PLANT NAME:
Latin: Thymus vulgaris
Common: Garden or common thyme, whopping cough herb
FAMILY: Labiatae (now called Laminaceae)
HABITAT/GROWING: Mediterranean herb, grows on poor, welldrained soil in sunny position, however grows well in most temperate climes. In Scotland, see also Wild Thymus (Thymus serpyllum – common in the hills and in song). Southern Europe, Portugal to Greece. Naturalized in the United States, cultivated in gardens. Grows wild in the mountains (Shook, 1974).
PARTS USED: Aerial parts. The leaves and flowering tops; also the distilled oil and phenol, called thymol (Shook, 1974).
HARVESTING: Before flowers are fully open. With all aromatic plants they should be harvested on a dry day after the dew has dried but before any hot sun has time to exhaust them of any volatile constituents.
Are you interested in a holistic approach to health and nutrition that incorporates herbalism? Read about my programs here.
TRADITIONAL USE:
Nicolas Culpeper, in his Complete Herbal, writes that thyme is a well-known strengthener of the lungs and that it helps the body to expel phlegm and ease breathing (Culpeper, 1995). Whooping cough in particular is mentioned as a well-known effective use for thyme. Furthermore, that it is an anti-parasitic and also helps to provoke a swift birth. Culpeper mentions the use of an ointment of thyme to “take away hot swellings and warts, helps the sciatica and dullness of sight, and takes away pains and hardness of the spleen” Finally, Culpeper promotes its use for gout, easing pains in the groins and comforting the stomach.
Dr Edward Shook (Shook, 1974) notes that thyme has been used since ancient time and was written about by Pliny and Vigil. However, the ancients seem to have focussed on its use as a fumigator and not been aware of its powerful antiseptic properties. Thyme was traditionally embroidered by ladies on scarves given to their favoured knights before combat as it was representative of “activity, bravery and energy”
Thyme was known to increase the flow of urine and menstruation, speeds up delivery of babies as well as miscarriages. It was also a renowned internal cleanser (Treben, 2017). Hildergard von Bingen referred to thyme as being of medicinal use for leprosy, paralysis and nervous complaints.
I have not made much personal usage of this herb yet except as an ingredient in various immune-boosting herbal formulae that I make including a tonic and tea specifically for the lungs.
MODERN USE:
One of our strongest herbal antiseptics. Specifically for respiratory, but also useful in urinary infections. Its main action comes from the thymol in the volatile oil and so in urinary complains we would not use it if there was any possibility of kidney problems. The volatile oil is excreted out through the lungs and urinary system and this accounts for its action. In this way, it has a stimulating expectorant action in the lungs. This would help to expel mucus.
CONSTITUENTS:
Volatile oil (about 1%, consisting of phenol, thymol, carvacrol), monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g. terpinene) and alcohols (e.g. linalool), tannin, flavonoids, saponins (MM).
PHARMACOLOGY:
Main action comes from thymol in the volatile oil. It is said to be between 8-25 times stronger than phenol (depending on the author) but not as corrosive.
PHARMACY:
1-4gms dried herb infusion three times per day.
OTHER AUTHOR USES:
Maria Treben reports the successful of thyme for a multitude of complaints, including facial paralysis, typhoid fever, stomach and menstrual pain and abdominal complaints (Treben, 2017). Treben recommends thyme for various ailments of the respiratory tract including whooping cough, phlegm, bronchial asthma and even pneumonia. Furthermore, she recommends a tincture of thyme applied topically to strengthen limbs of weakly children and those suffering from multiple sclerosis. A thyme bath can be used, according to Treben, to calm nervous children. Finally, she mentions a use of thyme for alcoholism and epileptic fits.
Herbalist and homeopath, Matthew Wood notes that thyme is especially suitable for conditions of cold stagnation, where symptoms might include shivering, mucus accumulation, sepsis, and putrefaction. Since thyme is hot and dry (hot to the third degree per the system of the Greeks), this herb has the ability to penetrate deeply and detoxify the body with its heat in these conditions (Wood, 2008). Furthermore, thyme is an effective parasympathetic relaxant and therefore assist with improving sleep and digestion, the latter especially due to its warming effect.
The herbalist Dr Edward Shook (1974) primary suggests this herb for treatment of whooping cough, indeed, one of the alternative traditional names by which this herb was known by was “whooping cough herb” Shook suggests that an infusion of thyme with a small amount of honey is specific to the treatment of this ailment. Shook notes that while the oil (thymol) is powerful, the infusion is gentler and is to be preferred especially for children. In addition to its use for whooping cough, Shook also suggests thyme, in combination with a few other ingredients, to be a powerful antiseptic.
American herbalist Ellen Hopman (2016), recommends thyme to improve digestions and relive gas as well as for use in supporting the lungs, especially for bronchitis and loss of voice. A tea is generally her recommendation here, but she also suggests a stronger tea be added to the bath “for paralysis, rheumatic pains, bruises, and swellings”
In Ayurvedic terms, Anne McIntyre writes that thyme is useful for raising agni (digestive fire amongst other things) and clearing ama (toxins) from the gut. Also that the herb is effective in supporting immunity and the body’s ability to cope with cold and flus Thyme is an excellent remedy for clearing conditions of excess kapha dosha, boosting digestion and strengthening the nervous system (McIntyre, 2012). McIntyre suggests the use of thyme in massage oils for aching joints, muscles and wounds, by gargling it for issues around the throat including tonsillitis and as an antiseptic mouthwash for infected gums, amongst other uses such as a douche, lotion and inhalant for “coughs, asthma, colds, catarrh and sinusitis”.
Gurudas writes that thyme strengthens the third chakra, eases the second and fourth chakras and speeds up the flow of energy in the liver, kidney and bladder meridians, as well as balancing the triple warmer (Gurudas, 1988).
In contrast to the previous two herbs, my initial impression upon tasting this herb was a rising energy in my body, causing an opening sensation starting in the chest, up through my throat and out through the nostrils, stimulating breathing and bringing an element of energy and alertness. A sort of stimulating sensation and focussed upon the breathing function and organs.
Reviewing the literature, these initial impressions of the herb were fairly in line with other authors usages, with the focus being upon the respiratory system and the heat of the herb possibly being responsible for the rising, stimulating energy I experienced.
Are you interested in a holistic approach to health and nutrition that incorporates naturopathy? Read about my programs here.
ENERGETICS: Taste, Character, Colour
Tastes: My own experience of the taste is one of slight pungency and bitterness, but not strongly. Contributions from other herbalists include the following: pungent (Wood, 2008), also hot and dry. Bitter and pungent (McIntyre, 2012).
McIntyre notes that the post-digestive taste, important in Ayurveda, is pungent and that the herb itself has a heating effect with the qualities of lightness, dryness and sharpness.
Character: I envisage the character of thyme to be an uplifting, supporting friend, ready to help you out in a time of need such as low motivation of feeling poorly. He comes around with energy and encouragement and you immediately feel better.
Colour: A stimulating, fresh green colour.
References
Culpeper, N. (1995) Culpeper’s Complete Herbal Wordsworth Reference
Gurudas (1988) The Spiritual Properties of Herbs Cassandra Press
Hopman, Ellen Evert (2016) Secret Medicines from Your Garden: Plants for Healing, Spirituality & Magic Healing Arts Press
McIntyre, A. (2012) Dispensing with Tradition: A Practitioner’s Guide to using Indian and Western Herbs the Ayurvedic Way Self-Published
Shook, E (1974) Advanced Course in Herbology Herbs of Mexico
Treben, M. (2017) Health Through God’s Pharmacy: Advice and Proven Cures with Medicinal Herbs, 5th Edition Ennsthaler Verlag
Wood, M. (2008) The Earthwise Herbal, Volume I: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants North Atlantic Books
