Many of us use herbs to add flavor to our food and maybe even to make our house smell wonderful. However, many herbs can be used for many other things as well. They can even help us when we are sick. One herb, in particular, may change the way you see herbs forever. You'll be surprised by all the things it can do!
The Amazing Herb That Provides Several Health Benefits Is:
Thyme is an herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Thyme has a long history of use in natural medicine in connection with chest and respiratory problems including coughs, bronchitis, and chest congestion. Only recently, however, have researchers pinpointed some of the components in thyme that bring about it’s healing effects. The volatile oil components of thyme are now known to include carvacolo, borneol, geraniol, but most importantly, thymol.
Thymol—named after the herb itself—is the primary volatile oil constituent of thyme, and its health-supporting effects are well documented. In studies on aging in rats, thymol has been found to protect and significantly increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures. In particular, the amount of DHA in brain, kidney, and heart cell membranes was increased after dietary supplementation with thyme.
The flowers, leaves and oil of thyme are commonly used by people for the treatment of bedwetting, diarrhea, stomach ache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, cough, bronchitis, flatulence and as a diuretic.
Thyme contains a number of anti-inflammatory compounds, including luteolin and rosmarinic acid, which may provide health benefits for people with certain anti-inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and inflammatory acne. Luteolin has been shown to exert strong inhibitory effects against TBK1, an enzyme that has been linked to inflammatory diseases. In fact, a study published in the April 2009 issue of the journal Biochemical Pharmacology found that luteolin showed the strongest inhibitory activity against TBK1 among the six tested compounds, all of which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Thyme contains several phytochemicals (such as ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid and luteolin) that have been linked to anti-cancer activity in laboratory studies. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that also thyme as a herb – rather than its individual components – has shown promise as a potential natural cancer fighter. A study published in the November 2012 edition of the journal Natural Product Communications reported the extracts of Mastic Thyme (Thymus mastichina L.) may have a protective effect against colon cancer. Another study, published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, found that Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) caused apoptosis (cell death) in breast cancer cells.
THYME ESSENTIAL OIL
The essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – usually referred to as “oil of thyme” – contains 20-54% thymol.
Thymol belongs to a naturally-occurring class of compounds known as “biocides” (substances that can destroy harmful organisms). When thymus is used alongside other biocides, such as carvacrol, it has strong antimicrobial attibutes.
Scientists at the University of Manitoba, Canada, wrote in the International Journal of Food Microbiology that thymol can reduce bacterial resistance to common drugs such as penicillin.
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Researchers at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, reported in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition that an aqueous extract obtained from Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme) reduced blood pressure in an animal experiment on laboratory rats.
As rats tend to have similar responses to humans in hypertensive situations, the team is hopeful that further human trials will confirm their findings.
Uses of Thyme Oil
* Home remedy – Thyme oil is used to relieve and treat problems like gout, arthritis, wounds, bites, and sores, water retention, menstrual and menopausal problems, nausea and fatigue, respiratory problems (like colds), skin conditions (oily skin and scars), athlete’s foot, hangovers, and even depression.
* Aromatherapy oil – The oil can be used to stimulate the mind, strengthen memory and concentration, and calm the nerves.
* Hair product – It is said that thyme oil can prevent hair loss. It is used as a treatment for the scalp and is added to shampoos and other hair products.
* Skin product – Thyme oil can help tone aged skin and prevent acne outbreaks.
* Mouthwashes and herbal rinses – Like peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus oils, thyme oil is used to improve oral health.
* Insecticide/insect repellent – Thyme oil can keep insects and parasites like mosquitoes, fleas, lice, and moths away.
* Relieve pain – Mix three drops of thyme oil with two teaspoons of sesame oil. Use this mixture as a massage oil and apply on the abdominal area to relieve pain. This may also be used as a massage oil to treat other types of pain.
* Alleviate fatigue – Add two drops of thyme oil to your bath water.
* Improve sleep – Add a few drops to your diffuser.
* Promote oral health – Use thyme oil as a mouthwash by adding one drop to a cup of warm water.
* Reduce appearance of scars and skin marks – Apply oil of thyme mixed with any carrier oil (like almond oil) on the affected area.
* Use as cleanser – Add a few drops of thyme oil to your facial wash.
* Treat or protect against respiratory problems – Add two drops of thyme oil to hot water and use for steam inhalation.
* Uplift mood – Simply inhale the scent of thyme oil.
As you can see, thyme is a pretty remarkable herb. It can help with inflammation and high pressure. It also has shown some anti-cancer properties. It can be used to help with acne, oral heath and even can be used to put you in a better mood. This is definitely an herb that you want to have around because it is incredibly useful for so many situations.
To learn even more about the health benefits of thyme, you can go to:
**Melissa, I tried my best to include as much information as I could. Please let me know if I need to change anything.**
