The herb thyme, also known as thyme, upland thyme, or motherboard, is widely known to residents of the CIS. This plant is used in folk medicine because of its incredible number of useful properties. It has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the human body.
Even in ancient times, Roman soldiers took baths filled with thyme decoction before their campaigns. This allowed them to get he alth, vigor, added vitality.
The herb thyme was also used in the Middle Ages. Women who lived during that period dried the branches of this useful plant. They soared their loved ones with them before a long journey in order to save them from all sorts of misfortunes. And Dioscorides and Theophrastus attributed natural superpowers to thyme grass. With its help, they relieved inflammation and fatigue, and also increased libido.
A little about the plant
What does thyme herb look like? It is a semi-shrub, the shoot of which spreads along the ground. The plant is perennial. Sometimes it reaches the age of 30.
Main stemthyme becomes woody over time. Shoots, densely covered with foliage, begin to grow from it and rapidly rise up. The leaves on them are of various types. They are either naked or pubescent, but they are necessarily located on short cuttings opposite each other.
Judging by the description of thyme herb, it is very beautiful in summer. In June or July, on the tops of its rising shoots, many flowers begin to form, collected in heads. At this time, the plant literally covers vast areas of the steppe or hillsides with a solid light lilac or pink carpet. At the same time, the motherboard emits a very pleasant aroma.
As a rule, thyme is unpretentious. However, it will still grow best on gravelly or sandy soil, allowing its roots to easily penetrate deep into the depths. This plant helps to fix the soil.
When harvesting thyme, carefully cut off only its flowering herbaceous shoots. If the thickets are disturbed, the plant will recover with great difficulty.
Composition
The healing properties of thyme herb directly depend on the useful substances contained in it. And there are a huge number of them in its composition. These are essential oils, which contain thymol, as well as terpinene, cymol, carvacrol and linear. In addition to these substances, thyme contains tannins and resins, organic acids (coffee, oleanolic, ursolic) and flavonoids, vitamins (C and B), a variety of bitterness, gum and mineral s alts.
Thyme contains calcium and potassium, copper and magnesium, iron and sodium, phosphorus, zincand selenium.
Healing properties
For many centuries, first folk healers, and then scientists considered the effect of thyme herb on the human body. This plant is mentioned in the writings of Avicenna and Theophrastus. The ancient Greeks considered thyme an herb that was sent down to people by the gods to help. Our ancestors were of the opinion that the plant has magical properties, and used it to get rid of many ailments. Thyme was used to prepare decoctions that were believed to slow down old age and prolong life.
This attitude towards this herb is not accidental. After all, those powerful biologically active substances that are in its composition have a comprehensive beneficial effect on the body.
What medicinal properties does thyme herb have? Nine have been discovered so far.
- The plant is a natural antiseptic. In this regard, it is used to treat inflammatory diseases, as well as to prevent them.
- Thyme has long been used as a formidable weapon in the fight against bronchitis and coughs. Its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties allow to effectively eliminate the disease.
- Infusions and decoctions prepared on the basis of medicinal herbs provide excellent help with tonsillitis, stomatitis. They are also used for various diseases of the pharynx. Infusion of herbs is recommended for inhalation. Fresh decoction of thyme is used to wash wounds, ulcers and other damage to the skin.
- Healing plantallows you to treat sciatica and neuritis, accompanied by pain. The infusion used at the same time helps to increase appetite and improve mood.
- Healing baths are prepared on the basis of thyme herb. The plant is also used in the form of compresses and lotions. Steamed grass is used to treat arthrosis.
- Thyme is a natural sleep aid and sedative. It eliminates insomnia, treats nervous disorders, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system and allows you to quickly get out of depression. Even the smell of grass itself has a calming effect. This is made possible by the presence of essential oils in its composition. For a sound and restful sleep, you can fill a pillow with this herb.
- For men, thyme herb is valuable for its zinc, as well as other useful elements to get rid of prostatitis and impotence. For this purpose, tinctures, oils and decoctions of the plant are used. They are also used to prevent male diseases. At the same time, the oil is rubbed externally, the infusion is taken orally, and decoctions are well suited for healing baths.
- The plant allows you to effectively fight alcoholism. The useful substances in its composition remove toxins and toxins from the body, and also cleanse the liver of alcohol decay products. At the same time, drugs prepared from this herb can cause a patient's persistent aversion to alcohol.
- Thyme serves to strengthen the immune system. The aromatic tea made on its basis improves overall he alth and restores metabolic processes in the body.
Culinary Use
In addition to medicine, thyme herb is used for other purposes. The wonderful aroma of thyme has allowed it to become a spice, which is included in marinades, various dishes, pickles and some drinks. The pleasant smell and bitter taste of the herb improve the taste of lamb and fish, meat pate and liver, as well as fried potatoes.
The spice goes perfectly with cheeses and peas, beans and boiled eggs, smoked meats and pickles. Herb thyme also finds its use in cooking (they use its upper part). The green shoots of the plant improve the taste of soups, salads and cold snacks.
Use in cosmetology
As you know, thyme herb has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and wound healing properties. What helps the cream or ointment made on its basis? Their use relieves insect bites and heals small cracks in the skin.
They use similar products in beauty salons. Here, with their help, they fight acne and purulent inflammation.
Pharmacological companies also produce many formulations that include thyme herb. What helps each of these funds? For example, among them there are those that help restore the structure of the hair, which prevents hair loss. You can improve your curls at home. To do this, just add three drops of essential oil obtained from the plant to any shampoo. It is enough to carry out such a procedure only once a week.
Etherthyme-derived oil often finds its way into the most sophisticated perfume compositions of lotions, perfumes and eau de toilette.
Cosmetologists use thyme in various forms. It can be infusions, decoctions, as well as oil obtained from a medicinal plant. Thyme allows you to tighten flabby skin, narrow pores, and eliminate puffiness. At the same time, various recipes find their application. Herb thyme in this case serves as the basis for masks and face lotions. These products have a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. If such cosmetic procedures are carried out regularly, they will normalize metabolic processes in tissues. This will eliminate puffiness and oiliness of the skin.
Effective is a compress of healing herbs. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tbsp. l. thyme and pour it with 200 ml of boiling water. The infusion is covered with a lid and infused for at least 0.5 hours. In the resulting mixture, a fabric base for masks or a gauze napkin is wetted, which is squeezed out and applied to the face. The duration of the entire procedure is 20 minutes. In this case, the napkin should be wetted every 5 minutes.
To nourish and strengthen hair and eliminate split ends, you can rinse the curls with a solution prepared on the basis of thyme and nettle, hop cones and birch leaf. All these ingredients, taken in equal amounts (5 g each), are poured into 1 liter of water, and then brought to a boil in a water bath. Boil the mixture for 15 minutes, and then, removing it from the heat, insist for 0.5 hours. rinsethe head should be after applying the usual shampoo. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 2 times in 7 days. By exerting its beneficial effect on the hair, the remedy with thyme strengthens their bulbs, makes curls silky and manageable, and also prevents baldness.
Contraindications
Despite the many useful elements that make up the plant, the use of thyme herb has some limitations. Anyone who decides to use the advice of traditional medicine must know them. So, thyme is contraindicated:
- during pregnancy, not only in the form of infusions or decoctions, but also in the form of seasonings;
- people suffering from problems with the digestive system;
- with diseases of the kidneys and liver due to thymol, which is part of the herb;
- in case of cerebral atherosclerosis, cardiosclerosis.
Contraindications for thyme herb also apply to its intake. If it is prolonged, it will provoke hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. An overdose of products containing thyme is dangerous due to the occurrence of allergic reactions. In this case, you may feel worse and have skin rashes.
Thyme for children
The growing body of a child is constantly developing and shaping. This process is often accompanied by failures that have a negative impact on metabolic processes, which affects the he alth of the baby.
To eliminate possible ailments, thyme grass is recommended for children. Officially, this plant is not given to babies under three years old. However, based on the existingpractices can be noted as follows:
- children from the age of 1 use it topically and externally;
- starting from a year and a half, thyme in the form of a decoction is added to the bath intended for bathing a baby;
- from the age of 2, parents can make their baby with this inhalation herb.
Sometimes thyme is added when bathing children up to a year of age, but only this procedure must first be agreed with the pediatrician. Such babies are carefully given weak decoctions of the plant.
Indications of thyme herb for children are quite extensive. The plant is recommended for coughs and to eliminate nervous tension, in case of need to improve sleep, in the treatment of skin problems, as well as to strengthen immunity.
The healing properties of the plant are also used by manufacturers of children's products. For example, parents willingly purchase tea for babies, which contains thyme and medicinal herbs fennel and lemon balm. This product is called "Grandma's basket" and is recommended for children from 5 months.
Forms of application
Based on the beneficial effects of the herb, it becomes clear that it has a beneficial effect on all systems and organs of the human body, and also enhances immunity.
The use of thyme at home involves the preparation of infusions, decoctions and teas with it. Based on the type of disease, these drugs can be used both internally and externally. For example, in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, thyme is widely used to eliminate joint pathologies. At the same time, drugsmade on its basis, enhance the therapy of the disease when taken orally, as well as externally for rubbing and compresses.
Cough syrup
The herb thyme is widely used not only in traditional medicine recipes. This plant is also used by the pharmacological industry. For example, thyme is included in the composition of the drug "Pertussin", the action of which allows you to eliminate cough.
Syrup, decoction or infusion from the described plant will help to cope with this problem at home. Such funds will have a disinfectant, antispasmodic, and expectorant effect on the patient's body.
To prepare a syrup for a patient with bronchitis, you will need to stock up on one bunch of fresh thyme, 450 ml of water, five cloves of garlic and 300 g of honey. The plant should be washed with running water, and then laid out on a towel to dry. Next, the grass is cut into large pieces and poured with water. A container with such a mixture is placed on fire and boiled until half of the volume boils. This will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Next, the drink is removed from the fire, cooled and filtered. Garlic juice and honey are added to it.
Store the drug in the refrigerator, in a jar with a tightly closed lid. In the case when the syrup is supposed to be given to children, it is better not to add garlic to it. It should be taken in 1 tsp. twice during the day. Healing syrup helps to liquefy sputum and remove it. In addition, it relieves spasms that have arisen in the larynx.
From pressure
Healing thyme helps to dilate blood vessels and relieve spasms in them. That is why the infusion of this plant is recommended in the treatment of hypertension. To prepare it, you will need 15 g of dry thyme, 10 g of fireweed, 5 g of chamomile and 1 liter of water. All ingredients are poured with boiling water, closed with a lid, insulated with a towel and infused for at least 45-60 minutes. You need to take the infusion in the morning, afternoon and evening for ¼ cup. As a result of the regular use of such a drug, the work of the heart muscle will normalize, the walls of blood vessels will strengthen and blood pressure will decrease.
From female diseases
The most popular tea used is thyme tea. It tones the body and restores vigor to it, normalizes the activity of the nervous system, allows you to quickly get out of depression, eliminates headaches, improves eyesight, returns lost appetite, improves immunity and makes the skin beautiful and elastic. Also, tea with thyme allows you to normalize the hormonal background of the female body. This eliminates the mood swings and pain associated with PMS. Another drink is recommended in the treatment of diseases of the genital organs of an inflammatory nature.
How to brew thyme herb for tea? It is quite simple to do this: 1 tsp. dry herb is brewed with 200 ml of boiling water and infused for about 10-15 minutes. Ready tea is filtered using a strainer. Drink it three times a day, each time brewing a fresh drink. As a result, within a short time, the process of eliminating inflammation begins and the hormonal background normalizes. All this contributesimprove mood.
From prostatitis
Thyme grass for men is used as an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal agent. A decoction made from it is recommended for the treatment of infectious diseases that have affected the genitourinary system. The drug helps to eliminate pain and swelling. This greatly facilitates urination.
To prepare a healing decoction, you will need to prepare 2 tbsp. l. thyme and 100 ml of water, which is poured over dry grass. A container with such a mixture is placed in a water bath and, after boiling, is cooked for another 10 minutes. After infusing the drink for 2 hours, it is filtered and taken before meals, 50 ml in the morning and evening.
From alcoholism
Infusion of thyme contains thymol. This substance provokes an attack of nausea during its contact with alcohol. Thanks to this action, the remedy allows you to induce an aversion to alcohol.
To prepare the infusion, you will need to take 15 g of thyme and 0.5 liters of water. The grass is poured with ½ part of the liquid and brought to a boil on the stove, after which it is boiled for another 10 minutes. After turning off the fire, the mixture is drained. Thyme leaves must be squeezed out and poured with the second part of pre-boiled water. The drug is infused for 30 minutes. The patient will need to give 50-70 ml of the product 3 to 5 times a day, in a course of 1-2 weeks.
Regular use of thyme infusion develops such a persistent aversion to alcohol that a person begins to feel sick even at the mere smell of alcohol.
