What is it?

The dried leaves of Thyme, the familiar, low growing, woody, long-lived shrub with its distinctive scent. Thyme is a tough little plant that may grow straggly under difficult conditions but is likely to survive nevertheless.

How has it been used?

In traditional medicine Thyme has first and foremost been a remedy for coughs that are dry, unproductive or painful, Thyme has a way of softening and loosening the cough to help the body do, with much less effort and discomfort, what it had been trying to achieve by coughing in the first place. Thyme also has a potent antimicrobial effect which speeds the resolution of infections in the lungs.

~ Thyme’s other traditional uses include:

a mouthwash and gargle for ulcers or infections in the mouth and throat.
internally for painful menstruation.
internal small doses for irritable bowel and colic.
internally and as a compress for a chronic grumbling appendix
M Grieve writes 'the name Thyme, in its Greek form, was first given to the plant as a derivative of a word which meant 'to fumigate,' either because they used it as incense, for its balsamic odour, or because it was taken as a type of all sweet-smelling herbs. Others derive the name from the Greek word thymus, signifying courage, the plant being held in ancient and mediaeval days to be a great source of invigoration, its cordial qualities inspiring courage'

One renowned folk healer of recent times has been the French herbalist Maurice Messegue. He had this to say about Thyme. 'From my long years of experience as a herbalist I can appreciate Thyme because of its antiseptic qualities; its smell destroys viruses and bacteria in the atmosphere as it destroys infectious germs in the body. I do not know of any infection that cannot be mitigated if treated with this precious herb. It is an excellent weapon against epidemics and much cheaper than other methods of controlling them'.

N Culpepper writes that Thyme is 'a noble strengthener of the lungs, as notable a one as grows, nor is there a better remedy growing for whooping cough. It purge the body of phlegm and is an excellent remedy for shortness of breath. It is so harmless you need not fear the use of it... it is excellent for those that are troubled with the gout and the herb taken anyway inwardly is of great comfort to the stomach'

King's Dispensatory writes Thyme is tonic, carminative, emmenagogue, and antispasmodic. The cold infusion is useful in dyspepsia, with weak and irritable stomach, and as a stimulating tonic in convalescence from exhausting diseases. The warm infusion is beneficial in hysteria, dysmenorrhoea, flatulence, colic, headache, and to promote perspiration. Occasionally the leaves have been used externally, in fomentation. The oil is valuable as a local application to neuralgic and rheumatic pains; and, internally, to fulfil any of the indications for which the plant is used. It forms a good preparation for nervous and spasmodic diseases of children. It may be given in teaspoonful doses to a child 3 years old, repeating it 3 or 4 times a day, sweetening and diluting it, if desired. A strong infusion of the Thyme slightly sweetened, is a valuable remedy for whooping-cough, convulsive and catarrhal coughs, and stridulous sore throat, the favourable result occurring at the end of a very few days.

The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP) describes the actions of Thyme as a carminative, spasmolytic, antitussive, expectorant, bactericidal, anthelmintic, astringent' says it is specifically indicated for pertussis (whooping cough) and bronchitis and also for dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, asthma, diarrhoea in children, enuresis (bedwetting) in children, laryngitis, tonsillitis as a gargle. The BHP recommends a dose of 1-4 grams or by infusion (A well-heaped tsp is about 2.5 grams, a rounded tsp closer to 2 grams) and 2-6mls of the 1:5 tincture and suggests it may be combined well with Lobelia for asthma and with Wild Cherry bark and White horehound for pertussis.

Safety of Thyme

Thyme is generally regarded as a very safe herb that can be used by all ages as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, some people can be a bit allergic to it and the dust of the herb is known to trigger some people's breathing allergies. Likewise, you have to be careful in using Thyme products externally; one study with 100 patients with leg ulcers showed that 5% of them responded with an allergic reaction to patch testing with Thyme oil.