Thyme is a wonderfully scented herb with great medicinal powers. It is now used as a culinary herb, but its healing properties cannot be denied. Thyme is a widespread plant. It is found in Europe, North Africa, North Asia and Central Asia. In the Netherlands, wild thyme mainly grows in dune pans. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• The healing power of thyme
• Covers for headaches
• Thyme cough syrup
• Nutritional value of thyme
• Thymol
• Antioxidant effect
• Thyme, the bacteria fighter

The healing power of thyme

Thyme was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a medicinal herb against lung diseases, rheumatism, paralysis, stomach cramps, tumors, headaches, colic and nervous weaknesses. Remarkably, it was always prescribed for brain diseases. Recently, the positive effect on the brain has been scientifically proven. Steinmetz’s Materia medica states that wild thyme has a special healing effect on the male and female sexual organs. It is also blood purifying, stomach strengthening and flu-fighting. It also works against angina pectoris, a pressing, painful feeling in the chest around the heart area. In this context, it is interesting to point out that the thymus gland is located behind the heart. The thymus is named after the thyme plant. Thyme activates the thymus.

Covers for headaches

Rembert Dodoens, founder of herbal science, recommended thyme against head rotation. He recommended that in this case a wet cloth containing thyme infusion be wrapped around the head. In earlier times, herbs were sewn into cushions. These herb pads worked against insomnia, headaches and asthma. Herb pads can be used wet or dry. Thyme tea was drunk against various stomach problems. In earlier times, thyme was also used against overly melancholy spirits. It drives out melancholy from the blood and thus works against depression.Thyme and wild thyme can be used interchangeably. Both have the same aromatic and medicinal properties. 

Thyme cough syrup

In addition to the diseases mentioned against which thyme works, thyme is used as a cough remedy. In an old book, the Fragrant Kruidhof by Blöte-Obbes, there is a recipe for making your own cough syrup: boil 50 grams of thyme in half a liter of water for 10 minutes. Then you add half a kilo of candy. You let it thicken until it is syrup-thick. You can use cane sugar instead of candy. Another way to prepare thyme into cough syrup is to let the decoction cool until it is lukewarm and then mix it with honey.

Nutritional value of thyme

The medicinal properties of thyme are confirmed by the high levels of vitamin K contained in thyme; 5 grams of thyme is enough for 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). In addition, there is a lot of iron in thyme; 14 grams is enough for the RDA of iron. That doesn’t mean you have to eat 14 grams of thyme every day. Iron is contained in all kinds of nutrients, but it does indicate that thyme tea can have an extra strengthening effect. It also contains the minerals calcium and manganese. It also contains the amino acid tryptophan and a significant amount of fiber.

Thymol

Scientists recently discovered that rhyme contains thymol. This is a phytonutrient that has very medicinal properties. It also contains borneal, kamfol, carvacolo and the sweet-smelling geraniol, but thymol is the most powerful phytonutrient. Thymol has been studied on rats in a scientific laboratory. It turned out that adding thymol to the menu had a positive effect on the percentage of healthy omega-3 fatty acids in the brain, kidneys and heart. Furthermore, it was found that the younger rats started taking thymol, the greater the effect.

Antioxidant effect

Thyme contains the flavomoids apigenin, naringenin, luteolin and thymonin, which have a good antioxidant effect. Together with the high manganese percentage, it can be said that thyme is an excellent source of antioxidants that fight free radicals. Free radicals damage cell tissue and the DNA structure of cells, causing all kinds of diseases to occur.

Thyme, the bacteria fighter

The site WHfoods, which contains many healthy facts about food, reports that scientists looking for a natural preservative see thyme and basil as particularly powerful herbs against bacteria. It is therefore recommended to use these herbs in an oil dressing for salads so that you can be sure that the food is healthy and bacteria-free. Traditionally, vegetables are washed with a drop of essential thyme oil in the washing water. From the 16th century onwards, thyme oil began to be used as a mouthwash because it has antiseptic properties. Thyme is a healthy and delicious herb with countless applications.