Thymus vulgaris
Part Used: Dried leaf & flower
Thyme (Thumus vulgaris) is a perennial shrub with a woody and fibrous rootm growing to 15 inches tall. It is a low aromatic shrub with much-branched woody stems forming dense tufts. The main constituents of the plant are volatile oil (including thymol, carvacrol, cymol, linalol, pinene and borneol), caffeic and rosmarinic acid, tannins, bitter principle, gum, resin, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins. Thyme is a powerful antiseptic. It is used in cases of anemia, bronchial ailments, and intestinal problems. It is used as an antiseptic against tooth decay, and destroys fungal infections as in athlete's foot and skin parasites such as crabs and lice. It is good for colic, flatulence, sore throats, and colds. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy to boost the mind, spirit, and body. The vapor is used to treat respiratory infection. Thyme is commonly used as a remedy for bronchitis and cough.
Thyme is also used as a treatment for inflamed sinuses, nose, throat, and larynx, as a remedy for whooping cough, and as an antibacterial and deodorant skin rub. In folk medicine it has been used as a digestive aid, a urinary disinfectant, a diuretic (to flush excess fluid from the body), a remedy for intestinal worms, and an anti-gas medication. Its effectiveness for such problems has not, however, been clinically verified. Thymol, one of its active ingredients, helps loosen phlegm, combats bronchial spasms, and discourages growth of bacteria. Thymol is twenty times more antiseptic than phenol, but unlike the latter, it does not have an irritant effect on the mucosa and may safely be taken internally. It is active against a variety of intestinal infections and infestations, particularly hookworm and ascarids, and can significantly change the bacterial populations of the gut, actions enhanced by the poor absorption of thymol into the bloodstream. The oil has been shown to be effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and yeasts such as Candida albicans. The volatile oil of Thymus exerts a calming influence on smooth muscle. It is a useful carminative in dyspepsia, and the high tannin content helps to relieve diarrhoea. Rosmarinic acid has an anti-inflammatory action. Thymus' bitter component stimulates the appetite, aids a sluggish digestion and improves liver function. Thymus is an effective topical anti-fungal treatment and can be used as a mouthwash and gargle against oral Candida. It may also be used as a gargle in laryngitis and tonsillitis. It can be used externally as a lotion for infected wounds, or applied to insect bites stings. The tannins provide an appreciable local astringent effect. Thymol is also believed to stimulate the immune system.
References:
PDR Health. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/herbaldrugs/102760.shtml
Purple Sage Botanicals. http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/thyme.htm
