Thyme for Healing

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.
All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; and Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White.

True thyme (garden thyme), the cultivated form of wild thyme has long been a favored culinary spice - the ancient Romans used it to flavor cheeses and liqueurs. Later, as a symbol of bravery, sprigs of thyme were embroidered on cloths for the knights of the Crusades. Prized for its antiseptic properties, thyme is now used not only for cooking but also to treat wounds, gastrointestinal ailments and respiratory infections.
Dutch herbalist Rembert Dodoens noted nearly half a century ago that thyme turned into a "sovereign medicine against all poison" when taken as a tea or broth. Native to the western Mediterranean region and today widely cultivated in the U.S., garden thyme (thymus vulgaris) has long been valued in treating acute and chronic respiratory ailments, including bronchitis, mild asthma and laryngitis.
The word thyme comes from the Greek and means "to make a burnt offering." The ancient Greeks burned thyme as a stimulating incense to make sacrifices acceptable to the gods, and also applied its antiseptic properties to treat snakebites and other wounds. In the 1600s, Nicholas Culpeper, an English herbalist, deemed the herb a "notable strengthener of the lungs." Today, thyme is known as an antispasmodic beneficial for bronchitis and whooping cough. Thyme's active healing component is thymol, which helps inhibit the growth of fungus and bacteria. A powerful germicide used during WWI in hospitals, this herb has proved its worth and today is found in commercial cough syrups. Other medicinal uses of the herb include applying it as a compress to relieve bites, bee stings, joint pain and athlete's foot. Because the herb also aids digestion, it does double duty in the kitchen. It adds a delicate and savory flavor to foods and at the same time makes them easier to digest.
Thyme tea is regarded as one of the most effective home remedies for coughs and sore throats, working on inflamed membranes and loosening mucus. Because it is also antibacterial, thyme tea is often used as a gargle for inflammations of the mouth. Thyme essential oil can also be used externally to strengthen the immune system and to help subdue infections in the respiratory tract.

Herb Vinegar with Thyme
Place one sprig of fresh thyme, 1 fresh sprig of fresh rosemary and 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic in a clear 6 oz. glass bottle with a narrow neck. Boil 6 oz. of white-wine vinegar, cool slightly and pour into the bottle, making sure the herbs are covered. Let it cool completely, and then cork the bottle. Steep the vinegar at room temperature for 2 weeks, so that the herb's essential oil is released. Use the vinegar in sauces or salad dressings.

Characteristics
Thyme is an evergreen bush with strongly branching, woody stems. The small gray-green leaves are elliptical and rolled under at the edges. The small flowers range from pale pink to violet in color.

Plant Facts
True thyme (garden thyme) is a member of the Labiatae, or mint, family that grows 8-12 inches in height. A pungent scent and faintly bitter, yet pleasant taste, make this herb distinctive.
Wild thyme, despite its name, does not grow wild in the U.S. While it is often planted in rock gardens, wild thyme must be obtained from specialty nurseries. Throughout its native Europe, it does grow wild in sunny, stony, dry areas.

Parts Used
Thyme's leaves, non-woody stems and flowers are used both for medicinal and culinary purposes. The above-ground parts can be harvested at any time during the growing season.

Components
Thyme's essential oil, its most important component, is composed of thymol, carvacrol and monoterpenes, which have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial actions. Other constituents include caffeic and labiatic acids, tannins, flavonoids and bitters.

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Methods of Administration

Tea
For respiratory ailments, pour 1 cup of boiling water 1 tsp. of dried or 2 tsp. of fresh thyme leaves and cover. Steep for 10 min.; strain. Sweeten with honey, if desired. Drink 1 cup of warm tea up to 3 times daily.
Tincture
Pour 4 1/2 oz. of rum over 3/4 oz. of dried thyme. Place the mixture in a glass jar with a tight lid, and steep for about 4-6 weeks, shaking the jar regularly. Filter the mixture.
For cramps, diarrhea and stomachache, take 20-40 drops of the tincture in 1/4 cup of water 3 times a day. To improve a poor appetite, take 10-20 drops of tincture 15-20 min. before meals.
Essential oil
For upper-respiratory ailments or cough, place 4-5 drops of the essential oil in 1 qt. of simmering water and inhale up to 4 times daily. Be sure you purchase essential oil, not infused oil, and never take it internally.
Bath Additive
For acute skin conditions, make an infusion with 1/2 cup of dried or 1 cup of fresh thyme and 2 qt. of boiling water. Steep for 20-30 min., add to the bath and soak for 20 min.
Tea Infusion
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp. of finely chopped dried or 1 tbsp. of fresh thyme. Steep for 10 min.; strain. Drink 1-2 cups of fresh tea daily. For digestive problems, drink this tea unsweetened before a meal. For a disinfectant wash, bathe abrasions and cuts with the tepid tea. For a cough, add honey and lemon.
Liniment
In a 1 oz. dropper bottle, place 5 dropperfuls (not drops) of wild-thyme essential oil. Fill the bottle with grain alcohol. Rub into painful muscles.
Massage Oil
Mix 20-40 drops of wild-thyme essential oil with 4 oz. of sweet-almond or apricot-kernel oil.

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Care
thyme thrives in well-drained, dry soil with "lean" nutrients - no fertilization is necessary to promote growth, and you don't need to give it extra water. Harvest thyme lightly during late fall and winter; you will weaken the plant or cause it to become woody.
Thyme grows well in rock gardens and makes a lovely and decorative garden border. Its powerful odor is said to repel white flies and cabbage worms.
Harvesting and processing
Harvest thyme in the middle of the day, when the plant has the highest concentration of essential oils. Cut off the shoots about 4 inches above the soil line shortly before the plant blooms in May or June. Bundle the cut stems together and hang the bundles to dry in a shaded, well-ventilated place. When the stems are dry, pluck the leaves and buds for use in cooking, teas and remedies. Store dried thyme in glass jars away from light.

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Guide to Cultivation
Varieties
Several varieties are available commercially. The majority of varieties sold commercially are hardy.
Starting Plants
Garden thyme can easily be started from seed. Sow the seeds directly in flower boxes, or in the garden, in April. Or you can start the seeds inside in February or March. To plant the seeds, make a narrow furrow in the soil. Mix the seeds with some sand and scatter them in the furrow. Thyme germinates in the light, so it should be covered only lightly with soil. To speed germination, cover the seeded beds with strong, clear plastic, which protects the seeds from wind and improves moisture retention. You can remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge. In the second half of May, the seedlings will be strong enough to replant at intervals of 8 inches.
Propagation
The flowers form brown seedpods in autumn. To gather seeds, cut off twigs and remove the dried seeds from the pods. Store the seeds in a cool place through the winter, and sow them in the spring. Thyme may also be propagated by cuttings. Simply cut a 3-inch stem and strip the leaves off the bottom third. Use a light, sterile potting mix when planting the cutting. Firm the soil at the stem. Keep the soil moist, and avoid exposure to direct light until cutting is rooted. Transplant to a spot with dry soil.

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Kitchen Hints
Thyme Potatoes
Makes 4 Servings

• 1-2 tbsp. of thyme or lemon thyme (fresh)
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1-2 lb. baby red potatoes
• 5 1/4 oz. shallots
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/3 cup vegetable or chicken broth
• Salt and black pepper to taste

1. Wash the thyme and shake it dry. Strip the leaves off the stems and chop. Peel the garlic and mince. Wash and scrub the potatoes; cut up larger ones if necessary. Peel and slice the shallots.
2. Heat the butter and oil in a heavy pan. Lightly saute the shallots and garlic. Add the potatoes and saute, stirring.
3. Add the thyme, broth, salt and pepper; cover. Simmer for 30 min. on low heat. Shake the pan occasionally. Serve with roasted or frilled meat of fish.

Each variety of thyme has a slightly different flavor. Garden thyme has a delicately, spicy taste; wild thyme is more pungent. Lemon thyme has an appropriately lemony scent. Other varieties include oregano, orange and honey thymes.
Homegrown thyme is easy to dry - and tastes better than dried thyme purchased from a store. You can use whole sprigs in soups, stews and sauces. Or strip off the leaves and discard the stems. Store the leaves in an airtight glass jar; they will retain their fragrance for 1 year.
Thyme is included in a bouquet garnish, along with parsley and bay leaf. Together, the herbs are used to flavor stews and soups. Thyme also blends especially well with garlic, rosemary and basil.
Thyme wine stimulates the appetite and aids digestion. In a wide-mouth glass jar, cover 1 tbsp. of fresh thyme with 3 cups of dry white wine. Steep for 10 days at room temperature; strain. Drink 1/4 cup before or after meals.

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Magickal Uses
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage
Folk Names: Common Thyme, Garden Thyme

• Thyme is burned to attract good health and is also worn for this purpose.
• It is also used in healing spells.
• Burn as an incense to purge and fumigate magickal rooms.
• Take a magickal cleansing bath in the spring of thyme and marjoram.
• A pillow stuffed with thyme cures nightmares.
• Crush a handful of the fresh herb and inhale. You will at once be refreshed and renewed.
• Wear a sprig of the herb to funerals to protect yourself from the negativity of mourners.