Thyme
Updated Nov. 01st, 2019
Thyme was traditionally used as a spice. It keeps food from going bad and reduces food borne illnesses because it has antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Thyme also soothes the respiratory tract, reducing coughs and congestion. Thyme tea can be used as a drink or, either the herb or essential oil, can be used as a steam inhalation for the same purpose.
Thyme oil is a topical antifungal for both the skin and scalp. It is usually used today for coughs, colds, asthma and fungal infections.
Thyme can be purchased as a loose herb, spice or essential oil. The loose herb can be made into a tea for topical application or internal use. Thyme may be a part of teas for upper respiratory tract infections. The spice is often added to dishes for prevention of bacterial contamination.
The essential oil of thyme is a highly concentrated substance. When using essential oils, especially in sensitive areas, be sure to test the oil first on a small area. If necessary, dilute the oil in carrier oil, such as olive, almond or any cooking oil. Thyme oil or herb can be used for steam inhalation.
Essential oils are toxic when taken internally. Thyme may cause an allergic reaction when used topically or internally. Individuals with ulcers, intestinal inflammation or other gastrointestinal conditions or those with irritation in the urinary tract may not wish to use thyme.
I had no idea the amazing benefits that Thyme has! I personally love thyme as a spice and when cooking it is easy to add a few shakes of it into your meal, soup, or bread that you are making. It also has a lovely smell. It is so cool to know that it helps prevent your food from going bad too fast and all the other cool stuff that is listed in this article. It is amazing what something in our pantry can do tp help better you!
Hi there,
Thyme is a great spice with a lovely aroma. It's often used in Italian blend seasonings as well as Herb de Provence seasoning blend too. If you enjoy the smell, you may love the essential oil to diffuse in your kitchen:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/aromatherapy-essential-oils/single-essential-oils/aromapathic-labs-thyme-oil-30ml-bonus-item.html
"When using essential oils, especially in sensitive areas, be sure to test the oil first on a small area."=> Thank you for making this note!! It is easy to get overly excited about essential oils and I had a friend who would have benefitted from this advice (let's just say, pure clove oil DID NOT do wonders for her underarms!). You also might want to add a note about not eating essential oils because I have heard of people doing this too and I assume that it could be dangerous. On another note, I didn't know that thyme oil could be used on the scalp; that's really cool and it sounds like it could be really pleasant to apply there. Thank you for another great article!
Hello Rachel,
Indeed, proper dilution is essential when using essential oils as they can burn your skin if used alone, we hope your friend was ok. Thyme oil has many properties that provide great health benefits, including antibacterial properties and more. When using on your scalp, it's great to dilute with castor oil as castor oil also has many great benefits for your hair. Learn more about castor oil's benefits here, https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/castor-oil/
Stay healthy & well