Thyme

Thyme is commonly found in the kitchen herb cabinet, but millions of Americans stock thi herb's oil in their medicine chest as well.  Its use in mouthwashes and decongestants is no coincidence.  Thyme has a long history of use as an antiseptic, cough remedy, and digestive aid.

Like several other aromatic kitchen herbs, thyme was used as a meat preservative in ancient times.  It was sprinkled on sacrificial animals to make them more acceptable to the gods.  Thyme was introduced into cooing as an offshoot of its meat-preserving action.  The Romans also used it medicinally as a cough remedy, digestive aid, and treatment for intestinal worms.

Charlemagne ordered thyme grown in all his imperial gardens for both its culinary and medicinal value.  Medieval German abbess/herbalist Hildegard of Bingen considered it the herb of choice for skin problems, anticipating its later usa as an antiseptic.

Thyme's aromatic oil contains two chemicals - thymol and carvacrol - that account for its medicinal value.  Both chemicals have preservative, antibacterial, and antifungal properties and may be useful as digestive aids.

ANTISEPTIC: Thyme fights several disease-causing bacteria and fungi in the test tube, supporting its traditional use as an antiseptic, though infusions of the dried herb are nowhere near as powerful as the oil or distilled thymol.  Still, for garden first aid, you can crush some fresh leaves into minor cuts and scrapes on the way to washing and bandaging them.

DIGESTIVE AID: Some studies show thymol and carvacrol relax the smooth muscle tissue of the gastrointestinal tract, making thyme an antispasmodic.  This action of these chemical constituents lend support to thyme's traditional use as a digestive aid.

WOMEN'S HEALTH: Antispasmodics relax not only the digestive tract but other smooth muscles, such as the uterus, as well.  Small amounts may help relieve menstrual cramps, lending credence to the Eclectic physicians' use of this herb.  But in large amounts, thyme oil and thymol are considered uterine stimulants. Pregnant women may use thyme as a spices, but they should avoid large amounts and should not use the herb's oil.

COUGH REMEDY: German researchers have lent support to thyme's traditional use as a phlegm-loosener (expectorant), and in Germany today, where herbal medicine is considerably more mainstream than it is in the United States, thyme preparations are frequently prescribed to relax the respiratory tract and treat cough, whooping cough, and emphysema.