8 Health Benefits of Thyme Spice and Thyme Oil

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What is Thyme?

A favorite Mediterranean herb, Thyme is useful to human beings in various forms like Thyme oil, Thyme leaves, and Thyme flowers. Thymus vulgaris is the scientific name of Thyme, and it belongs to the mint family. It is a well-known culinary herb which is used to enhance the flavor of dishes. In addition to culinary and ornamental uses, Thyme boasts of numerous dietary and medicinal benefits as well.

Amazing Facts about Thyme

  1. Thyme possesses anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
  2. Thyme’s most active component is Thymol. Thymol is present in various medicinal products like Vicks VapoRub and Listerine Mouthwash.
  3. Egyptians used to use Thyme for embalming while Greeks used to use it as incense in temples.
  4. During the Roman era, Thyme was used to prevent poisoning. Romans also bathed with water infused with Thyme to combat the effects of intoxication.
  5. Thyme is a commonly found ingredient in face-washes and anti-acne creams.
  6. Thyme has the property of hybridizing rapidly. Thus, there are over 350 species of Thyme known till date.
  7. Thyme is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients.
  8. For centuries, Thyme had been associated with courage and bravery and used as an anti-depressant.
  9. Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates, suggested Thyme as a treatment for respiratory ailments.
  10. During the time of ‘Black Death’ in Europe, posies of Thyme would be worn by the citizens to protect themselves.

8 Health Benefits of Thyme

Thyme consists of various minerals and essential nutrients which promote good health and well-being. There are multiple ways in which Thyme spice and Thyme oil can help you stay healthy. Here are 8 benefits of using Thyme.

1. Thyme is Useful in Treating Common Skin Problems

In the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, a study was carried out by a team of researchers in this regard. They treated some of the patients exhibiting eczema-like lesions with 3 % thyme essential oil antifungal cream and others suffering from the same condition with 10 % chamomile extract cream using the placebo approach. The results showed that 66.5 % of people treated with thyme essential oil antifungal cream showed no more eczema while only 28.5% of those treated with chamomile extract cream showed signs of recovery. This study further supports the claim that Thyme possesses excellent antibacterial properties, which make it useful in treating skin problems like acne.

2. Thyme Boosts your Mood

Thyme oil is an essential oil which is proven to possess therapeutic properties. According to a study conducted in 2013, Carvacrol, which is the active substance in Thyme oil, has a positive effect on the neuron activity which leads to improvement in the subject’s mood and fostering of a feeling of well-being. So regular usage of Thyme essential oil boosts your mood and makes you feel relaxed.

3. Thyme is Useful in Preventing Food Poisoning

While it is a known fact that Thyme helps prevent the contamination of food, not many people know that Thyme can decontaminate the food which has is already contaminated. Many studies published in Food Microbiology show that the Thyme essential oil is useful in neutralizing the harmful effects of various microorganisms. The published research talks about the experiment carried out on lettuce leaves disinfected by Shigella, the bacteria responsible for inflicting significant intestinal damage and causing diarrhea. These leaves went through washing with a solution containing only 1% of Thyme essential oil. The results showed that the number of Shigella bacteria was reduced significantly, bringing it down to below the detection level.

4. Thyme to Treat a Sore Throat, Cough, and Cold

A sore throat, cough, and cold are usually a result of viral or bacterial infections. Thyme oil is one of the best antimicrobial essential oils to fight harmful germs. The results of various experiments found that Thyme oil exhibited potent activity against the clinical strains commonly known to infect the respiratory tract. So, next time if you are suffering from a sore throat, cough, and cold, have a warm cup of Thyme infused tea or some delicious Thyme infused soup!

5. Thyme for Healthy Hair

Thyme boosts the blood circulation process and makes sure that the vital nutrients reach the scalp via the bloodstream. When the essential nutrients reach the hair follicles in ample amounts, it results in boosting hair growth. In addition to this, due to the presence of antibacterial properties, Thyme helps keep bacterial infections of the scalp at bay and reducing dandruff problems. Thyme also slows down the process of air thinning by preventing hair fall.

6. Thyme Lowers your Blood Pressure

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, an extract of wild Thyme lowered the blood pressure when tested on rats. Since rats are known to respond to hypertension and high blood pressure similarly to humans, this study indirectly implies that Thyme might be useful in reducing the blood pressure in humans as well. However, there is no concrete proof of this theory available yet.

7. Thyme Promotes Heart Health

Chronic inflammation is the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases. Thyme exhibits the benefits of anti-inflammatory properties as well as anti-oxidant properties, which play an essential role in reducing inflammation and fighting cardiovascular diseases, thus promoting heart health. Additionally, Thyme Oil also possesses anti-spasmodic properties which enable the regular functioning of heart valves. It also promotes relaxation of arteries and veins, resulting in the reduction of blood pressure and the strengthening of heart valves.

8. Thyme Boosts Immunity

Thyme is a rich source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. These three vitamins boost immunity and help tackle infections and germs. Thyme also helps in promoting the formation of white blood cells, which are like the soldiers of our immune system. The anti-inflammatory properties of Thyme contribute to boosting the immune system. Last but not least, Thyme speeds up the process of healing the wounds as well.