Thyme

Thyme  is the herb (dried aerial parts) of some members of the genus Thymus of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus Origanum, with both plants being mostly indigenous to the Mediterranean region.

Thyme grows between 4 inches to 1 foot in height and 8 to 16 inches across depending on the variety.

Thymes have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses, and the species most commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes is Thymus vulgaris.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an herb with a distinct smell. The flowers, leaves, and oil are commonly used to flavor foods and are also used as medicine. Thyme contains chemicals that might help bacterial and fungal infections. It also might help relieve coughing and have antioxidant effects.

Medicinal uses

• Thyme is known for its antibacterial properties, and it might have a future as an acne-fighting ingredient.
• Thyme essential oil, which is obtained from its leaves, is often used as a natural cough remedy. A combination of thyme and ivy leaves helped to alleviate coughing and other symptoms of acute bronchitis.
• Thyme is packed with helpful nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, fiber, iron, manganese. Thyme isn’t a great source of these nutrients unless you consume it in excessive quantities.
• thyme can be used as a disinfectant in dwellings where there’s a low concentration of mold.
• Thymol, a kind of thyme oil, is also an ingredient in many pesticides — both outdoor and indoor — and is commonly used to target bacteria, viruses, rats, mice and other animal pests.
• Thyme is also a popular ingredient in natural deodorants and is often included in potpourri.
• Thyme oil is effective against resistant strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas bacteria. It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean that ingesting thyme oil will prevent you from getting food poisoning. Plus, if you were to take thyme supplements on a regular basis, you’d also likely be killing a lot of the good bacteria in your gut.
• Very low doses of thyme essential oil is fungicidal against Candida albicans, a common cause of yeast infections, even when the fungus was resistant to the pre script ion medication fluconazole.
• Both thyme and clove essential oils to inhibit breast cancer cell lines.

Precautions

• When taken by mouth: Thyme is commonly consumed in foods. Thyme is possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term. It might cause allergic reactions, dizziness, and stomach upset in some people. There isn't enough reliable information to know if thyme oil is safe to use as medicine or what the side effects might be.
• When applied to the skin: Thyme oil is possibly safe when used short-term. Some people might experience skin irritation.
• When inhaled: There isn't enough reliable information to know if thyme oil is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Thyme is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if thyme is safe to use in larger amounts while pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
• Children: Thyme is commonly consumed in foods. Thyme is possibly safe when taken as medicine for short periods of time. There isn't enough reliable information to know if thyme oil is safe to use as medicine or what the side effects might be.
• Allergy to oregano and similar plants: People who are allergic to oregano or other Lamiaceae species might also be allergic to thyme.
• Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Thyme might act like estrogen in the body. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use thyme.
• Surgery: Thyme might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using thyme at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with THYME. Thyme might slow blood clotting. Taking thyme along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
• Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with THYME. Thyme can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a big part in many important body functions. Some medications, called anticholinergic drugs, block the effects of acetylcholine in the body. Taking thyme might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.
• Estrogens interacts with THYME. Thyme might act like estrogen in the body. Taking thyme along with estrogen might decrease the effects of estrogen.
• Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs) interacts with THYME. Thyme can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Some medications that are used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions, also increase acetylcholine levels. Taking thyme with these medications might increase the chance of side effects.