Small perennial sub-shrub with erect and branched stems, the common thyme is particularly fragrant. From the Lamiaceae family, common thyme has many virtues. Especially on the respiratory level. Explanations.
Originally from the Mediterranean basin, it is currently cultivated in gardens as in the open field, both as a spice and as a medicinal plant. Note that the ancient Egyptians already used the essence of thyme to embalm the dead.
The leaves and stems are harvested at the very start of flowering. Out of the sun, they are dried. The stems contain an essential oil, the main components of which are thymol and carvacrol, tannins, bitter active ingredients, saponins and various plant antiseptics.
As an infusion at the rate of one teaspoon per cup of water three times a day, thyme is an effective cough suppressant. It would also soothe cramps. In addition, its antispasmodic activity is appreciated in the treatment of digestive disorders: bloating, slow digestion, referrals, flatulence ... No toxicity has been reported to date concerning common thyme, when it is used at the recommended doses. However, the use of its essential oil should not be done without a medical prescription.
For the record, thyme has been the symbol of courage since Antiquity. At the time of the Crusades, damsels offered knights scarves embroidered with bees fluttering near a branch of thyme.
Herbal medicine has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Its efficacy and safety are still disputed. And for good reason, as the World Health Organization explains in a 1998 report, "a relatively small number of plant species have been studied for possible medical applications". This article fits naturally into this process.
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