Common name Thyme
Plant family Lamiaceae
Parts used Leaf
Qualities Pungent, warm, bitter, dry, astringent (Holmes, 2007).
Constituents Essential oils including terpinoid phenol thymol and carvacrol, cymbal linalool, borneol, pinene, cineole, geraniol, borne/linalyl acetate, thymol methyl ether; tannins; flavonoids including luteolin, apigenin, thymonin, naringenin, triterpinoids, saponins, labiatic/caffeic acids, resins (Holmes, 2007).
Actions
Expectorant, spasmolytic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, rubifacient, anti-microbial (Bone, 2003). Anthelmintic (Culpeper 1985). Antiseptic, antispasmodic, tonic, carminative, deodorant, local anaesthetic (Grieve, 1971). Anti-tussive (Braun & Cohen, 2010).
Indications
Per Culpepper the herb is a strengthener of the lungs, and purges the body of phlegm; in addition it kills intestinal worms, brings on safe and speedy labour, calms the stomach and expels wind (Culpeper, 1985).
Grieve advises using the herb as a cure for whooping cough, as an antiseptic mouthwash, as a paint for ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, chilblains, and parasitic skin conditions and burns as well as being a vermifuge (Grieve, 1971). She also recommends it as an inhalant for treatment of laryngitis and bronchial conditions (Grieve, 1971).
May be used topically for warts and inflamed swellings (Fisher & Painter, 1996).
Thyme essential oil has been found to be effective against Candida yeast species and is recommended for treatment of vaginal thrush; a very small amount can be added to suppositories or added to a peri-wash or sitz bath (Romm, 2010).
A 1997 study compared a commercial preparation of T. vulgaris (Bronchipret) with a synthetic drug for treatment of bronchitis; the herbal preparation was as effective but with greater tolerability than the synthetic drug especially in adults (Ernst, Marz & Sieder, 1997).
A 2005 study assessing the effectiveness of a preparation of T. vulgaris combined with ivy leaf, aniseed and marshmallow found that it improved symptoms of cough and was very well tolerated (Buechi, Vogelin, von Eiff, Ramos & Melzer, 2005).
In 2008, researchers observed anti-spasmodic effects of an extract of the herb on isolated cells of rat trachea and posited that it may be useful in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma (Engelbertz, Schwenk, Kinzinger, Schierstedt & Verspohl, 2008).
Cautions/Contraindications
No adverse effects expected in pregnancy and lactation (Bone, 2003)
Should be used with caution in patients with gastritis, enterocolitis and congestive heart failure (Braun & Cohen, 2010)
Dosage
Dose per day: 2-6ml of 1:2 liquid extract. Per week: 15-40ml 1:2 liquid extract (Bone, 2003).
Combinations
With oregano in vaginal suppositories for the treatment of vaginal infections, including HPV infection (Romm, 2010).
References
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Edinburgh [u.a.]: Churchill Livingstone.
Braun, L., & Cohen, M. (2010). Herbs & natural supplements. Sydney: Elsevier Australia.
Buechi, S., Vogelin, R., von Eiff, M., Ramos, M., & Melzer, J. (2005). Open trial to assess aspects of safety and efficacy of a combined herbal cough syrup with ivy and thyme. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd, 12(6), 328-332.
Culpeper, N. (1985). Culpeper's complete herbal. Omega.
Engelbertz, J., Schwenk, T., Kinzinger, U., Schierstedt, D., & Verspohl, E. (2008). Thyme extract, but not thymol, inhibits endothelin-induced contractions of isolated rat trachea. Planta Medica, 74(12), 1436-1440.
Ernst, E., Marz, R., & Sieder, C. (1997). A controlled multi-centre study of herbal versus synthetic secretolytic drugs for acute bronchitis. Phytomedicine, 4(4), 287-293.
Fisher, C., & Painter, G. (1996). Materia medica of Western herbs for the Southern Hemisphere. Auckland, N.Z.: G. Painter.
Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. New York: Dover Publications.
Holmes, P. (2007). The energetics of Western herbs. Cotati, Calif.: Snow Lotus Press.
Romm, A. (2010). Botanical medicine for women's health. St. Louis, Mo.: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.