Thyme is one of the most famous culinary herbs of all time. It possesses a heap of medicinal benefits and has a really rich history throughout the ages. It is one of those herbs that needs little to no introduction.
It has been used all over the world for centuries and lives in many peoples homes and spice cabinets. Its origins are in the Mediterranean and are a part of that history of the longevity herbs that have now become a fundamental ingredient in many cultural cuisines around the world.
There are so many varieties (tons of thymes!), though the most commonly used is Thymus vulgaris, of which there are a number of different cultivars. She is a part of the mint (Laminaceae) family and is incredibly easy to grow, which is probably how she has found her way around the world into many different countries, cultures and cuisines.
Typically Thyme works with the digestive system; it is spicy, stimulating and pungent, and is commonly used for conditions where there is constricted or depressed tissue states that need stimulating and shifting; thyme helps moves all sorts of ‘funk’ out of the body. It seems to work on many levels, but especially well from a digestive perspective; one possible explanation is that it works on the microbiome, which would explain its far-reaching communication, from the foundation of the gut, and the many messages that are relayed from the digestive tract, to other organ systems of the body.
Rich in essential oils, it possesses monoterpenes such as thymol, carvacrol and geraniol, which are high in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; these qualities typically enhance the anti-ageing process and are good for cellular and DNA repair, helping with blood-clotting and digestion, for ridding the body of parasites, and so many other things; a panacea, one might call it.
Traditionally speaking, Thyme was thought to bring courage, to help with restless sleep and take away nightmares. But more than anything, it was used for putrification and as a ways of preserving meats and vegetables in medieval times (and even in more recent times, pre refrigeration). The fresh herb would be
generously packed in and around the produce, which would keep the food preserved and safe to eat through the winter months.
It has a nice pungent flavour and can be enjoyed as a little daily ‘sipping’ tea, which can be a beneficial daily tonic for the body in general. Thyme is healing to all mucus membranes of the body, from mouth to anus. It is used in the treatment of ulcers and colitis, SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and for general gum and mouth health; in fact, the thymol that exists in Thyme was the original ingredient in Listerine.
It is a potent anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-septic remedy, and a specific remedy for bronchitis and for a certain type of cough that is itchy and constrictive in nature; thyme really helps to loosen sticky mucus and shift stubborn phlegm.
An herb of longevity and time, Thyme was considered by Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) as one of the twelve most important herbs on the planet. It was used by the Romans in their bath water as a remedy to fortify the soul and the body, and the Egyptians used it as a key herb in their mummification process (alongside Myrrh) for entombing bodies. In other words, it is an herb that not only was revered and understood from time immemorial (or so it would seem), but has also stood the test of time (my apologies for all the time/thyme puns) as a remedy for a multitude of purposes. Again, quite the panacea.
Thyme, a culinary herb that can perhaps bring our current world into coherence. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?!
Blessed Botanicals has Thyme available in teas, tinctures and essential oils.
Or perhaps you would like to grow some yourself? It is super easy!
Blessed Be!