Plant Medicine 101: Why is Thyme Such a Timeless, Powerful Herb?

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Also, while every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, you are strongly advised to take responsibility and do your own research.

In the previous article, we looked at Tarragon which is used for cooking (French Tarragon), as well as for medicinal preparations (Russian Tarragon).

Taking a good look at…Thyme

For this final article in the series (at least, for now), we are taking a look at another herb widely used in cooking: Thyme.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a very popular aromatic culinary herb and is a member of the mint family. However, it is more than just a culinary herb. It is a great medicinal herb which is very safe to use, having no known contraindications or side effects.

It produces an abundance of pink, lavender flowers, and attracts a lot of pollinators to it while it apparently repels other insects.

A Jamaican favorite

You probably already know that you can (and do) use Thyme in stews, salads, meats, soups, fish dishes, and with vegetables.

Jamaicans typically add the stem and leaves to any of these dishes, as well as in preparing the traditional Sunday dinner dish: rice ‘n peas ‘n chicken. The “peas” are actually dried red kidney beans which are soaked overnight.

Traditional uses of the herb

This herb has tradionally been used for:

• colds,
• flu,
• sore throat,
• stiffness from chills,
• oral infections, and
• dealing with crabs, lice and scabies.

Recent research has found this herb to have some highly useful medical applications (see the Sources section below for references).

Valuable medicinal properties of the herb

In addition, it is:

• antibacterial,
• antioxidant,
• antiseptic,
• antiviral, and
• antifungal.

Thyme is thus packed with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins that are vital for good health. It boosts the immune system by supporting the thymus gland.

Check out this YouTube™ video from The Frugal Chef to find out more about Thyme’s health benefits, and how to make a tea:

How would you prepare this herb?

Herbalists typically prepare Thyme in a variety of ways:

• herbal-infused honey (using raw honey),
• as a syrup,
• making tea (I have it this way on its own or with another herb such as peppermint),
• formulating a tincture,
• gargle for oral infections,
• compress for topical infections,
• facial steam for acne, and
• added to antibacterial cleansing gel preparations for the skin.

So, what if you want to grow your own?

How to grow Thyme

Thyme is a perennial herb that prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It growws in very dry (not damp) climates such as the Mediterranean. If you choose to grow this plant, you can sow the seeds after the last frost clears or grow it in a pot indoors.

For more information on how you can do this, we are going to pay one last visit to Paulo the Urban Farmer (for now):

By the way, do you know what a kebab is?

Until next time…

To a better, wiser, stronger YOU!

Note: I am an affiliate for the above offer and may get a commission on each sale.

Sources:

Making Herbal Honeys, in Herbalism: Introduction to Medicine Making. Located at Home Herb School (online), https://homeherbschool.com/plant-medicine-101-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-tarragon/ [Accessed July 2, 2023]

Salehi B, Mishra AP, Shukla I, Sharifi-Rad M, Contreras MDM, Segura-Carretero A, Fathi H, Nasrabadi NN, Kobarfard F, Sharifi-Rad J. Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses. Phytother Res. 2018 Sep;32(9):1688-1706. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6109. Epub 2018 May 22. PMID: 29785774.

Hammoudi Halat D, Krayem M, Khaled S, Younes S. A Focused Insight into Thyme: Biological, Chemical, and Therapeutic Properties of an Indigenous Mediterranean Herb. Nutrients. 2022 May 18;14(10):2104. doi: 10.3390/nu14102104. PMID: 35631245; PMCID: PMC9147557.

Kowalczyk A, Przychodna M, Sopata S, Bodalska A, Fecka I. Thymol and Thyme Essential Oil-New Insights into Selected Therapeutic Applications. Molecules. 2020 Sep 9;25(18):4125. doi: 10.3390/molecules25184125. PMID: 32917001; PMCID: PMC7571078.