Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Common thyme is an uncommon herb. Its diminutive leaves give off an invigorating fragrance and impart an agreeable depth of flavor to almost any dish containing meat. Thyme is traditionally bundled together with parsley and bay leaf to form the French bouquet garni and dropped into soups, stews, and other savory dishes while they simmer. Tiny thyme leaves also contain a volatile oil with remarkable antiseptic properties. The ancient Etruscans and Egyptians used thyme oil for embalming their dead. Many early cultures associated thyme with death, and the minute, pale purple flowers were thought to provide a resting place for the souls of those who had died. The ancient Greeks burned thyme as part of funeral rites, as incense in temples, and as a fumigant to chase insects from houses. But they also believed that the herb had the power to instill courage. Thyme’s genus name may be derived from the Greek word for either “courage” or “to fumigate.” The link to courage, however, followed thyme to England when the Romans introduced it there. During the Middle Ages, ladies of the court presented their brave knights with scarves embroidered with a sprig of thyme.

Therapeutic Uses

Coughs

Colds and flu

Thyme is one of several fragrant herbs that double as spices and medicines. The aromatic compounds, also called essential or volatile oils, are the important parts of thyme leaves and flowers. The volatile oils in thyme help to relieve coughs, probably in two different ways. Thyme is antispasmodic and an expectorant, meaning that it not only calms coughs but also helps clear bronchial mucus. It is also antibacterial and antiviral.

Several volatile oils in thyme, including thymol and carvacrol, account for its aroma. Much of the research on carvacrol comes from studies of oregano oil, which is also rich in carvacrol. Carvacrol and thymol are also the oils that account for thyme’s expectorant effects and for its inhibition of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Many bacteria and viruses shown in lab tests to be inhibited by thyme oil are the same ones that cause upper respiratory infections or colds—possible support for its long-standing traditional use.

Few clinical trials have examined the use of thyme for coughs or respiratory infections. One study used a product combining thyme with evening primrose oil in people suffering from bronchitis; the group taking the thyme product showed less coughing than those taking a placebo capsule. However, this study, which did not separate out the effects of thyme by itself or test it on other types of infections or coughs, does not offer conclusive results.

How to Use

Tea: Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh or dried thyme leaves and flowers in 1 cup hot water and drink 3 times daily.

Capsules/syrup: Thyme extracts are available as capsules and syrups in a variety of doses and strengths. These products often combine thyme with other herbs thought useful for respiratory conditions; specific use depends on each product.

Precautions

Thyme is safe, especially when consumed as an infusion—made by steeping thyme in hot water. Stomach upsets are rare. Consumption of thyme essential oil—as with any essential oil—should be avoided in high doses or over long periods of time.