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Widespread in the European part of the USSR, Western Siberia and the Caucasus. Grows on dry open sandy places, on hills, near bushes, in dry pine forests, forms turfgrass. Thyme is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant in the USSR, Europe and the USA.
Used flowering leafy twigs (thyme herb) without thick woody branches, collected at the beginning of flowering. Fresh and dried plant has an aromatic persistent odor, the taste is bitter-spicy, slightly burning.
Chemical composition
.An essential oil (0.1-1%) is found in the herb, which includes: thymol (1-30%), its isomer carvacrol (20%) and others.The plant contains bitter and tannins, gum, flavonoids, ursolic and oleanolic acids, resins, fatty oil, mineral salts and other substances.
Action and application
.Thyme herb has disinfectant and soothing properties. Used in the form of decoction and liquid extract as an expectorant for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, bronchitis, pneumonia, especially during the subsiding process, bronchiectatic disease, as an analgesic for radiculitis and neuritis. Externally - for aromatic baths, compresses, lotions, as an irritant and analgesic agent in diseases of joints, muscles and peripheral nerve trunks. Thyme extract is part of the drug Pertussin, used for coughs.
The herb thyme is official in most countries of the world (Klan, 1948).
In Bulgarian medicine thyme herb is used, in addition to the above diseases, for bronchial asthma, peptic ulcer, poor appetite, flatulence and diarrhea in the form of decoction. Externally - in rheumatism, nervous and skin diseases in the form of baths, with sore throat - in the form of gargles.
In the GDR, thyme herb is used during the flowering period for respiratory diseases, especially coughs, is included in collections for coughs, as well as a wound-healing agent and as an aromatic for baths. Used in the form of tea (infusion) and as a spice, thyme is especially popular in French cuisine. According to German pharmacologists, the amount of thymol in the essential oil reaches 20%. German thymian contains almost only thymol, French thymol and carvacrol (Dorfller and Roselt,1964).
In France, thyme herb is used as an antispasmodic, anthelmintic, wound healing, restoring epithelialization of tissues, especially in acid burns, remedy. Van der Elst in the journal Phytotherapie for 1939. claims that thyme infusion (10 g per 1 liter) prevents constipation in infants. In addition, this infusion is effective in whooping cough.
Leclerc recommends the following baths for rheumatism: essence of thyme herb - 2 g, the same from oregano herb - 0.50 g, from rosemary herb - 1 g, from lavender herb - 1 g, tea soda - 350 g. He points out that these baths are useful for weakened and joint rheumatism children.
In Austria, thyme herb is used in the form of infusion, tincture, extract for gastritis, flatulence, as an anthelmintic, anticonvulsant and disinfectant. The substance that acts anticonvulsively has not yet been fully studied, but Austrian researchers note that drying destroys this substance, so the herb should be used fresh for this purpose. Externally - for baths and throat gargle. Many doctors believe that thyme when used properly is much more effective than other anti-inflammatories, but it should not be used indefinitely as it can lead to thyroid hypofunction.
Strong infusion is prepared as follows: 5 g of herb brewed 250 ml of boiling water. The daily dose is 500 mg.
Tincture and extract of thyme - 10-20 drops 3 times a day.
In Poland, thyme herb is used as a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, soothing and appetite-improving remedy for inflammation of the kidneys, liver, neuralgia, joint rheumatism, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and others.
In domestic folk medicine, thyme herb is used as an antitussive, sedative, diaphoretic, diuretic, for colds, neuralgia, stomach and intestinal spasms, insomnia, whooping cough and other diseases. Externally - as an aromatic bath remedy for rheumatism and diseases associated with metabolic disorders, eye diseases and as a wound-healing agent in the form of compresses and lotions. A powder prepared from the herb serves as a snuff for fainting spells.
In Armenia, alcohol obtained from thyme herb has long been used for heart diseases, constipation, liver diseases and as an anti-spastic remedy.
Thyme essential oil is widely used in perfumery, canning, liquor industry as a fragrant-spicy admixture. In the household thyme is used as a spice in pickling, soaking, as a seasoning for vegetables, meat, fish and other dishes, for flavoring sausages, sauces, cheese, jelly, tea. In Italy, thyme is used in pickling olives.
Thyme herb, harvested during the flowering period, has sedative, analgesic, antispasmodic, disinfectant, wound healing and aromatic properties. We use it for hypertension, atherosclerosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as for therapeutic baths and spritzing..
