That sprig of thyme - a member of the mint family that's likely to adorn a garden or flavor soups and stews-is also good for healing. Thymus vulgaris, approved by Commission E, is domestic garden thyme. (Wild thyme, Thymus sertpyllum, is close...
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
That sprig of thyme - a member of the mint family that's likely to adorn a garden or flavor soups and stews-is also good for healing. Thymus vulgaris, approved by Commission E, is domestic garden thyme. (Wild thyme, Thymus sertpyllum, is closely related and has a similar composition.) Both species of thyme grow wild in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Potential Health Benefits
Commission E endorses thyme to treat the symptoms of whooping cough and bronchitis (it's not considered a cure). Mainstream medicine evidently agrees; thyme is an ingredient in both Listerine and Vicks VapoRub.
Scientific Evidence
Chemists have identified the active ingredients in thyme oil as thymol and caracol. Both chemicals fight fungi and bacteria and are expectorants. Commission E doesn't cite clinical studies in its monograph, but thyme has a long history of safe use in Germany, and thyme-based medications are widely used there. Specifically, Commission E reviewed the properties of dried thyme leaves and flowers.
How to Use the Herb
Commission E recommends 1-2 grams of the herb for a cup of tea "several times a day as needed," or 1-2 grams of fluid extract 1 to 3 times per day.
For wild thyme, which is slightly weaker than the garden variety the commission recommends taking 6 grams per day. If you're unsure what type of thyme you have, try taking the smaller dose.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Cautions
Commission E found no side effects, contraindications, or interactions with other drugs. Still, the PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines and Healing Therapies advises: "Take no more than 10 grams of thyme daily."
Note that the medicinal amounts recommended by Commission E are well below that ceiling, though they apply to dried leaves and flowers, not to other products such as thyme oil, which the commission did not evaluate.
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
