjoram/902
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5 Health Benefits of Thyme (Healing Herbs in the Thymus Genus)
The term thyme encompasses several wild and cultivated herbs in the Thymus genus of plants, including Wild Thyme, Garden Thyme and Mother-of-Thyme. Since ancient times, the tiny green leaves and the purple or white flowers of these healthy herbs have been used medicinally - often in the form of herbal thyme tea - to treat everything from whooping
Cough,
Sore throat and
Bronchitis to
Diarrhea,
Stomach ache caused by excess
Flatulence (intestinal gas) and rheumatoid
Arthritis. In addition to being linked to numerous health benefits, thyme is a popular culinary herb that lends its citrusy tang to many types of dishes.
In this article, we take a look at the most interesting potential health benefits of thyme, plus provide serving suggestions to help you reap the benefits of this wonderful healing herb.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Thyme contains a number of
Anti-inflammatory compounds, including luteolin and rosmarinic
Acid, which may provide health benefits for people with certain
Anti-inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid
Arthritis,
Asthma and inflammatory
Acne. Luteolin has been shown to exert strong inhibitory effects against TBK1, an
Enzyme that has been linked to inflammatory diseases. In fact, a study published in the April 2009 issue of the journal Biochemical Pharmacology found that luteolin showed the strongest inhibitory activity against TBK1 among the six tested compounds, all of which are known for their
Anti-inflammatory properties. The rosmarinic
Acid in thyme, in turn, is thought to exert
Anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting lip
Oxygenase and cyclo
Oxygenase, two
Enzymes that have been associated with inflammatory responses.
Maximize the Benefits: Whip up an
Anti-inflammatory salad dressing by mixing thyme, oregano and rosemary with walnut oil (rich in omega-3
fats) and apple cider vinegar.
Thyme and its Potential in
Cancer Prevention
Thyme contains several phytochemicals (such as ursolic
Acid, rosmarinic
Acid and luteolin) that have been linked to anti-
Cancer activity in laboratory studies. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that also thyme as a herb - rather than its individual components - has shown promise as a potential natural
Cancer fighter. A study published in the November 2012 edition of the journal Natural Product Communications reported the extracts of Mastic Thyme (Thymus mastichina L.) may have a protective effect against
Colon Cancer. Another study, published in the journal
Nutrition and
Cancer, found that Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) caused apoptosis (cell death) in breast
Cancer cells. Yet another study found that luteolin, one of the active compounds identified in thyme, was capable of neutralizing Trp-P-2, a common carcinogen that is formed during cooking and that is often present in cooked meat in significant amounts.
Maximize the Benefits: Thyme pairs well with many of the world's most famous
Cancer-fighting foods such as onions, carrots and tomatoes.
Thyme and H.
Pylori Infections
A study published in the Journal of Applied Bacteriology found aqueous extracts of thyme and alcoholic extracts of cinnamon had the strong inhibitory activity against Helicobacter
Pylori. The inhibitory effects of the thyme extract were even stronger than those of some common anti-
Bacterials. As you may know, Helicobacter
Pylori - or H.
Pylori for short - is a pathogenic bacterium that lives in the
Stomach of the infected people. If left untreated, H.
Pylori Infections can cause peptic
Ulcers or even gastric
Cancer.
Antibiotics are the most common (and effective) treatment for H.
Pylori Infections, but scientists are constantly looking for alternative treatments as H.
Pylori strains are becoming increasingly resistant to
Antibiotic drugs.
Maximize the Benefits: Pair thyme with cranberries which may also have H.
Pylori fighting properties (for more on this, check out our in-depth article on how cranberries kill H.
Pylori.
Thyme as a Treatment for
Acne
A British study suggests that thyme preparations might help fight
Acne vulgaris by killing Propionibacterium
Acnes, the bacterium that causes
Acne. Scientists from Leeds Metropolitan University tested the effects of thyme, marigold and myrrh tinctures on Propionibacterium
Acnes (P.
Acnes), and found that while all three extracts were able to kill the bacterium in a laboratory setting, the thyme extract was the most effective of the tested tinctures. They also found that thyme tincture had stronger
AntiBacterial effects against P.
Acnes than benzoyl peroxide, the active ingredient in most anti-
Acne creams. While clinical trials are still needed to assess the
Acne-fighting potential of thyme in humans, one thing is for sure: the results of this preliminary study will bring new hope for the millions of teenagers and adults suffering from persistent
Acne.
Maximize the Effects: Organically-raised,
Skinless chicken is a great source of many
Acne-fighting vitamins, plus it can keep those
Acne-causing
Hormones in check. Use fresh thyme, along with other
Aromatic herbs such as oregano and rosemary, as a poultry seasoning.
Potential
Cardioprotective Benefits
Intrigued by the link between low incidence of
CardioVascular diseases in the Mediterranean countries and the major role thyme plays in the Mediterranean diet, a group of researchers at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, conducted a study to investigate the potential
Cardioprotective effects of wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) in rats. The results, which were published in the journal Plant Foods for Human
Nutrition in 2013, were promising: the thyme extract caused a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic
Blood Pressure and total peripheral resistance in rats with high
Blood Pressure, but not in rats with normal
Blood Pressure. However, given the novelty of these results, further research on these effects - particularly in humans - is warranted.
Reap the Benefits: Combine thyme with
Cardioprotective foods like tomatoes, nuts or salmon, or make a
Heart-healthy salad dressing by mixing extra-virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar (or organic lemon juice) with freshly chopped thyme.
References
K. Samejima et (1995). Luteolin: A Strong Antimutagen against Dietary Carcinogen, Trp-P-2, in Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 43(2), 410-414.
W. Zheng and S. Wang (2001).
Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in selected herbs. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 49(11),5165-70.
J. Lee et al (2009). Suppression of the TRIF-dependent signaling pathway of Toll-like receptors by luteolin. Biochemical Pharmacology, 77(8), 1391-1400.
G. Gamaro et al (2011). Effect of Rosmarinic and Caffeic
Acids on Inflammatory and Nociception Process in Rats. ISRN Pharmacol. 451682.
J. Gordo et al (2012). Thymus mastichina: chemical constituents and their anti-
Cancer activity. Natural Product Communications, 7(11), 1491-4.
E. Bozkurt et al (2012). Effects of Thymus serpyllum Extract on Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis and Epigenetic Events in Human Breast
Cancer Cells.
Nutrition and
Cancer, 64(8), 1245-1250.
M. Tabak et al (1996). In vitro inhibition of Helicobacter
Pylori by extracts of thyme. Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 80(6), 667-672.
N. Mihailovic-Stanojevic et al (2013).
Antioxidant and Antihypertensive Activity of Extract from Thymus serpyllum L. in Experimental
Hypertension. Plant Foods for Human
Nutrition, 68(3), 235-240.
Source: http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/thyme-healing-herb.php#ixzz4O1bfNhBn