Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Origin: mid- and south-Europe, north-Africa
Thyme has been used for thousands of years, and that quite literally. In Egypt it was used in the mummification process, and it’s known just as long for it’s exquisite smell and strong taste but also it’s health benefits.
For the kitchen use as herb there are many thyme varieties (approx. 200) that originate from mid- and southern Europe to northern- and western Africa as well as Asia.
“Thymos” is Greek and stands for power and bravery, therefore Greek soldiers used to take strengthening Thyme baths before a great battle.
It’s flowers color ranges from white to rose to lilac. It’s a hardy and adaptive perennial plant that can withstand some drought as well as frost.
Appearance of the plant:
Thymus vulgaris grows from 10 to 40 cm in height, tightly branched with small but somewhat hard leaves. It flowers between mid-Spring and autumn (or until frost hits) over and over again and is very rich in pollen and nectar. Bees and butterflies love them.
Soil and location:
All varieties love free draining sandy soil that can also contain lime. It doesn’t like or need fertilizer and it really hates wet feed. It thrives in warm sunny and sheltered locations such as alongside walls, slopes and rocks.
Care:
Thyme can be propagated via seed, cutting or offshoot.
It should be cut in early spring leaving about 1/3, than it grows vigorously new and the brush doesn’t get old and gnarly.
Thymus vulgaris is hardy, however not all it’s Varieties are!
Medical effective components: (Thymus vulgaris)
essential oil consisting of thymol, carvacrol, flavanoids, tanning agents, bittering agents and triterpene and a lot others.
Thymol being the component that’s responsible for the anti-bacterial properties of Thyme.
As a whole Thyme is known for anti-bacterial, anti-viral effects. Therefore is used to help clear the airways after infections, and gastric problems. It also can help with heartburn, and to soothe nerves. (It quite literally can help you get a better night-thyme)
There are existing remedies available at the apothecary but you can also dry the leaves and brew as a tea or ground them up into a paste and use with oil or Vaseline to rub into your skin. Be careful with the pure essential oil as it can be too concentrated and cause skin irritation.
contraindication:
be careful if you have problems with the liver and thyroid gland, or in case you are an epileptic.
Pregnant women should be careful as well, because Thyme stimulates the placenta.
And as always: Please be careful and use common sense while handling and using Thyme for whatever reason.
Cheers
Origin: mid- and south-Europe, north-Africa
Thyme has been used for thousands of years, and that quite literally. In Egypt it was used in the mummification process, and it’s known just as long for it’s exquisite smell and strong taste but also it’s health benefits.
For the kitchen use as herb there are many thyme varieties (approx. 200) that originate from mid- and southern Europe to northern- and western Africa as well as Asia.
“Thymos” is Greek and stands for power and bravery, therefore Greek soldiers used to take strengthening Thyme baths before a great battle.
It’s flowers color ranges from white to rose to lilac. It’s a hardy and adaptive perennial plant that can withstand some drought as well as frost.
Appearance of the plant:
Thymus vulgaris grows from 10 to 40 cm in height, tightly branched with small but somewhat hard leaves. It flowers between mid-Spring and autumn (or until frost hits) over and over again and is very rich in pollen and nectar. Bees and butterflies love them.
Soil and location:
All varieties love free draining sandy soil that can also contain lime. It doesn’t like or need fertilizer and it really hates wet feed. It thrives in warm sunny and sheltered locations such as alongside walls, slopes and rocks.
Care:
Thyme can be propagated via seed, cutting or offshoot.
It should be cut in early spring leaving about 1/3, than it grows vigorously new and the brush doesn’t get old and gnarly.
Thymus vulgaris is hardy, however not all it’s Varieties are!
Medical effective components: (Thymus vulgaris)
essential oil consisting of thymol, carvacrol, flavanoids, tanning agents, bittering agents and triterpene and a lot others.
Thymol being the component that’s responsible for the anti-bacterial properties of Thyme.
As a whole Thyme is known for anti-bacterial, anti-viral effects. Therefore is used to help clear the airways after infections, and gastric problems. It also can help with heartburn, and to soothe nerves. (It quite literally can help you get a better night-thyme)
There are existing remedies available at the apothecary but you can also dry the leaves and brew as a tea or ground them up into a paste and use with oil or Vaseline to rub into your skin. Be careful with the pure essential oil as it can be too concentrated and cause skin irritation.
contraindication:
be careful if you have problems with the liver and thyroid gland, or in case you are an epileptic.
Pregnant women should be careful as well, because Thyme stimulates the placenta.
And as always: Please be careful and use common sense while handling and using Thyme for whatever reason.
Cheers