Thyme Is More Beneficial For You Than You Think!
You may enjoy a bunch of chopped thyme in a
salad or season your meat dishes with this savory herb… But did you
know that the pleasant aroma of thyme is just one of countless
beneficial ways this herb can help your life and well-being? If you enjoy
thyme in your diet or aromatherapy, you’ll surely be glad to know that
this humble herb comes with an impressive list of health benefits and
uses. Learn what they are in this educational guide.
The origins and history of thyme
Thyme is a perennial evergreen herb in the mint family. There are
hundreds of thyme species, but the kind that’s most commonly used in
cooking, medicine, and landscaping is the species Thymus vulgaris. Thyme
grows naturally all across the Mediterranean, but it was likely first
cultivated in the Levant, where it grows in the wild to this day.
Humanity has long since discovered the
culinary, aromatic, and medicinal value of thyme. The Ancient Egyptians
used it in embalming, the Ancient Greeks took baths and burnt incense
containing thyme in temples, and the Romans flavored foods and drinks
with it. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates recommended thyme for
respiratory illnesses, which is why it was often used to purify the air
in rooms.
This last tradition continued well into the Middle Ages, but it was but
one of many ways Europeans used this aromatic herb. Thyme was believed
to ward off nightmares and promote sleep, so people would often place it
beneath their pillows. Women would gift thyme leaves to knights and
warriors, believing that the herb would bring them courage.
Today, we still use thyme in aromatherapy and in cooking, but what is
this aromatic herb really good for?
The health benefits of thyme
The beauty of adding herbs to your diet is
that they add flavor and offer health benefits without adding any
calories. One serving of thyme (which is around 1 teaspoon of dried
thyme or 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme) has less than 1 calorie, zero
fat, 0.2 g of carbs, and 0.1 g of fiber. The herb also has low amounts
of vitamin A, C, as well as some copper, magnesium, iron, and potassium.
Besides these general nutrients, thyme is rich in active plant compounds
that account for its many health benefits, which we outline below:
1. Helps with a cough
Since ancient times, thyme has been used as
a natural cough remedy, and current research tends to confirm that
thyme leaves and thyme extract may be able to ease a cough. For example,
a research paper from 2006 suggests that taking a syrup consisting of
thyme and ivy leaves reduced the cough in patients with acute bronchitis
by 50%. A more recent test-tube study suggests that a mix of thyme and
primrose extract reduces mucous production and inflammation in acute
bronchitis as well.
Therefore, drinking some thyme tea may be a good idea the next time you
have a cough! To prepare thyme tea, take 2 sprigs of thyme and steep
them in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the sprigs and
enjoy alone or with a squeeze of lemon and some honey.
2. Fights bacteria that cause food poisoning
In the history section, we briefly
mentioned that thyme was used in food preservation. Lo and behold, those
Romans were onto something, as scientists are now discovering that
thyme has potent antibacterial properties. In fact, thyme essential oil
may be able to eradicate strains of bacteria that cause foodborne
illness and other infections.
A 2011 paper from Poland points out that thyme oil kills strains of
Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, and Enterococcus bacteria
resistant to antibiotics. A more recent test-tube study looked at
thyme’s preservative properties and concluded that even low doses of
thyme oil killed off foodborne pathogens, so simply adding thyme to your
meals can reduce your risk of food poisoning.
3. May reduce high blood pressure
More recently, researchers have started to
suspect that thyme may be capable of reducing blood pressure, and the
current research is promising albeit not fully conclusive. A 2016 study
carried out at the University of Belgrade suggests that wild thyme
extract can reduce blood pressure.
A similar experiment conducted in 2014 used a species of thyme native to
Pakistan and Afghanistan called Thymus linearis benth. and concluded
that it had a significant capacity to lower heart rate, blood pressure,
and cholesterol. Both of these studies were conducted in rats, which
have a similar but not identical response to high blood pressure in
humans.
4. May be beneficial for yeast infections
As we’ve already established, bacteria are afraid of thyme. But they’re
not alone in this regard. The aromatic herb may also be effective
against fungi. The fungus called Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the
most common cause of yeast infections, also known as thrush. Thyme
essential oil was found to wipe out C. albicans strains, even those that
are resistant to the antifungal medication fluconazole.
This anti-fungal activity was observed by a 2012 study carried out in
Italy that demonstrated the ability of thyme essential oil to destroy
the C. albicans fungus in human cells. Another in vitro study from 2021
confirmed these effects and further suggested that even minimal doses of
thyme oil were effective at killing resistant strains of the fungus.
Currently, human trials are needed to confirm that this effect is
preserved in live subjects.
5. Kills acne bacteria
Acne is caused by the Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterium.
Given that thyme has a known antibacterial effect, thyme essential oil
may be a good way to eradicate these acne-causing bacteria from the
surface of the skin. Research from 2010 suggests that thyme essential
oil is indeed effective against P. acnes.
Further research from the Leeds Metropolitan University, England, in
2012, confirmed these findings and compared the antibacterial activity
of thyme to benzoyl peroxide, a common clinical acne-fighting
ingredient. The antibacterial effect of thyme was stronger than that of
benzoyl peroxide. What’s more, the thyme tincture didn’t have the
unpleasant side effects of benzoyl peroxide, such as irritation or a
burning sensation on the skin.
If you want to try using thyme essential
oil on the skin, mix only 1 drop of the oil with your moisturizer on the
back of your hand, and only then apply it on the skin. Diluting the oil
is key to preventing burns or irritation. We also recommend
patch-testing this mixture behind your ear to make sure that your skin
can tolerate thyme oil.
6. The aroma of thyme can lift your mood
The smell of thyme may not be able to make you more courageous, as was
believed by people in the Middle Ages, but it can certainly lift your
mood! In aromatherapy, thyme essential oil is extensively used in times
of stress, fatigue, or even grief. And there is one study suggesting
that the smell of thyme can positively influence our brain chemistry.
The active substance in thyme essential oil called carvacrol was stated
by the study to boost the levels of serotonin and dopamine, the two
so-called happiness hormones. So if you enjoy the smell of thyme, try
diffusing some thyme essential oil to lift your mood.
7. May have cancer-fighting properties
Cancer research started investigating thyme
as a potential cancer-fighting herb only recently. Nevertheless,
in-vitro research suggests that the herb may be beneficial for fighting
breast and colon cancer. Research from Turkey in 2012 looked at the
effect of Thymus serpyllum, or wild thyme, on breast cancer cells. The
test-tube experiment concluded that thyme eradicated breast cancer
cells. Since then, two other studies - one from 2018 and another one
from 2021 - made identical conclusions.
As for colon cancer, a study conducted in Lisbon in 2012 suggested that
thyme extract may be effective against colon cancer, and a 2015 study
observed similar findings in regards to colorectal cancer.
Home uses of thyme
Apart from having a direct positive effect on your health, thyme is also
beneficial for your home and cooking. Thyme can be easily added to any
meat, fish, pasta, and vegetable dish or enjoyed as a tea. But you
probably already knew all that. So here are a few extra ways you can use
thyme leaves or thyme essential oil around the home.
1. Keeps pests away
Did you know that thymol, a variety of
thyme oil, is a common ingredient in pesticides? According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), thymol is used to kill bacteria,
viruses, rodents, and pests both indoors and outdoors. Thyme essential
oil naturally contains between 20-60% thymol.
More recently, research also found that thyme essential oil can kill
mosquitos and their larvae, particularly the tiger mosquito known to
carry countless deadly illnesses.
Make your own pest repellent by combining 5 drops of thyme oil with ¼
cup (60 ml) of water or mixing 4 drops of thyme oil in 1 teaspoon of
carrier oil, such as almond or jojoba oil. You can apply this mixture on
the skin or diffuse this mixture around your home. Some people also
place dried thyme sprigs in-between laundry to repel pests.
2. Extends the shelf life of cooking oils
If you live in a warmer climate or simply
buy oil in bulk, you may struggle with your cooking oil going rancid
faster than you can use it up. Even here, thyme can come to the rescue,
provided that you enjoy the taste of thyme and use it in cooking quite
often. According to Polish scientists, thyme extract can stabilize
sunflower oil and prevent it from spoiling at various temperatures.
You can purchase pre-infused cooking oil in-store, but if you want to
try infusing your own cooking oil with thyme, follow these steps:
1. Combine 1 cup of cooking oil with ¾ cup of washed and pat-dried fresh
thyme in a saucepan.
2. Heat oil to 180°F (80°C) to kill any germs that may be lurking in the
herb.
3. Let the oil cool, strain, and bottle it up. That’s it!
3. Disinfecting
Those who live in a humid climate will know that the risk of mold
suddenly growing in the basement, bathroom, and other places in the home
is no joke. Even though thyme oil will not solve a serious mold
problem, it can be super helpful at preventing the issue, especially if
you already had a mold problem in the past. Diffusing and spot-treating
problem areas with thyme essential oil are both beneficial.