I Heart Herbs~Thyme

*Please note - The information provided is collected from my various herbal books, classes, and personal research. I am not a doctor. Always, always, always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment. Do your own research and think for yourself. Don't believe everything you read. Questions are good!

Thyme

Latin Name: Thymus Vulgaris

Plant Family: Lamiaceae

Character: Drying, pungent, slightly bitter, warm

Constituents: Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, volatile oil

Actions: Antibiotic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, antimicrobial, diuretic, expectorant, vulnerary

Parts used: Aerial parts

Harvesting: Harvest before and during flowering in summer, discard the woody stems.

Some Thyme Info

The name thyme comes from the Greek word, 
thymos, meaning spirit.

Thyme attracts butterflies and honey bees.

Thyme is a wonderful antioxidant and 
has antimicrobial properties.

It is an excellent source of vitamin K.

Thyme is full of iron, manganese, calcium, and dietary fiber.

Thyme can be found fresh, dried, or ground.

Culinary

Thyme is a popular culinary spice.

Aromatic and pungent, thyme adds great flavor to stews, soups, gumbos, clam chowder, stuffings,

and slow-cooking beef dishes.

I absolutely love the savory taste it gives chicken.

It's also a nice addition for salads and vegetable dishes.

Medicinal

Thyme is stimulating and opening.

Thyme is an expectorant that is excellent for deep chest infections with thick yellow phlegm.

It is great for coughs and asthma.

Use an infusion or tincture for chest infections, irritable bowel, and stomach chills.

Gargle the infusion for a sore throat.

For coughs and lung infections, take thyme syrup.

You can use the leaves as insect repellant.

Essential Oil

To produce thyme essential oil the leaves and flowers are distilled.

The fragrance of thyme enlivens the spirit.

The essential oil is uses for chest rubs, insect bites, infected wounds, and arthritic conditions.

When ingested, thyme essential oil soothes sore throats, coughs, and laryngitis.

You can inhale thyme essential oil for relief of asthma, bronchitis, sinus issues, and lung congestion.

Apply the oil to the skin to help clear acne, oily skin, dermatitis, and eczema.

You can soothe insect bites by applying thyme essential oil.

Add thyme to your favorite massage cream or oil to ease muscle and joint pain.

It relieves sprains and strains.

To reduce water retention and cellulite, add thyme to a carrier oil and massage into the skin.

Thyme essential oil can be found in soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, perfumes, and cosmetics.

Folklore

Cicely Mary Baker "Wild Thyme Fairy"

The Greeks associated thyme with restoring vigor and valor.

Romans believed this as well, their soldiers bathed in thyme before battle to gain courage, strength, and valor.

In the Middle Ages, ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on their knight's scarf as a sign of their bravery.

Egyptians used thyme in their mummification brew.

Thyme was used as a religious incense.

A sprig of thyme was placed in the coffin of the dead.

It was believed that the souls of the dead would live on in the flowers of the thyme plant.

Nicholas Culpeper recommended thyme to get rid of nightmares.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a life coach,
reverend, creatress, teacher, writer, herbalist, tapping enthusiast, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 

She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 

Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 

She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.