Thyme, medicinal properties and contraindications

What does thyme look like and where does it grow?

Thyme, also called thyme, is a plant from the genus Yamnotaceae, reaching 40 cm in height. The photo of the thyme plant shows that the stems of the herb are recumbent or slightly rising upward. Thyme can have both oblong and rounded leaves; it usually blooms with bright pink or lilac flowers collected in inflorescences.

Thyme is a plant that grows everywhere in the middle zone. It is found in steppes and forest edges, on sandy and clay soils, on rocky slopes and in wet ravines throughout Eurasia.

Chemical composition of thyme

The health benefits and harms of thyme are the result of the rich chemical composition of this plant. The medicinal herb contains:

flavonoids;
vitamins B - from B1 to B9;
vitamins A, C and K;
vitamin PP;
barium and selenium;
copper and zinc;
iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium;
manganese;
tannins and essential oils;
organic acids and bitterness.

The benefits of thyme for the human body are also due to the presence of thymol, a natural antiseptic with a powerful effect.

What are the benefits of thyme for the body?

The healing properties of thyme have a complex effect on the entire body when used correctly. In particular, this plant:

eliminates symptoms of anemia, tones, improves the condition of the nervous system and normalizes sleep;
helps with inflammatory processes in the body - fights the symptoms of cystitis and prostatitis, has an antiseptic effect, allows you to quickly get rid of colds;
has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, not only helps to maintain youth, but also is beneficial in the treatment of fungal diseases and dermatitis, accelerates the healing of damage;
has a good effect in the fight against parasites, helps cope with constipation and generally normalizes intestinal activity;
regulates hormonal levels and has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system;
helps get rid of bad habits - cravings for alcohol and smoking;
strengthens the immune system and helps get rid of a lingering cough;
relieves pain in muscles and joints.

The benefits of thyme herb are used for the prevention of oncology - the plant protects the body from the appearance of malignant tumors.

For women

The benefits of thyme for the female body are that the plant relieves unpleasant symptoms during menstruation and reduces pain. Taking thyme helps balance hormonal levels and improves mood; medicines based on the plant relieve inflammation in diseases of the genitourinary system.

In addition, the benefits and harms of thyme for women are widely used in cosmetology. Homemade masks and wash lotions are made from the plant, thyme is used to rinse hair and treat dandruff.

For men

The benefits and harms of thyme for men lie in the beneficial effects of the plant on potency and reproductive abilities. Thyme improves libido and the quality of seminal fluid, prevents the development of prostatitis. The healing properties of thyme for men also manifest themselves in cases of existing disease - drinks based on the plant help relieve pain and burning during exacerbations of the disease.

For children

The healing properties of thyme for children under 3 years of age are best manifested when adding herbal infusions to baths. The benefit of the plant is that thyme relieves irritation and diaper rash on the skin, has a calming effect on the child and normalizes sleep.

After 3 years, you can offer your child thyme for internal use, after making sure that the baby does not have allergies. Inhalation of a decoction of the plant when coughing will be beneficial.

Attention! Since thyme has a number of strict contraindications and can cause serious harm, you should consult your pediatrician before using it for the first time.

Thyme: beneficial medicinal properties

The unique composition of the aromatic herb determines its beneficial properties. The plant contains vitamins C, K, D and group B, bitterness and tannins, resins, ursolic and oleic acid. Decoctions from medicinal raw materials have powerful wound-healing, bronchodilator and antiseptic effects. Thyme is used as part of herbal mixtures for complex therapy of the following diseases:

helminthic infestations;
inflammatory processes of the organs of the female reproductive system;
bacterial and viral infections;
gastritis with reduced secretion;
peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
kidney inflammation;
neuralgia, arthritis, myositis, gout;
diabetes mellitus;
hepatitis of various etiologies.

Course use of the medicinal product restores the acid-base balance of the body, and the components of the essential oil have a gentle effect on the nervous system. A decoction of thyme is used to gargle and wash the nasopharynx for pharyngitis, laryngitis and tonsillitis. The herb is widely used in cosmetology and is included in shampoos, hair balms, tonics and antiseptics for the care of the skin of the face and hands. The aromatic plant has found application in cooking for preparing refreshing drinks, meat and fish dishes, soups and sauces.

Traditional medicine recipes based on thyme

The medicinal properties of thyme are widely used in home recipes. In small dosages, this plant does not cause harm, but it helps to cope with the symptoms of numerous ailments or alleviate the progression of chronic diseases.

Cough and bronchitis syrup

The beneficial properties of thyme are of great benefit for bronchitis and prolonged cough. For treatment, you need to prepare a healthy syrup. They do it like this:

a fresh bunch of thyme is thoroughly washed and chopped;
the raw materials are poured with 500 ml of water and placed on low heat, and then wait until the water has evaporated by half;
the finished broth is cooled and filtered;
then add 300 g of liquid honey and juice obtained from 50 g of garlic.

The healthy syrup is thoroughly mixed and consumed twice a day, a teaspoon. The product should be stored in the refrigerator, and it retains its beneficial properties for up to six months.

Pressure infusion

An infusion of thyme in water helps to dilate blood vessels, relieve spasms and lower blood pressure. It is very simple to prepare a useful remedy - you need to brew a couple of teaspoons of the plant like ordinary tea and leave for about a quarter of an hour.

We recommend reading: Mint tea: beneficial properties and contraindications, how to make

Take the infusion twice a day, half a glass, in total you need to continue treatment for 3 days. But if your blood pressure is low, then the benefits of thyme decoction will appear with a two-week daily intake of the product, but you need to drink it three times a day, just a large spoon at a time.

Infusion for alcoholism

If you have an excessive craving for alcoholic beverages, ordinary thyme can be beneficial. The substance thymol in its composition is also responsible for the aversion to alcohol - if you regularly take the drug, drinking alcohol will only cause nausea and vomiting.

A healthy drink is prepared like this: pour a large spoonful of thyme into 500 ml of water, cook in a water bath for a quarter of an hour, then filter and top up with water again to the original volume. You need to take the product once a day, 3 large spoons, and it is recommended to drink thyme for a couple of weeks.

Important! Thyme will have the best effect if the decision to fight the bad habit is made by the alcoholic himself - a conscious intention will enhance the beneficial properties of the infusion.

Decoction for cystitis

The medicinal properties of thyme help with inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract. You need to prepare a simple decoction - pour 10 g of herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for a couple of hours in a closed thermos. The strained drink is taken several times a day, 3 large spoons - the product quickly relieves inflammation and pain.

Recipe for prostatitis

Useful thyme helps men with inflammation of the prostate gland. For treatment, you need to pour a large spoonful of thyme into a glass of hot water, leave it covered for an hour and drink 3 large spoons three times a day. In total, therapy lasts a month, and every day you need to prepare a new portion of the product.

Enema with thyme for pinworms

To quickly remove parasites from the intestines and restore microflora, you can prepare the following anthelmintic:

2 large spoons of thyme are poured into a glass of boiling water and left for about half an hour;
then the infusion is cooled to a temperature of about 35 ° C, drawn into a syringe and injected into the rectum.

Before emptying your bowels, it is recommended to hold the beneficial enema for about 20 minutes. The procedure must be repeated daily for a week, then a medicinal enema with thyme will be beneficial.

Means for normalizing blood pressure

In order to reduce high blood pressure, you can prepare a thyme infusion - pour boiling water over 1 large spoon of dry raw material and leave for 3 hours. The strained finished drink is drunk three times a day, several sips.

For migraines and sleep disorders

The benefits of thyme for sleep and the nervous system are manifested when using a regular infusion - 15 g of dry herb should be brewed in 200 ml of boiling water and left for half an hour. The filtered product is drunk twice a day, 2 large spoons.

Advice! To improve your sleep, you can additionally place a fabric bag filled with dry thyme under your pillow - the aroma of the plant has a calming effect.

To increase potency

If you have problems with libido, thyme helps well - 15 g of dry plant should be poured into 100 ml of boiling water and left for about an hour. The strained healthy drink is drunk three times a day, only 20 ml, and therapy should be continued for no longer than 3 weeks in a row.

Collection of herbs for dysbiosis

For intestinal dysbiosis and associated indigestion, it is useful to take a medicinal mixture of several herbs.

4 parts of Icelandic cetraria are mixed with 2 parts of marsh wild rosemary;
add 1 part each of thyme, eucalyptus and common anise to the mixture;
the collection in the amount of 1 large spoon is poured with a glass of boiling water;
The product is kept in a water bath for 20 minutes.

Then the useful collection is infused for another 40 minutes, filtered and topped up with water to the original volume. You need to drink herbs shortly before eating, half a glass.

Thyme against smoking

The medicinal properties of thyme even help get rid of smoking addiction. To quickly quit a bad habit, it is recommended to take tea with the addition of thyme essential oil in the amount of 1 drop. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to the drink.

Advice! Heavy smokers can try to start by switching to cigarettes with dried thyme - smoking this plant brings more benefits than harm.

Infusion for gastritis

The benefits of thyme for the human body are manifested in the fact that the plant helps eliminate the symptoms of gastritis. To prepare a healing infusion, pour 10 g of herb with a glass of boiling water and wait 40 minutes, and then filter the product. You need to drink it three times a day, the dosage is 1 large spoon.

Compress for joint pain

For arthritis and bruises, an alcoholic tincture of thyme is recommended for external use - 30 g of the plant is poured into 150 ml of vodka and infused for a week. The strained product is rubbed into the affected areas several times a day, or gauze bandages soaked in the tincture are applied and kept for half an hour.

Soothing baths

To relax and eliminate stress, you can add thyme infusion to a filled bath - to prepare 200 g of dry raw material, pour 2 liters of boiling water and leave for a couple of hours. You need to lie in a fragrant bath for a quarter of an hour; it is best to repeat the procedure every other day.

Use Cases

There are medicinal recipes based on thyme. Let's look at the most promising ones:

To improve overall health. Boil 400 ml of water, add 2 tbsp. l. dried thyme. Let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Take 200 ml infusion 2 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
With acute respiratory infections. Prepare the infusion according to the recipe given above. Add 1 tsp to 200 ml of drink. honey. Take 1 glass up to 2-3 times a day during the entire acute period (5-7 days).
Syrup. Finely chop 50 grams of leaves and 50 grams of thyme flowers, place in an enamel pan. Pour 400 ml of water and put on fire. Boil until the volume is reduced by half. Mix the resulting composition with 30 ml of lemon juice and 100 grams of honey. Take 2-3 tbsp. l. 1 time per day (in the morning). Store in a cool, dark place in a tightly closed container for up to 2 weeks.
Tea. Mix 1 tsp. green tea, 1 tsp. Ivan tea, 3 tbsp. l. thyme. Pour 300 ml of water (80-90 °C). Let it brew for 30 minutes. Take 100-150 ml of thyme tea 2 times a day.
Insect repellent. Stir 15 drops of thyme essential oil into 500 ml of water. Shake the mixture thoroughly and apply a thin layer to the surface of the skin or item.

Thyme is often used in cooking. It can be added to chicken, beef or lamb dishes; decorate salads or vegetable stews, season fish.

Thyme is a universal plant that is actively used in folk recipes and cooking.

Thyme essential oil: properties and uses

Thyme essential oil, which can be purchased at pharmacies, is beneficial both externally and internally. It has antiseptic, soothing, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The use of thyme oil affects the following ailments:

cystitis and prostatitis;
painful menstruation;
intoxication and food poisoning;
metabolic disorders;
respiratory diseases.

In addition, burns, cuts and skin irritations are lubricated with oil. When rubbed on the temples with a small amount of oil, it effectively soothes and relieves headaches.

Thyme: medicinal properties and contraindications for men

The pharmaceutical characteristics of the herb determine the benefits of thyme for men. Traditional medicine recommends the use of plant materials for the treatment and prevention of genitourinary diseases: impotence, cystitis and prostatitis. The action of herbal remedies is aimed at stabilizing the nervous system and hormonal levels, stopping inflammatory processes.

For the purpose of relaxation and cleansing of the skin, baths with the addition of a concentrated decoction or essential oil are recommended.
Medicinal tea made from thyme, oregano and mint has a calming, choleretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Raw materials in equal proportions, at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. half a liter of water, pour into a thermos and pour boiling water over it. The drink is ready in a few hours and is recommended to drink 100 ml 30 minutes before meals. The infusion is also taken in the treatment of colds, and adding honey to a warm decoction significantly increases the effectiveness of the healing drink.
As a choleretic, antibacterial and diuresis stimulating agent, tea is brewed from rose hips, thyme inflorescences and St. John's wort.
The essential oil of the plant is used to increase potency by rubbing it in a circular motion into the groin area, buttocks and sacral area.

Thyme is used in complex therapy of alcoholism, for which a concentrated drink is prepared, where 7 tsp is added to 500 ml of water. dried raw materials. With systematic use of the decoction, a group of symptoms characteristic of so-called body withdrawal disappears, mood improves and vegetative disorders are eliminated.

The use of thyme in cosmetology

The healing properties of thyme are used to care for the face and hair. Homemade beauty recipes can prolong youth and eliminate minor appearance defects.

For facial skin

To soften dry skin prone to irritation, you can prepare a healthy mask. A large spoonful of dry thyme is stirred in 100 ml of olive oil, left in a glass container under a lid for exactly 24 hours, and then the mixture is evaporated for 3 hours in a water bath.

The finished product is filtered through cheesecloth and the skin is treated with it daily in the morning, leaving the oil on the face for a quarter of an hour.

For healthy and beautiful hair

A decoction of thyme will help stop hair loss. Dry herb in the amount of 4 large spoons is boiled in 400 ml of water for 10 minutes, then filtered. After each wash, curls should be rinsed with a healing product.

How to take the herb?

Products based on this plant can be completely varied - baths, oils, ethers, decoctions, teas, infusions. You need to choose the type of preparation of thyme depending on the goal pursued by the man. So, for the treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland, the following thyme options are recommended:

Recipe 1

1 tablespoon of dried plant is poured with a glass of boiling water. The drug must be poured into a thermos and left for one hour. You need to take the infusion three times a day, 3 large spoons. The course of treatment for prostatitis lasts a month. It is very important not to store the infusion, but to prepare a new one every day.

Recipe 2

For 1 liter of boiling water you need 4 tablespoons of thyme, 1 spoon of oregano. The product is also infused in a thermos. This drink should be drunk throughout the day. The duration of treatment is a month. This course should be conducted once every six months.

Recipe 3

Thyme oil for men is highly effective. To produce this product, you need to pour 3 tablespoons of herbs with 250-300 grams of any vegetable oil. The product is infused for 21 days, after which it is ready for use. For prostatitis, the oil is rubbed into the perineal area. It is also useful to massage the prostate gland using this oil. If a man has problems with potency, the drug is rubbed into the area of the testicles and scrotum. These manipulations should be done before bedtime until the condition improves.

Thyme against premature ejaculation, myositis

To get rid of premature ejaculation, men are advised to take a special decoction of thyme. For 2 tablespoons of herb, 0.5 liters of hot boiled water is required. The drink should brew for 2-3 hours. After this, filter the infusion and drink 2 glasses per day. The course of therapy lasts 14 days.

Against inflammation of muscle fibers, which is called myositis, it is recommended to use thyme-based compresses. You need to pour boiling water over the plant, leave for 30 minutes, and squeeze. Gauze (bandage) is soaked in the resulting liquid and applied to the inflamed area. To retain heat, polyethylene is attached to the top of the compress.

Thyme baths

Such herbal baths are used to eliminate pain and inflammation in the pelvic organs in men. Also, the bath will be useful for normalizing the functioning of the central nervous system. To achieve maximum healing effect, you need to mix the following plants:

Series;
Celandine;
Burdock leaves;
Thyme.

All components are taken in equal quantities. The mixture is poured with boiling water and simmered over low heat for 5-7 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered, the liquid is poured into a common bath. The decoction can also be used for sitz baths. It is important that the male perineal area is completely submerged in water.

Thyme for the prevention of erectile dysfunction in men

Tea with the addition of thyme can be drunk daily to prevent various sexual disorders. To give a more pleasant taste, you can add leaves and berries of currants, raspberries, and strawberries to the drink. A mixture of thyme and chamomile will help calm your nerves. The tea should steep for 20-30 minutes. Moreover, this decoction copes well with colds, coughs, and depression. Seven medicinal herbs are useful to drink during the rehabilitation period after severe injuries (including head injuries) and operations.

Thyme in the fight against male pattern baldness

A large amount of organic acids that saturate the grass accelerate hair growth and prevent hair follicles from falling out. To do this, use thyme oil. The recipe for preparing the drug is very simple: mix 1 tablespoon of burdock oil with 3 drops of thyme oil. The mixture should be heated in a water bath. The resulting preparation is rubbed into the scalp and left for 1 hour. After time, this oily mask is washed off using shampoo.

Thyme harm and side effects

Healthy thyme can be harmful if used incorrectly. The plant cannot be used for medicinal purposes for more than 2 weeks in a row, and after this period, thyme should be abandoned for 2 months. The properties of the plant accumulate in the body; if you use thyme for too long, it will have a bad effect on the nervous system and restful sleep.

A one-time overdose of the plant can lead to nausea. You should not overuse thyme because it can cause harm to blood vessels and the brain - in excess quantities, thyme increases blood pressure.

Collection, preparation and storage of thyme

It is customary to collect thyme during its flowering period - from late June to early August.

It is important to choose an environmentally friendly area to collect medicinal herbs.
Thyme shoots are carefully cut with scissors, and the raw materials are placed in a bag or basket so that the leaves and stems do not become wrinkled.
It is best to collect thyme early in the morning in dry and warm weather.

For long-term storage, thyme is usually dried. Drying is carried out in the traditional way - first the grass is sorted out, and then laid out in a thin layer on a flat surface away from direct sun. When the grass becomes brittle and dry, it can be stored in a glass jar, paper or linen bag. In a dry and well-ventilated corner of the apartment, thyme can retain its beneficial properties for up to 2 years.

Advice! It is recommended to dry the herb only naturally - when heated in dryers or ovens, the essential oils and other valuable components in the plant are destroyed.