Tymus vulgaris
Other names: Common Thyme, Garden Thyme, Common Garden Thyme, Mother of Thyme
Family: Labiatae

Description
Thyme is a perennial with a woody, fibrous root. The stems are numerous, round, hard, branched, and usually from 4 to 8 inches high, when of the largest growth scarcely attaining a foot in height. The leaves are small, only about 1/8 inch long and 1/16 inch broad, narrow and elliptical, greenish-grey in colour, reflexed at the margins, and set in pairs upon very small foot-stalks. The flowers terminate the branches in whorls. The calyx is tubular, striated, closed at the mouth with small hairs and divided into two lips, the uppermost cut into three teeth and the lower into two. The corolla consists of a tube about the length of the calyx, spreading at the top into two lips of a pale purple colour, the upper lip erect or turned back and notched at the end, the under lip longer and divided into three segments. The seeds are roundish and very small, about 170,000 to the ounce, and 24 OZ. to the quart: they retain their germinating power for three years. The plant has an agreeable aromatic smell and a warm pungent taste. The fragrance of its leaves is due to an essential oil, which gives it its flavouring value for culinary purposes, and is also the source of its medicinal properties. It is in flower from June to August.

Parts used
Dried flowers.

Usage
Thyme is known as the plant with the most the post therapeutic properties. It cures coughs, whooping cough, diarrhoea, flu, tooth aches, rheumatisms, arthritis, etc. It is a mild soporific, sometimes an aphrodisiac. Valuable for bodily and spiritual breakdowns, stress, depression, migraines and other nervous disorders. Thyme enhances the flavour of olive oil, pickled olives, butter, vinegar, meats, poultry, fish, soups and stews, and vegetable dishes. Fresh garden salads as well as stuffed baked vegetables benefit from the addition of thyme. It can also be added to breads, cookies, and spoon sweets. Experimentally, oil of thyme lowers arterial pressure, increases heart rhythms, respiratory volume, lowers blood pressure and alleviates toothaches.
Infusion: Pour a cup of boiling water onto 2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and let infuse for 10 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.

Decoction: Boil 1-2 tea spoonfuls in a glass of boiled water and leave for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3 times daily after meals preferably with other herbs. Can also be used for any kind of coughs, diarrhoea and gastric disorders. Can, also, be anti pyretic.

External use: Thyme could be a great είναι poultice for wound healing, ointment or compress for rheumatisms, muscular pains, as well as whooping cough by applying on the chest. As a compress, it can be used for bruises and tooth ache. For rheumatisms, chop some thyme, heat it up with a small amount of water in a pan, pour the hot water on a gauze and apply on the problematic area. For hair loss we can boil a handful of thyme in a litre of water, until half of it is left, then apply that on the head. It’s better to shampoo beforehand, then apply with the thick liquid and leave for 3-5 minutes, then shampoo for one last time.

Side effects: Not recommended for hypertensive individuals as it raises arterial pressure.

* The information here should not be considered medical advice, and you should always consult a physician before beginning any herbal therapy.