The benefits and harms of thyme for the body, application, properties.

Thyme (thyme) Is not just a fragrant spice, it is a plant with an unusually wide range of uses. It is used in cooking as a spice, in medicine as a medicine. In addition, they decorate the interior. The benefits and harms of thyme are considered from all sides.

You may not even have thought about using this herb earlier in your daily life. The fact is that thyme contains ingredients that have antibacterial and antifungal properties, which makes it popular among manufacturers of cosmetic, medicinal, food and other types of products.

General benefits

Thyme is ideal for maintaining high immunity, the health of the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems, as well as for the proper functioning of internal organs. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the beneficial properties of this unique plant, which will help significantly improve your health.

Polish microbiologists from the Lodz Medical University conducted a study that examined the effect of thyme on 120 different strains of bacteria taken from patients with oral, respiratory and urinary tract infections.

The results were impressive: it turned out that thyme is highly active against all clinical strains. This confirms the high efficacy of thyme, especially in comparison with antibiotics, to which certain bacteria are resistant. Therefore, as soon as you feel a sore throat, immediately add this aromatic herb to your tea.

In addition, it normalizes the level of substances, the increased content in the body of which leads to the appearance of cardiovascular diseases and obesity. We are talking about the “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. At the same time, thyme increases the level of “good” HDL cholesterol. This is what makes the plant an important ingredient in the daily diet.

Experimental results, published in the journal Food Microbiology, have shown that thyme essential oil is capable of decontaminating lettuce leaves, which have been found to contain Shigella bacteria, which can cause diarrhea and possible serious intestinal damage. Washing the product with a solution containing only one percent of thyme essential oil killed absolutely all Shigella bacteria.

Thus, adding thyme to the menu almost completely reduces the likelihood of food poisoning. Try adding fresh thyme leaves to your salad for a spicy flavor and a healthier, safer meal.

It is their number that affects the emotional state of a person. These studies have confirmed that carvacrol is a substance that affects brain activity by modulating these two neurotransmitters. So to improve your mood, you should definitely try to consume thyme every day in small quantities.

According to an experiment by Chinese scientists, the results of which were published in Anti-Cancer Drugs, carvacrol was found to reduce the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. Thus, regular consumption of thyme can provide prevention and help in the treatment of colon cancer.

As a result, in this group, there was a decrease in cough twice two days earlier than in the representatives of the second group, who were treated with traditional methods. In addition, the representatives of the first group did not show any side effects.

Numerous experiments also confirm the effectiveness of thyme as a treatment for bronchitis.

The essential oil of this plant has also been investigated for its properties in the treatment of neuralgic diseases such as dyspraxia. The research results are promising, but more work is required to accurately determine and confirm the therapeutic effect of thyme in this direction.

The use of a decoction of thyme and ivy sprigs to relieve cough and other symptoms of acute bronchitis, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections has already been repeatedly confirmed its effectiveness in numerous studies. Therefore, at the first onset of symptoms of colds, it is recommended to immediately drink thyme tea.

Benefits for women

Skin Benefits

The plant’s antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties are widely used in skin care and treatment of a variety of skin conditions.

Hair Benefits

Using infusions and decoctions of thyme, you can significantly improve the condition of the hair and scalp.

Benefits for men

Harm and contraindications

Thyme shows its unique beneficial properties only with the correct dosage and the absence of contraindications. The possible side effects of the plant are shown in the list below.

Chemical composition of the product

Nutritional value of thyme (100 g) and percentage of the daily value:

conclusions

Thanks to the unique properties of thyme, it can have a beneficial effect on the health of the whole organism. This plant contains a huge amount of organic acids, vitamins, resins, tannins, thanks to which thyme is an excellent analgesic, antiseptic and antispasmodic.

Taking a look at the list of pros and cons, you can easily see that the benefits of using thyme are much greater. Note that with the correct dosage and prior consultation with a doctor, side effects are unlikely.

Sources of Research

The main studies on the benefits and dangers of thyme (thyme) have been carried out by foreign doctors and scientists. Below you can find the primary sources of research on the basis of which this article was written:

Additional useful information about thyme

How to use

1. Adding to food.

Thyme is a popular seasoning with a spicy scent that imparts sophisticated flavor and aroma to foods and beverages. It is used as an additive to many dishes in various cuisines around the world. Thyme is added to salads, meat dishes and side dishes; many types of tea are created on the basis of thyme.

3. Use in cosmetology.

Essential oil and infusions of thyme can significantly improve the condition of the skin, eliminating rashes of various origins, while maintaining the elasticity and health of the skin.

6. Drying thyme.

In case of colds, having dried thyme at home is a must. Before starting the drying process, wash the plant and tie in small bunches. Then hang them in the air, avoiding direct sunlight on the grass.

When the thyme is completely dry, fold it into a paper bag and store in a dry place out of moisture. Please note that it is strictly forbidden to store herbs in plastic containers. Try to place your stocks of herbs in slightly shaded and not too hot places, ideally in a kitchen cabinet. Other medicinal herbs can also be dried using this method.

How to choose

The correct choice of thyme for medicinal purposes, for drying or freezing is very important: only by choosing a quality plant, you can get the maximum benefit. When choosing thyme, be sure to pay attention to the following indicators.

• Be sure to clarify where exactly the thyme grew. The locality of its growth is very important. This should be an ecologically clean place, because the plant is able to absorb harmful and toxic substances from the surrounding space, soil and water.
• Freshly harvested thyme has bright green leaves, without any inclusions or other imperfections.
• If you buy dry thyme, it should be crumbly, odorless and free of impurities.
• Remember that even when dried, the plant must retain its aroma.

How to store

Hand-picked or purchased thyme can be stored both fresh and dried. There are several main ways to store a spice.

• Freshly plucked thyme is placed, without ramming, in a hermetically sealed bag and placed in the refrigerator.
• Please note that it should not be placed in the freezer, but on the middle shelves.
• Use thyme as needed and seal the bag again. In this way, it is recommended to store the thyme for no more than a week.
• Fresh thyme can be stored in a glass container. Thyme is placed in a glass container (for example, a liter jar) without rinsing it, and tightly closed with a plastic lid. By placing the packaged thyme in the refrigerator (also on the middle shelf), you can increase its shelf life up to three weeks. This method is also suitable for storing any greenery.
• A long shelf life of the plant (up to a year) can be ensured by placing the plant in the freezer. Before that, you should perform several simple operations: rinse the thyme thoroughly under running water; remove excess moisture by blotting the grass with a paper towel.
• If desired, the thyme can be chopped before freezing, but remember that the whole plant retains more beneficial properties. Place the washed and dry thyme in a freezer bag and place in the freezer.

History of occurrence

The plant is first mentioned in manuscripts dating from the third millennium BC. Its medicinal antiseptic properties were discovered and successfully used by representatives of the Sumerian civilization.

The inhabitants of Ancient Egypt used thyme to make embalming mixtures, and the ancient Greeks – to fumigate temples. Over time, the Romans also learned about the amazing plant. They went even further – with the help of thyme, they flavored alcoholic beverages.

In 370 BC. NS. Hippocrates, a famous ancient Greek healer, recommended thyme as a remedy for respiratory ailments. During the plague epidemic in Europe in the 1340s, thyme was used as a defense against the Black Death. In Russia, thyme was also used for both medicinal and ritual purposes.

Our ancestors called it the Mother of God herb, because icons were decorated with bunches of thyme during the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin. It was sewn into amulets, considering it a powerful talisman against evil spirits and damage, and was used in many pagan rituals and recipes for medicinal drugs.

Doctors used thyme as a remedy in the fight against diseases of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract. A fragrant plant was always present in every home – people believed that it prolongs youth and ensures peace and tranquility in the family.

How and where is it grown

Thyme has more than one hundred varieties that grow almost everywhere throughout Eurasia, with the exception of tropical zones. This plant is completely unpretentious to the climate and soil properties, it can be found even in Greenland and North Africa.

In the vastness of Russia, thyme can be found in all regions, but it is most widespread in the Urals, the Caucasus and the Crimea. The habitat of the spicy plant is forest glades, steppes, including sandy and clayey, rocky slopes, rocks, ravines, mountain tundra soils.

Thyme bushes can reach a height of forty centimeters. The stems of the plant at the base are woody, abundantly covered with fine hairs, with branches (stems) creeping along the ground or rising upward.

Thyme has peduncles – herbaceous upright shoots and barren twigs that lie on the ground. The appearance of the leaves of thyme depends on the place of its growth and differs in the size and order of the arrangement of the veins.

The shape of the leaves is varied: round, elliptical, oblong. Small flowers, located at the ends of the shoots, are collected in inflorescences, rounded or elongated, and have a mauve or hot pink color.

The fruit of the thyme is a box in which there are four small brown nuts of a spherical or oval shape. The flowering period of thyme is from June to August, after which the fruits ripen until mid-September. The flowers exude a spicy, fragrant scent that attracts bees.

The most common and used type of thyme is common thyme. It has small leaves with light fluffy fibers on the inside. Thyme shoots reach a height of 15 cm.

The most popular varieties of this type of thyme are Alba and Splendens with white and deep red flowers, respectively. The Elfin common thyme variety belongs to dwarf (height – 5 cm). It is often used for decorative purposes for arranging gardens, lawns and flower beds.

Interesting Facts

• Thyme and thyme are the names of the same plant.
• Thyme is an antibiotic to which bacteria do not develop resistance.
• Thyme extends the shelf life of food – in Russia it was used to increase the shelf life of meat dishes.
• The Slavs believed that with the help of thyme it was possible to establish contact with the gods, therefore they used it in many rituals. Representatives of other nations did the same, throwing blossoming branches of grass into the fire.
• The Irish believe that with the help of thyme, you can see fairies in reality. To do this, after Walpurgis Night, you just need to wipe your eyes with dew from the bush of this plant.
• Thyme has long been a symbol of male prowess and strength. Thyme baths were believed to raise morale, which is why they were so popular with Roman legionnaires.
• Knights in the Middle Ages wore garments embroidered in the shape of a thyme leaf.
• Thyme was used not only to fumigate temples and houses, but also domestic animals, as well as various hunting gear to attract good luck in the trade.
• Thyme was used for mummification in ancient Egypt.
• In the Middle Ages, the leaves and flowers of thyme were used to protect against mosquitoes.
• Thyme placed under the pillow induces pleasant dreams.