Harness the healing power of Thyme.

I have never really paid a lot of attention to Thyme until I went through a plant-based eating phase a couple of years ago. During this time I tried many different recipes with a wider range of herbs and spices than I had previously used in the kitchen, expanding my repertoire and taste experiences tremendously. Inspired, we started to grow different herbs in the garden – and as you can see by the picture, our flowering Thyme is currently thriving (and the Marigolds provide a gorgeous splash of colour in the background).

Thyme does not only look beautiful, it also tastes and smells oh so divine – and, it has impressive health properties to offer. When I studied Food and Nutrition Coaching at the Nature Care College last year, Thyme and other powerful herbs formed part of the fascinating unit Food as Medicine which focused on the concept of eating foods for disease prevention.

As an antimicrobial herb, Thyme has long been used to help with infections of the upper and lower respiratory system and the urinary tract.  It is reported that the Sumerians were using Thyme for its health properties as early as 5000 BCE.

Health benefits and properties of Thyme.

Thyme is:

• Antifungal, anticarcinogenic and antiseptic
• Anti-viral and anti-parasitic
• Helpful for respiratory conditions especially with excess mucus or phlegm, asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and sinusitis
• Removes mucus in a gentle way - good for unproductive, dry and irritable coughs
• Helpful for throat infections - gargle with thyme at first sign of a sore throat
• Can be used as a mouthwash and/or gargle solution to help with gum disease.

Emotional properties of Thyme.

Essential oils are well-known for supporting our emotional wellbeing and I believe, overall health. I’ve been using them for nearly 20 years, and they form a vital part of my kinesiology services in my clinic. Besides the benefits of aroma therapy and their inspiring scent, essential oils carry special messages. They provide insights and create awareness of where we are at and what to consider.

Thyme is seen as a powerful cleanser of the emotional body. It can assist in releasing any trapped feelings or unresolved issues that potentially may have been buried for a long time. This is why it is seen as the oil of Releasing and Forgiving. It helps to bring up old stagnant feelings to the surface so we can free ourselves. It teaches us that it is time to let go and move forward while opening our heart to forgiveness, understanding and love towards ourselves and others.

Thyme helps to shift us from feeling powerless to dynamic so we can tap into the positive use of our willpower and let go of negative patterns, beliefs of habits. It instills a greater sense of fulfillment, empowerment and strong belief in oneself while providing a fresh perspective. It opens the way for us to access our strength so we can stay on track with any new resolve.

How to incorporate Thyme.

Time is a gentle herb and goes well with savoury and sweet foods such as berries. I love using it in my homemade tomato sauce and recently discovered how amazing it tastes in an omelette or scrambled eggs. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

• Thyme Water – have you ever tried Thyme infused water? I was lucky that one of my clients shared this with me when Thyme, in form of an essential oil, showed in her session. It is a beautiful way to savour the flavours and health properties of Thyme - simply infuse a jug of water with a couple of sprigs of fresh Thyme for approximately 2 hours (anytime longer can make it taste slightly bitter)
• Thyme Tea –  steep ~1 teaspoon of fresh leaves in a teapot of hot water, cover it to preserve the volatile compounds, consider blending it with peppermint and/or sage; adjust the strength to your taste
• Thyme Essential Oil – can be added to a diffuser, individually or as a combo with other oils, or you can create your own vibrational mist; if you are buying a high quality brand - which I highly recommend (for example I use doTERRA) - it can also be ingested i.e. used in cooking.

A French herbalist suggested to drink thyme tea in the morning instead of coffee to conserve health, improve digestion and remove morning coughs; and the herbalist claims it has euphoric effects!

A word of caution.

They say not to use Thyme as a herbal medicine during pregnancy however our lecturer could not find anything to support this precaution, in fact most commonly it is used across all 3 trimesters for bloating or stomach aches, colds or UTI’s.

This article is intended for educational purposes and not deemed as advice. As always, listen to your body and conduct further research to ensure this is right for you or consult with your GP or relevant healthcare professional.

“Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences."

~Plato ~

Sources:

• Full content credit goes to the Nature Care College via the Learning Guide and the excellent lectures by our tutor Fiona (who practices as a naturopath)
• ND Zeck, R., The Blossoming Heart, Aromatherapy for Healing and Transformation, Aroma Tours (2014), 3rd Edition.
• Essential Emotions LCC, Essential Emotions, Your Guide to process, release, and live free, Essential Emotions LCC (2020), 9th Edition.

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