Thymus, Thyme

Serpyllum, Mother of Thyme

Mother of Thyme: Serpillum, Quendel
–Ajagandha (Ayurveda)
–Hasha, Jangali Pudina (Unani)

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Thyme
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Serpyllum
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Thyme (Left), Mother of Thyme (Right)
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Thyme
Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

Left: T. vulgars; Right: T. serpyllum
(Atlas der Officinellen Pflanzen, Berg & Schmidt, Leipzig, 1893)

Botanical name:

Thymus spp.

T. vulgaris: Thyme
T. serpyllum: Mother of Thyme

Small-leaved (most common), Broad-leaved, Headed and Unscented types were known.
Lemon-scented Thyme was sometimes called for.

Parts used:

Whole Herb

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent
Wild Thyme is “Hot and Dry up to the Third degree”. (Avicenna)

Classifications:

2A APERIENT.    2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD.    2J. RAREFYING
3G. EMMENAGOGUE.    3K. EXPECTORANT
4f. SPLENETIC.    4i. UTERINE.    4j. NERVINE
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy

Uses:

1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison, Promotes Sweat:
-prevents and treats acute infectious and epidemic disease including Colds, Flu
-Cough due to Wind and Cold
-acute infections of the Lungs, Urinary system, or digestive system.
-various poisons, including the bites of Venomous Beasts.

2. Clears Cold Phlegm, Benefits the Lungs, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-irritable and spasmodic Coughs, including that of Whooping Cough, acute or chronic Bronchitis
-Asthma, Emphysema, shortness of Breath, Chest pain
-swollen, sore Throat (West, TCM)
–Culpeper said ‘a strengthener of the Lungs, as notable a one as grows’.
–Gerard said to drink with vinegar and salt to purge phlegm;
-boiled in Honey and Water for a ‘hard and painful Cough’.
-Hemoptysis

3. Calms the Mind, Clears Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Headache, Dizziness, Fearfulness, Melancholy and Epilepsy.
-especially useful for Nightmares.
-Sciatica and chronic pains of the Head. The flowers have also been used as a stimulant in Lethargy.
-painful, watering and bleariness of the Eyes; Dioscorides said when used in food it helps dimness of sight.
–Culpeper said Wild Thyme was good for ‘Frenzy or Lethargy, although they are two contrary diseases’.
–Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Amnesia, Tetanus and Epilepsy when taken with Honey. (Unani)
-Toothache, Headache, general aching and pain, Pruritus etc. (TCM)

4. Prepares Melancholy:
-Thyme was often used for Melancholy, both of the Mind, but also to help purge the Melancholy Humor.
–Galen said it eradicated Melancholy or any other humor from the Spleen

5. Warms the Uterus, Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-promotes menstruation when obstructed by cold, or congealed blood
–Promotes birth, cleanses the Afterbirth, and expels a Dead Child.
-leukorrhea from cold and damp, as well as frigidity.

6. Warms the Stomach, Clears Cold:
-Colic, Dyspepsia, and against gastric fermentation;
-Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis
-Abdominal Pain, Abdominal Cramps, and Vomiting from cold. (TCM, West)

7. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-obstructed Urine (Unani)

8. Kills Worms:
-Hookworm, Tapeworm, but also Thread, and Roundworms. (Oil is best)

9. Externally:
Clears Poison, Eases Pain, Reduces swelling:
-applied to Abscess, Swellings, Warts, Eczema, Psoriasis, Ringworm and roughness of the Skin
-beaten with vinegar and applied to Warts: “It dissolves Warts”. (Avicenna)
–Hildegard used it for Leprosy.
-joint pain, Gout, and Sciatica
-wash or bath for Paralytic or Wasting Limbs
-topically for pain and swelling of the Liver or Spleen
-applied to swollen Testicles.
-bruised with vinegar and applied over bruising and blood clots (Unani)
-topically for Hair loss and Alopecia (with vinegar)
-mouthwash for pain and swelling of the Teeth and Gums.
-repels Mosquitoes

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–6 (up to 9) grams (added towards the end)

Substitutes:

1. In general, Thyme and Mother of Thyme can replace one another, with the latter regarded as stronger.
2. Zataria multiflora is used in Unani medicine, its use being synonymous with Mother of Thyme.

Main Combinations:

Anise & Thyme

1. Thyme is very often combined with Aniseed for 2 totally separate functions:
i. used for Cold-Phlegm and acute Wind-Cold Coughs, Bronchitis, Asthma etc., Thyme with Aniseed, Licorice, Coltsfoot, Plantain etc.
ii. used for Spleen Damp and Melancholy, Thyme with Aniseed, Dodder, Polypody etc
2. Acute Sore Throat:
i. Thyme with Sage as a gargle
ii. Thyme with Marshmallow, Fennel and Aniseed
iii. Thyme with Camomile, Sage and Licorice
3. Cough:
i. “If taken as a decoction or lincture with honey, it removes congestion from the Chest and Lungs, helps in expectoration“. (Avicenna)
ii. Thyme with Licorice (Formulaire Pharmaceutitique a l’usage des Hospitaux Militaires de France, 1821)
iii. in infants, Thyme with Fennel seed, Plantain, Mullein, Mallow leaf and Balm
iv. Cold Cough, Thyme with Horehound, Rue, Hyssop, Pennyroyal, Aniseed (as in Decoction for Cold Coughs of Nicholas)
v. Thyme with Coltsfoot, Yarrow and Marshmallow
4. Whooping Cough:
i. Thyme with Raisin, Licorice
ii. Thyme with Hyssop and Licorice
iii. Thyme with Cowslip, Sundew (Meyer)
iv. Thyme with Plantain, Cowslip root and Fennel seed
v. Thyme with Fennel, Elder flower and Agrimony (German monastic formula)
5. Bronchitis:
i. Thyme with Elecampane, Nettle leaf, Lungwort (Fischer)
ii. Thyme with Licorice, Mallow flowers, Thyme, Aniseed
6. Asthma and Bronchitis, Thyme with Licorice, Ephedra and Almond (TCM)
7. Hemoptysis, Wild Thyme is decocted in Vinegar and Honey and taken. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
8. Promote Menstruation:
i. Thyme with Rue, Centuary, Maidenhair and Oregano (Secrets of Art and Nature)
ii. Mother of Thyme with Motherwort, Pennyroyal, Mugwort, Southernwood, Balm, Vervain (as in Decoction for the Womb)
9. Nightmares:
i. Thyme with Camomile
ii. Thyme with Balm
10. Abscess, Thyme with Mother of Thyme, Linseed and Fenugreek, made into a paste and applied
11. Bath for Rheumatism and to strengthen, essential oils of Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Lavender diluted in spirit (Leclerc)

Major Formulas:

Decoction of Thyme
Decoction of Thyme (Mesue)
Decoction of Thyme of Andernacus
Decoction of Parsley and Thyme
Decoction for Chlorosis
Decoction for Cold Coughs (Nicolas Myrepsus)
Decoction for the Womb
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Syrup of Horehound (Fernelius)
Powder of Three Peppers (Diatrion Piperion) (Mesue)
Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopus) (Nicholas)
Indian Pills (Mesue)

Cautions:

1. Not used in full doses during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:

Distilled Water of the flowering Herb, Spirit, Distilled Oil, Tincture of Lemon Thyme

1. Distilled Water of Thyme or Mother of Thyme:
i. Thyme in flower (1 part), Water (4 parts). Distil half. Sometimes it is re-distilled from fresh herb.

2. Spirit of Thyme or Mother of Thyme:
i. Flowering Thyme (1 part), Alcohol (4–6 parts). After 3 days, distill half.

3. Compound Spirit of Wild Thyme:
i. Wild Thyme in flower (2 lbs.), Savory, Thyme, Camomile (2 oz. each), Cinnamon, Mace (½ oz. each), White Wine (18 lbs.). Digest 2 days, distil slowly 8 pounds. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
ii. Wild Thyme in flower (4 handfuls), Camomile, Savory, Thyme (1 handful each), Wine (6 lbs.) Macerate 3 days, distil half. Infuse in Calamus, Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon, Mace (½ oz. each). (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)

Extra Info
Research

GENERAL / REVIEW
–Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil and Its Biological Activity.
–A systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Thymus vulgaris Linn.
–Essential Oils from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Chemical Composition and Biological Effects in Mouse Model.

ANTIBACTERIAL
–Antibacterial Activity of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil Vapours and Their GC/MS Analysis Using Solid-Phase Microextraction and Syringe Headspace Sampling Techniques.
–Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil and Its Biological Activity.
–Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils from Emilia Romagna Apennines (Italy): phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity on food-borne pathogens.
–Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil Solid Formulation: Chemical Profile and Spasmolytic and Antimicrobial Effects.
–Evaluation of Thymus vulgaris and Thymbra spicata essential oils and plant extracts for chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
–Thymus vulgaris L. extract has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in the absence of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.
–In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil Against Major Oral Pathogens.
–Studies on Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Five Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oils.

ANTIVIRAL
–Virucidal and antiviral effects of Thymus vulgaris essential oil on feline coronavirus.
–Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Thymus vulgaris, Cymbopogon citratus, and Rosmarinus officinalis, and Their Effects on the HIV-1 Tat Protein Function.

ANTIFUNGAL
–Antifungal Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Olea europaea Leaf Extract, Thymus vulgaris and Boswellia carteri Essential Oil as Prospective Fungal Inhibitor Candidates.
–Unravelling the Antifungal Effect of Red Thyme Oil (Thymus vulgaris L.) Compounds in Vapor Phase.
–Thymus vulgaris essential oil and thymol inhibit biofilms and interact synergistically with antifungal drugs against drug resistant strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis.
–Comparison of the Antifungal and Antiaflatoxigenic Potential of Liquid and Vapor Phase of Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil against Aspergillus flavus.
–Investigation of the Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum basilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oils.
–Synergistic Antifungal, Allelopatic and Anti-Proliferative Potential of Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oils.
–In Vitro Study of the Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils Obtained from Mentha spicata, Thymus vulgaris, and Laurus nobilis.
–Anticandida activity of the marketed essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L and its concomitant action with amphotericin B

VAGINAL INFECTIONS
–Alternative treatment of vaginal infections – in vitro antimicrobial and toxic effects of Coriandrum sativum L. and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils.

ANTIOXIDANT
–Hepatoprotective effect of Thymus vulgaris extract on sodium nitrite-induced changes in oxidative stress, antioxidant and inflammatory marker expression.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
–Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and Thymus vulgaris.
–Thymus vulgaris L. extract has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in the absence of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

ACUTE LUNG INFLAMMATION
–Effects of Thymus vulgaris L., Cinnamomum verum J.Presl and Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle Essential Oils in the Endotoxin-induced Acute Airway Inflammation Mouse Model.

INHIBITS LUNG FIBROSIS
–Thymus Vulgaris Inhibit Lung Fibrosis Progression and Oxidative Stress Induced by Bleomycin in Wistar Rats.

AUTOIMMUNE
–Beneficial effects of Thymus vulgaris extract in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: Clinical, histological and cytokine alterations.

IMMUNOMODULATORY
–Immunomodulatory activity of the water extract of Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis, and Zataria multiflora on dendritic cells and T cells responses.

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