Botanical Index No. 1030

Thyme

thymus vulgaris

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Analgesic, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticellulitis, Anticariogenic, Anticomplementary, Antiedemic, Antienuretic, Antiinflammatory, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antithyroid, Antitussive, Antiulcer, Astringent, Bronchospasmolytic, Carminative, Choleretic, Cicatrizant, CNS Depressant, COX-2 Inhibitor, Decongestant, Deodorant, Dermatitigenic, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Eupeptic, Fungicide, Hyperemic, Hypolipidemic, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Insecticide, Mucogenic, Myorelaxant, Phagocytotic, Secretolytic, Sedative, Stimulant, Tonic, Tracheorelaxant, Urinary Antiseptic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abscess Allergy Alopecia Alzheimer’s Anaphylaxis Anemia Anorexia Arthrosis Ascaris Asthma Athlete’s Foot Bacteria Bronchosis Bruise Callus Cancer colon liver spleen stomach Caries Catarrh Childbirth Chlorosis Cold Colitis Congestion Cough Cramp Croup Debility Depression Dermatosis Dermatomyososis Diabetes Diarrhea Dislocation Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Enterosis Enuresis Escherichia Fatigue Fever Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Gout Halitosis Headache Heart Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hysteria Hookworm Immundepression Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Kaposi’s Sarcoma Laryngosis Leprosy Leukorrhea Lichen sclerosis vulval Melancholy Mucososis Myalgia Mycosis Nerve Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Obesity Onychosis Pain Paronychia Pediculosis Pertussis PMS Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Scarlet Fever Sciatica Scleroderma Sclerosis Scrofula Snakebite Sore Sore Throat Spasm Splenosis Sprain Staphylococcus Stomatosis Streptococcus Stress Swelling Tonsilosis Trichinosis Tumor Ulcer Uterosis Vulvosis Wart Water Retention Worm Wound Abortifacient Aperitif Athlete’s Calcium Antagonist Nervine Pectoral Rubefacient Secretomotor Vermifuge

General Dosage

2–4 tbsp fresh leaf; 3–6 g dry leaf; 4.5 g dry leaf:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 1 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day; 1–2 g herb/cup several ×/day; 3 tsp herb in hot tea; 1–4 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–2 g herb in tea 1-several ×/day; 0.5–1 g herb in tea; 1 tsp herb syrup several ×/day; 0.6–4.0 ml liquid herb extract; 2–6 ml fluid herb extract/day; 1–2 g fluid herb extract; 4–8 ml thyme elixir; 2–6 ml thyme tincture 3 ×/day; 5–15 ml herb tincture/day; 0.05–0.3 ml herb EO.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. None known. CAN cautions that thymol in the volatile oil can irritate the GI tract and mucous membranes. Others caution that thyme is an emmenagogue and suggest that the EO be avoided in pregnancy. Toxic symptoms reported for thymol include cardiac arrest, cheilitis coma, convulsions, dizziness, gastralgia, glossosis, headache, hyperemia, inflammation, nausea, respiratory arrest, and vomiting. Thyme oil should not be taken straight, and not applied straight topically. There are no known problems with the use of thyme during pregnancy and lactation, provided the doses do not greatly exceed the amounts used in foods. Like any EO, that of thyme, like that of rosemary, can be toxic in large quantities, causing irritations to the

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