THYME AND THYME AGAIN

Sylvianne Latus, left, learned from her mother,
who learned from her mother, to use thyme
for herself and her family when they get colds.

Five years ago, all I knew about thyme was that it grows in Europe and here in Ottawa's gardens to spice up salad dressings and other dishes. That was until a colleague recommended it for coughs and colds. Since then, I keep finding more about its benefits. Healers of the past have counted daily on this mult-purpose herb and today’s researchers keep adding to the body of knowledge.

Thymus vulgaris

Like oregano, wild thyme is a member of the
mint family. It is pungent, therefore heating. Despite growing on fairly poor soil it is full of iron.

Long before the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics, thyme was used for its anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties to medicate gauze and wool bandages for surgical dressings. It is also known for it's  anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic as well as it local anesthetic properties.

How to use it?

Bath: brings relief and restful sleep to those suffering from over-stimulation and depression; a strong decoction will heal ingrown nails.

Herb pillow: helps ward off nightmares, especially for children; with chamomile and yarrow in equal proportion to alleviate facial neuralgia (never pain), contusions and inflammations

Essential oil: similar to maceration but only a few drops are needed in your oil of choice because of its high concentration. Also uplifts the spirit when used in a diffuser, by itself or with other essences.

Fumigation for nasal congestion.

Fumigation/steam: for colds and congestion

Maceration: (for massage) memory, concentration, migraines, lung ailments, menstrual cramps, sprains, bronchitis, and bruises

Tea: for digestion especially associated with PMS symptoms, nausea; helps prevent miscarriages and during delivery; a precise protocol can help with alcoholism; on a compress calms the itchiness of insect bites; as a gargle for bad breath and gingivitis. 

Tincture: Thyme tincture taken orally strengthens of limbs of children who are weak, especially those suffering from multiple sclerosis.

Wash: (with a decoction) used as an antiseptic and disinfectant for acné, styes and pink eye, cuts, scrapes; also to deodorize and address dandruff issues.

Recipe for boils:

1 Tbsp thyme, 1/2 lime (pressed), 1/2 tsp onion juice, 1 or 2 tsp of honey. Make a paste and spread. Cover with gauze and leave on for 12 hours. Wash and dry the wound.

Old and New

Abbess Hildegarde was suffered
terrible migraines from a young age.

The ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming while the Greeks burned it as an incense in their temples and soldiers used it in their baths for courage. The Romans used it to purify their rooms and give aromatic flavor to cheese and liqueurs.

Abbess Hildegard von Bingen, a German healer, mystic, writer, and philosopher who lived in the 12th century, used thyme for nervous disorders, leprosy and paralysis.

In 2012, the journal Nutrition and Cancer⁹ reported that wild thyme induced cell death in breast cancer cells. The same year, results of research on the benefits of a thyme essential oil anti-fungal cream for eczema-like lesions led by a team at the All African Leprosy and Dermatology Education and Training Center in Ethiopia were published in the International Journal of Dermatology.¹² It study showed that 66.5% of those treated with that cream were completely healed compared to 28.5% of those using a placebo.

If you know of other uses of this marvel of nature, please drop me a line with examples, and I will include it here.