Thyme is a delicious spice and medicine! Useful composition, properties and uses of thyme

Page 3 of 4

Thyme (Thyme) as a spice

Thyme leaves are used in cooking.

The best chefs use thyme as a seasoning, preferring, of course, to add a fresh plant, which, unfortunately, is not always possible. A tablespoon of fresh thyme is equivalent to a teaspoon of dry thyme.

Thyme has a pleasant strong odor, sharp, strongly spicy bitter taste.

Aromatic, vitamin-rich thyme leaves are used as a spice. It improves the taste, imparts aroma, and gives a bitterness. It remains one of the leading spices in baking. Improves the smell and taste of vegetable dishes, especially potatoes and cabbage.
Thyme as a seasoning fatty foods not only significantly improves and enriches the taste, but also promotes its digestion.

One might say, it is simply necessary when preparing potatoes, pork, lamb, fish, and meat pates (from pork) fried in lard. It is used to season poultry (goose, duck), game, and offal dishes. Thyme is also used when cooking fatty fish.
Thyme goes well with egg dishes and cheeses. Its popularity for smoking foods is undeniable; no spice enhances the taste of lentil, pea and bean soup like thyme. In fresh and dried form, thyme is used for pickling cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash.

leaf and added to salads, borscht, vegetable soups, chicken broths. This spice is irreplaceable in the preparation of fish dishes and game. Thyme is flavored with cheeses, added to sauces, marinades, fried dishes (potatoes, mushrooms, eggplants), added to spicy mixtures, added to pickling vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.), healing teas and aromatic drinks are prepared with it. .
The leaves are used as a spice in cooking, canning and the alcoholic beverage industry.
Feel free to add Bogorodskaya herb to various dishes, but keep in mind that due to high content thymol thyme can be irritating to the stomach, liver and kidneys. So if you are suffering peptic ulcer, then treat thyme with caution.
A rather rare species, caraway thyme, also adds an extraordinary piquancy to meat dishes. It is great in combination with garlic and wine (an inseparable couple Mediterranean cuisine), and goes best with fish and fried chicken.
But a subspecies of wild thyme is quite common in cooking - lemon thyme with pronounced lemon tones. Its tiny heart-shaped leaves go especially well with seafood and sweet dishes.
It is interesting to use lemon thyme in the classic French (Gascony) product Confit - a kind of canned duck, goose or pork.
Fresh and dried leaves and young shoots of all types of thyme are used, like marjoram, in pea and bean dishes, as well as in making sausages. Thyme is one of the main aromatic herbs in French cuisine and is always included in the “bouquet garni” and “herbes of Provence” spice mixtures.
In Spain, Greece, and Turkey, thyme oil is used for pickling olives. Thyme is popular not only in Europe; it is also part of the Jordanian seasoning “zakhtar” and the Egyptian mixture “dukkah”. In Central Europe, thyme is added to soups and egg dishes, and in the cuisine of the American state of Louisiana it is added to the famous Creole dishes gumbo and jambalaya.
The above-ground part of the plant before fruiting is used in the production of drinks. Leaves and young shoots of thyme are used as salad and for pickling cucumbers. They are used to flavor sausages, vinegar, cocktails, and tea. Fresh and dry leaves are used for these purposes.

Store dried thyme (thyme) in a dry, dark place in a tightly closed porcelain or glass container.
Thyme fully reveals its aroma during prolonged heat treatment, so it is added at the very beginning of cooking.
An excellent spicy seasoning for roasts is made from thyme and rosemary with the addition of salt.
Thyme is good when combined with pepper, this enhances its flavor.
In powder form, it is used in large doses in all kinds of fish dishes and minced fish. When frying fish, thyme is mixed in large quantities with breading (with flour 1:2). In addition, thyme is sprinkled on cheeses, and it is also used in the preparation of homemade cheeses. It also goes well with vegetables.
Thyme is added to liquid dishes 15 - 20 minutes before cooking, to other dishes - during the cooking process.
Thyme is appreciated by lovers vegetarian dishes. It is added to fried potatoes, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, eggplants, and used for pickling and salting. Drinks made with this plant are very aromatic.

In everyday life, thyme is used as a spice for salting, soaking, as a seasoning for vegetables, meat, fish and other dishes, and for flavoring sausages. Sauces, cheese, jelly, tea.
In Italy, thyme is used to marinate olives.
If you put it on clothes in the closet, it repels moths.
Thyme is a valuable honey plant.

It is necessary to chop the greens and grind the seeds immediately before use, so that the aroma and smell do not evaporate.

The plant is very fragrant; previously it was used as a component of incense during religious services. The plant is one of the best honey plants. Bees collect unusually fragrant honey from thyme.

Thyme is easy to grow at home, for example, in a container on a balcony or on a windowsill with average watering.

Story spices thyme

The first written mention of thyme dates back to the third millennium BC. e. (cuneiform tables were found with a recipe for a poultice of pears, figs and thyme) - the ancient Sumerians used it as an antiseptic.
The ancient Egyptians used thyme as one of the ingredients in the complex embalming process. They also used the herb thyme for leprosy and paralysis.
The name thyme comes from the Greek thymiama (incense, fragrant smoking) - the Greeks dedicated it to Aphrodite and burned it in the temples of the goddess. The fragrant smoke rising to the sky meant that the goddess accepted the sacrifice.
It has long been believed that thyme gives courage, and another suggestion for the origin of the name is from the Greek thymon - strength. Even later, there was the Latin Thymus - strength, and Roman soldiers took baths with thyme before battle to increase vitality and courage.
Scottish highlanders drank tea with wild thyme for the same purpose. The plant's fame as a symbol of courage has passed through the centuries - in medieval Europe, ladies gave a sprig of thyme and embroidered it on the shirts of their knights in the hope that the thyme would give them courage in battle and remind them.
Theophrastus and Avicenna wrote about the properties of thyme, including thyme seeds in their composition. complex drugs based on honey, vinegar, oil or wine along with caraway seeds, celery, parsley, mint, valerian, hyssop, asafoetida and garlic.

An old Irish legend says: if you wash your eyes with dew collected from thyme bushes at dawn on the first of May (after Walpurgis Night), then you can see fairies.

Even modern experts claim that “thyme helps insecure, sensitive, nervous people to open up; restores strength and awakens emotions...”

Thank you

One of the aphorisms of ancient healers says that a doctor has 3 tools - a word, a plant and a knife. In fact, all medicinal plants are a treasure of medicines, as they are part of huge amount pharmaceuticals and provide them with the necessary therapeutic effect. In this article we'll talk about a plant that since ancient times has been classified as a divine herb. Ancient people believed that it could restore a person not only to health, but also to life. This plant is thyme.

General information

Biological description

Distribution and ecology

Growing and harvesting

Thyme in culture

Historical details and myths

Useful chemical composition

Other components include:

• tannins;
• various acids;
• minerals;
• terpenes;
• healthy bitters;
• gum;
• organic pigments;
• coloring matter;
• fats;
• vitamins IN And WITH ;
• resins;
• carotene;
• flavonoids.

Use in traditional medicine

Use in homeopathy

Popular use

Helps get rid of impotence and prostatitis

• Recipe No. 1: place 3–4 tbsp in a thermos. l. thyme herbs, 1 tbsp. l. mint and the same amount of oregano. Filling with raw materials boiled water and leave it to steep overnight. The resulting infusion should be drunk regularly instead of tea.
• Recipe No. 2: We boil this plant along with any other herbs, strain the broth and add it to the bath. This bath should be taken for at least 30 minutes.
• Recipe No. 3: Fill the herb with olive oil and leave to infuse for 30 days. As a result, you will get a kind of oil that should be rubbed into the perineal area daily. This procedure will help strengthen internal energy and have a stimulating effect on biologically active points.

Along with these recipes, it would not be superfluous to eat spices, which are again prepared from this plant. Since it contains zinc, which tends to have a beneficial effect on male sexual function, experts recommend it to all men without exception.

Folk recipes

• For rheumatic pain: grind the thyme herb, heat it in a vessel, wrap it in gauze and apply it to the painful areas. In the same cases, you can take an aromatic bath. Brew 500 gr. herbs in 4 liters of water and pour the resulting decoction into a bath of water. The same baths should be taken for arthritis and gout.
• For diabetes and allergies: 2 tbsp. l. brew chopped herbs for 60 seconds. in 1 glass of boiling water. Then let the broth brew for 60 minutes, filter it and take 0.5 cups 3 times a day after meals.
• For colds: steam 1 tbsp in 1 glass of boiled water for half an hour. l. dry crushed raw materials. We filter the resulting infusion and take 2 tbsp orally. l. three times a day. This infusion must be taken along with honey in a 2:1 ratio and after meals.
• If you have lice ( pediculosis): in 20 gr. shampoo should be added 7 drops of plant juice. Lubricate the comb with the resulting product and comb your hair with it.
• For hypertension and anemia: mix an equal amount of thyme herb with blueberry shoots. 1 tbsp. l. Steam the resulting mixture of herbs for 30 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water. Then we filter the infusion and drink it in 2 doses after meals.
• For inflammation of the sciatic nerve: 1 tbsp. l. pour the herbs with 1 glass of boiled water and leave to infuse for 45 minutes. This remedy should be taken orally. Along with it, it is recommended to lubricate the affected area with the juice of this plant, after mixing it with wine and cow butter.
• For eczema and boils: 200 gr. crushed dried raw materials, pour 2 liters of boiling water and leave in a warm place for 120 minutes. Then strain the infusion and add it to a bath of water, which should be taken for 12 to 14 minutes.
• For pathologies of teeth and gums: 3 tsp. Brew the herbs in 500 ml of water. After 10 minutes, remove the broth from the heat and let it cool. Then we filter it and use it to rinse the mouth.

Collection for stomach ailments

Cough tea

Contraindications and possible side effects

• Stomach and intestinal ulcers;
• Liver pathologies;
• Pregnancy period;
• Hypertension;
• Decompensation of cardiac activity.

As for side effects, they can only occur in case of overdose. Most often, thymol, which is the active component of this plant, provokes the development of increased thyroid function. It is quite possible that blood pressure may also increase.

Thyme honey is a unique natural product!

Spice for weight loss

Thyme oil and its beneficial properties

Indications for use of oil

Acceptable oil dosages

Precautionary measures

Cooking recipes

2. Pork chops with lemon and thyme sauce: you will need 2 cloves of garlic, 8 pieces of thin pork fillet chops, 3 tbsp. l. lemon juice, 2 tsp. grated lemon zest, 1 tsp. dried thyme. Also 170 gr. milk, 1.5 tbsp. l. flour, as well as 2 tsp. olive oil. Place the pork on a baking sheet. In a small salad bowl, thoroughly mix lemon juice with lemon zest, chopped garlic and spices. Rub the mixture on both sides of the chops, cover them and put them in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes. Then transfer the chops to a baking sheet, sprinkle them with a little flour, salt and pepper to taste. Heat a large frying pan and place the chops on it. Fry them for about a minute on each side. Pour the milk into the pan and cook the dish until the sauce becomes thick. Place the chops on a platter. Whisk the remaining sauce with 1 tbsp for 30 seconds. l. lemon juice. Add salt and pepper, then pour the sauce over the chops and serve.

Thyme is distributed throughout the world. Its popularity is associated with the presence of a pronounced aroma and a pungent, spicy-bitter taste, which, however, impose certain restrictions on the volume of use.

Name in English: time

Title in French:thym

Synonyms: thyme, thyme, Bogorodskaya grass

In what form is it sold?: fresh and dried leaves, young branches, ground

Where is thyme used:

In the Mediterranean, not a single kitchen can do without this spice. Caraway thyme is a perennial and popular addition.

Pickled olives without adding thyme oil will not reveal their delicious taste, and pizza will not cause traditional delight. In Louisiana, thyme is a constant companion to the legendary Creole dishes gumbo and jambalaya.

The seasoning goes with any plant foods, so vegetarian cuisine “prays” for it! Spice used:

• for infusing vegetable oil intended for dressing salads and snacks, as an addition to sandwiches;
• in recipes for soft drinks, among which tea with thyme is especially famous, as well as liqueurs;
• in the production of canned food, cheeses, sausages, pates, marinades (pickling of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, squash, etc.);
• for fried and boiled dishes (traditionally - in combination with rosemary) from fish, meat, poultry, game, including those with breading;
• for soups and broths, green salads (fresh);
• for making bread and other savory baked goods - pies, pies and other products (one of the most popular spices among bakers).

Lemon thyme is a well-known addition to the Gascony dish confit. Housewives place the plant among their clothes to repel moths. Thyme is one of the popular ingredients when creating perfume products. In addition, this honey plant is valued among beekeepers.

What does thyme go with:

Thyme is one of the main herbs in French cuisine. It is invariably included in the composition of Provencal herbs, goes well with pepper, and even enhances its aroma. It is a component of the Jordanian seasoning zakhtar, the Egyptian dukkah. Thyme is ideal with:

• potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables;
• beef, pork, poultry and game;
• seafood (especially with lemon thyme, wild);
• offal;
• eggs;
• cheese of all types.

Thyme opens up during prolonged heat treatment, so chefs add it at the beginning of cooking.

What thyme should not be combined with:

Thyme is included in recipes for a wide variety of dishes, but any chef will tell you that you should not combine it with mushrooms and sweet desserts. Thyme has an irritating effect on the stomach, liver and kidneys, so limit its addition or completely eliminate it when preparing any dishes for ulcer sufferers.

Useful properties of thyme:

Thyme herb contains essential oils, tannins and bitter substances. The spice contains salts. The leaves of the plant can compensate for the lack of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

In their ancient treatises, Theophrastus and Avicenna always included plant seeds in medicinal preparations made from numerous natural ingredients. Since ancient times, this plant has been revered. He was called divine. According to legend, thyme has even restored life more than once. In Ancient Greece, it was used for fainting and was given to a person who had lost consciousness to smell it.

Thymol and other components of the essential oil give the plant bactericidal properties. On its basis, antihelminthic and analgesic drugs are created. It relieves neuralgia, pain in the joints, heart, and is indispensable for radiculitis.

Thyme is included in inhalations and expectorants that are prescribed for bronchitis and whooping cough. In folk medicine, the plant is used for gargling for sore throat and dental diseases.

Thyme promotes digestion. It is recommended for certain gastrointestinal diseases. It is part of choleretic and diuretic drugs, it will help cleanse the blood and forget about insomnia. This unique plant will relieve suffering from itchy skin and fungal infections.

Contraindications for use:

Thymol contained in thyme often causes hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. It is contraindicated in certain disorders of cardio-vascular system. It increases blood pressure, and the increase appears gradually, accumulates and persists for a long time, so hypertensive patients should avoid foods prepared according to recipes using this spice.

Thyme should be used sparingly for pathologies of the liver and kidneys, stomach ulcers and duodenum. Avoid it during pregnancy. Baths with it are unacceptable when the temperature and pressure rise. Excessive consumption of spices sometimes leads to nausea and vomiting.

• Thyme was first mentioned in written sources in the 3rd millennium BC. Researchers read about it on cuneiform tablets, where ancient recipes were immortalized.
• The Sumerians used the plant as an antiseptic, and the ancient Egyptians used it for embalming.
• The European name of the spice comes from the Greek thymiama - “incense”. In ancient Greece it was invariably associated with Aphrodite and was used in her temples as an incense that served as a divine sacrifice. Other sources claim that the name comes from thymon - “strength”. The Latin word thymus has a similar meaning. In many countries around the world it was identified with male strength.
• Since ancient times, it has been noticed that the use of Bogorodskaya herb leads to abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
• There are about 4 hundred species of thyme in nature. The most commonly cultivated and used species are common, capitate, and creeping.

The easiest way to enrich the taste of any, even the simplest food, is to add a pinch of spices. This article will discuss the use of thyme seasoning.

Thyme has been used in cooking in Mediterranean countries since ancient times, where it is often called thyme. In these regions you can often find it growing wild.

Types of thyme

There are four popular types of thyme that are usually added to food:

1. Ordinary;
2. Caraway;
3. Citric;
4. Creeping.

Each type has its own nuances of taste and aroma. For example, lemon seasoning perfectly complements desserts, baked goods and fish dishes; caraway flavors meat and chicken.

You can find both fresh and dried thyme on store shelves. So which one is better to use? Of course it's fresh. It contains maximum aroma and essential oils, giving a special taste to food. Try to add it at the final stages of cooking, or better yet, right before serving. It is often added to fresh vegetable salads.

If you can't find fresh thyme, use dried thyme seasoning. Remember that it is better to buy herbs in sealed packages and store them after opening for no more than a month, otherwise all the aroma will disappear. Add dried seasoning at the beginning and middle of cooking so that it has time to add flavor to the food.

Recipes with thyme

Spinach salad with feta cheese

Take:

• fresh cranberries – 150 g;
• feta cheese – 150 g;
• fresh spinach – 200 g;
• walnuts – 80 g;
• basil, thyme - a couple of sprigs;
• olive oil - 2 tablespoons. spoons;
• lemon juice, salt - to taste.

Rinse the spinach, basil and thyme and leave to dry on a towel.

Cut the cheese into small half-centimeter cubes. Grind the nuts in a mortar until they form coarse crumbs. Mix olive oil with lemon juice, salt, thyme and basil seasoning leaves.
Divide the spinach into two equal parts and chop. Place half on the bottom of the salad bowl, sprinkle with half the cheese and nuts. Pour over the sauce. Fold the remaining ingredients in a similar manner, sprinkle in the cranberries and smooth out to cover the entire salad.

Can be used as a fresh, dietary snack or addition to a full meal.

Chicken with thyme

You will need:

• carcass parts (legs, thighs, etc.) – 1 kg;
• oil drain – 180 g;
• fresh thyme – 50 g.

Remove the butter from the refrigerator in advance and leave until it reaches a soft consistency. Wash and dry the thyme seasoning. Remove leaves from stems and add to butter, stir and coat the chicken with the creamy mixture. Place the chicken on a baking sheet, wrapping it in foil. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 170 degrees.

Meat with thyme

• olive oil – 4 tbsp. spoons;
• thyme – 3 sprigs;
• steaks – 2 pcs;
• garlic – 3 pcs.

Let's prepare juicy, medium-rare beef steaks. In this recipe, we will use herbs and garlic to flavor the oil, which will infuse the flavor and aroma of the meat.

Peel the garlic and crush the cloves with the flat side of a wide knife. Pour oil into a heated frying pan; when it is hot, add garlic and thyme sprigs. Fry for about a minute, stirring, then add the meat. Fry for five minutes on one side, turn over, add salt and fry for another three minutes. Remove the meat and thyme seasoning to a plate, let it rest for about fifteen minutes and serve.

To cook chicken fillets or fish steaks, follow similar instructions, varying the time depending on the thickness of the piece and desired doneness.

Fermentation with spices

For many, it is unusual to add anything else to cabbage other than carrots, cranberries or other berries. Try a new recipe next time. To do this, mix the seasonings in equal proportions:

1. Cumin (whole);
2. Coriander (whole);
3. Fresh thyme;
4. Allspice.

You will get an excellent salad or a complete side dish if you stew it after sourdough.

Using thyme in soups

French cuisine has a wonderful seasoning to add flavor and aroma to soups. It's called a bouquet of Garni. For several centuries, traditional soups have not been complete without this touch.
Now we will tell you how to prepare such a bouquet in your kitchen.

Bouquet Garni

You will need:

• wide leaf of leek;
• thyme – 4 sprigs;
• parsley - 2 stems;
• bay leaf – 2 pcs.

Unfold the leek leaf and cut a piece 7-8 cm long from it. Wrap the rest of the spices and herbs inside, wrap and tie tightly with kitchen thread.
During cooking, add this bouquet of seasoning after boiling and remove at the end of cooking.

Since chicken and thyme go well together, we suggest you prepare classic chicken soup. This is a light soup that both adults and children will enjoy.

Soup with Provencal herbs

Take:

• chicken carcass parts – 500 g;
• onions – 2 heads;
• carrots – 2 medium;
• tomatoes – 2 pcs;
• zucchini – 1 medium;
• bouquet Garni – 1 piece;
• salt, black pepper.

Cover the chicken with water and bring to a boil. Add peeled onions and carrots, cut into large pieces. Cook for forty minutes covered. Fifteen minutes before readiness, add tomatoes and zucchini, cut into small cubes. Add salt to taste.

Thyme with vegetables and mushrooms

Thyme is a seasoning that perfectly complements baked vegetables and mushrooms. Its aroma stimulates the appetite, enhancing the aroma of cooked foods. It is also one of the components of the famous Herbs de Provence spice, which is added to fish, meat, potatoes and numerous other products.

In Italian cuisine, one can note such a feature that almost not a single recipe using mushrooms is complete without seasoning with thyme. Here is one of them:

Risotto with mushrooms

Necessary:

• dried porcini mushrooms – 200 g (can be replaced with champignons);
• meat broth - 1 liter;
• rice for risotto – 200 g;
• dry white wine – 100 ml;
• red onion – 2 medium;
• garlic – 3 cloves;
• dried thyme - 1 table. spoon;
• parmesan – 50 g;
• mascarpone – 50 g;
• salt pepper.

Place the dried mushrooms in a bowl and soak in boiling water for half an hour. Do not throw away the water remaining after soaking, we will need it later. Then cut the mushrooms into strips.
Combine the broth and mushroom water in a saucepan and bring to a boil and leave over low heat without a lid.

Cooking process

At this time, chop the onion and garlic, place in a frying pan with heated oil and fry for no more than a minute. Place rice here too.
When the rice becomes translucent, add the wine and simmer for another three minutes.

Now you need to gradually pour in and evaporate all the existing broth. Just add one ladleful at a time to the rice. This process usually takes about half an hour.
At the final stage, when the rice is already cooked. Add remaining ingredients: cheeses, mushrooms and spices. Mix everything and cover with a lid for 5-10 minutes to allow the cheeses to melt.

Thyme is a spice that is part of most existing spices. Its versatility has made it a permanent element of many national dishes. If you like to experiment, try cooking your favorite food with a pinch of thyme.

In the article we discuss thyme - beneficial properties and contraindications for use. You will learn what the herb thyme cures, and how it is used in folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking. Following our advice, you will learn how to prepare infusions and decoctions of the plant. We will tell you how to drink thyme for coughs, blood pressure, female diseases, prostatitis and alcoholism.

Thyme is a genus of perennial essential oil shrubs and subshrubs of the Lamiaceae family. Latin name: Thymus. Thyme is also known as thyme. The plant is used in folk medicine, cosmetology, perfumery and cooking. This is a good honey plant.

Appearance (photo) of thyme

Thyme has woody, erect or creeping shoots. The shrub branches heavily and grows up to 30 cm in height.

The leaves are hard, round, ovoid or oblong. They are located on short petioles.

At the tops of the shoots, capitate or elongated inflorescences of pink-lilac color are formed. The flowering period is from June to August, depending on the region. In appearance, thyme inflorescences are similar to oregano. These plants are often confused. Read more about how to distinguish them in the article - Thyme and oregano are the same thing.

The fruits are capsules with small black-brown nuts of spherical or ellipsoidal shape. They ripen from August to September.

Thyme is widely distributed in the wild. It grows throughout almost all of Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Caucasus. The plant is found in steppes, forests, tundra, and on rocky slopes.

Chemical composition

Thyme contains:

• essential oils;
• gum;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin C;
• tannins;
• ursolic acid;
• oleic acid;
• bitterness;
• terpenes;
• triterpenoids;
• organic pigments;
• minerals.

Thanks to its rich composition, thyme has many beneficial properties. Let us tell you in more detail about the medicinal properties of thyme herb and contraindications for use.

Medicinal properties of thyme

Today, the beneficial properties of the herb thyme have been studied quite well, so it is widely used in herbal medicine.. The plant is used to treat diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems, musculoskeletal system and skin diseases.

Thyme is used as a sedative. At regular intake the plant has a sedative effect, normalizes sleep, and also eliminates increased nervous excitability.

Thyme has anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic effects. Plant-based products are used as antipyretic drugs.

Thyme is used to treat bronchopulmonary diseases. The plant has a powerful expectorant and bronchodilator effect.

Thyme has a beneficial effect on the digestive system. It normalizes the microflora in the intestines, increases appetite, eliminates intestinal obstruction and flatulence.

Thyme is useful for the kidneys and genitourinary system. It has antispasmodic and analgesic effects in urolithiasis, cystitis and pyelonephritis.

Plant-based products are used externally to treat wounds and burns. Thyme has antiseptic, disinfectant and wound-healing effects.

For women

The beneficial properties of thyme on the body also extend to the reproductive system. Plant-based products normalize female hormonal levels, eliminate pain during menstruation and effectively cope with inflammatory diseases of the genital organs.

The plant is often used in dietetics. Why do women who want to lose weight drink thyme? The plant helps food to be absorbed faster, normalizes metabolic processes in the body and removes waste and toxins.

For men

Why do men need thyme? The plant contains selenium and molybdenum, which are essential for men's health. They increase potency and improve spermatogenesis.

Thyme is used for the prevention and treatment of prostatitis. Products based on it quickly relieve inflammation, improve blood supply to the pelvic organs and have a diuretic effect.

For children

Thyme has beneficial properties for children. Baths with a decoction of the plant gently calm the child’s nervous system and normalize sleep. Thyme syrup effectively copes with whooping cough - the medicine quickly eliminates paroxysmal cough and relieves spasms of the larynx.

You have learned the beneficial properties and uses of thyme for men, women and children. Now we’ll tell you how the plant is used in cooking.

Thyme in cooking

Fresh and dried thyme is used in cooking

In cooking, fresh or dried thyme leaves are used as a seasoning. The plant has a bitter taste and spicy aroma. The spice is added to dishes made from meat, fish, vegetables, and used in canning and baking. Thyme enhances the taste of cheese, mushrooms, honey, apples, lentils and beans.

Thyme is part of spice mixtures, such as Herbes de Provence. The spice is combined with bay leaf, rosemary, tarragon, oregano, lavender, parsley and marjoram.

Thyme in cosmetology

Thyme-based products are used for skin and hair care. In cosmetology, decoctions, infusions and thyme oil are used.

Thyme tightens sagging skin, tightens pores and eliminates puffiness. Face masks and lotions are made from the plant.

For hair care at home, prepare rinsing solutions and hair masks. Thyme infusion is added to shampoos and balms. Let us tell you why thyme is used in cosmetology.

Facial compress

Thyme-based products have an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect on the skin. With regular cosmetic procedures, they normalize the metabolic processes of skin cells, reduce oiliness and swelling.

Ingredients:

1. Thyme - 1 tablespoon.
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Pour a glass of boiling water over the thyme, cover with a lid and let steep for 30 minutes.

How to use: Soak a fabric base for masks or a gauze napkin in the resulting infusion, wring it out and apply it to your face. Wet the cloth every 5 minutes. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.

Result: The compress tightens pores, tones the skin and removes excess fluid.

Hair rinses

A decoction of the plant is used to rinse hair. It nourishes and strengthens curls, eliminates split ends. With regular use, it eliminates dandruff.

Ingredients:

1. Thyme - 5 gr.
2. Nettle - 5 gr.
3. Hop cones - 5 gr.
4. Birch leaf - 5 gr.
5. Water - 1 liter.

How to cook: Pour water over the dry herbs, place in a water bath and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat, cover and leave for 30 minutes.

How to use: Wash your hair with regular shampoo and rinse your hair with the resulting decoction. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week.

Result: The product strengthens hair follicles, prevents baldness and makes curls more manageable and silky.

Thyme in folk medicine

In folk medicine, tea, decoctions and infusions are made with thyme

Having examined the medicinal properties of the plant, it became clear why thyme herb is useful. It has a beneficial effect on all body systems. Thyme-based products improve immunity.

The healing properties of thyme affect musculoskeletal system. Products based on it are used to treat joint diseases. At the same time, they are taken orally and used externally in the form of compresses and rubbing to enhance the therapeutic effect. Thyme is used to treat rheumatism, radiculitis, and sciatica.

At home, infusions, decoctions and tea are prepared from thyme. Depending on the disease, they are taken orally or used externally. We'll tell you how and why you drink thyme in folk medicine.

Cough and bronchitis syrup

The beneficial properties of the herb thyme are widely used not only in folk, but also in official medicine. The plant is part of the pharmaceutical cough medicine - Pertussin.

At home, an infusion, decoction or syrup based on the plant will help cope with a severe cough. Thyme has expectorant, antispasmodic and disinfectant effects. Read more in the article - Thyme for coughs.

Ingredients:

1. Fresh thyme - 1 bunch.
2. Water - 450 ml.
3. Garlic - 5 cloves.
4. Honey - 300 gr.

How to cook: Rinse the greens and thyme flowers with running water, place them on a towel, and let dry. Cut the herb into large pieces, add water and place on low heat. Cook until the water is reduced by half, about 10-15 minutes. Remove the drink from the heat, cool and strain. Add garlic juice and honey to it, stir. If the syrup is intended for children, then it is better not to add garlic. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.

How to use: Take 1 teaspoon 2 times a day.

Result: The syrup thins mucus, removes it and relieves laryngeal spasms.

Pressure infusion

Thyme dilates blood vessels and relieves their spasms. An infusion of the plant is used to treat hypertension.

Ingredients:

1. Dry thyme - 15 gr.
2. Fireweed - 10 gr.
3. Chamomile - 5 gr.
4. Water - 1 liter.

How to cook: Pour a liter of boiling water over the dry ingredients, cover with a lid, insulate with a towel and leave for 45-60 minutes.

How to use: Take ¼ cup 3 times a day.

Result: The infusion normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system, reduces arterial pressure and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Tea for women's diseases

Tea with thyme normalizes a woman’s hormonal levels, eliminates mood swings and has an analgesic effect during PMS. The drink is taken to treat inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system. Read more in the article - Benefits of tea with thyme.

Ingredients:

1. Thyme leaves or flowers - 1 teaspoon.
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Brew dry thyme with a glass of boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes. Strain the finished tea through a strainer.

How to use: Take 1 glass 3 times a day.

Result: Tea effectively eliminates inflammatory processes, normalizes hormonal levels, improves mood.

Decoction for prostatitis

Thyme has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. A decoction of the plant is used for infectious diseases of the genitourinary system. The product eliminates swelling, pain and facilitates urination.

Ingredients:

1. Thyme - 2 tablespoons.
2. Water - 100 ml.

How to cook: Pour water over dry thyme leaves, place in a water bath and bring to a boil. Cook the product for 10 minutes, then remove from the stove and leave covered for at least 2 hours.

How to use: Take 50 ml of decoction 2 times a day before meals.

Result: The product relieves inflammation, eliminates pain and increases potency.

Infusion for alcoholism

Thyme infusion contains thymol, which provokes attacks of nausea when in contact with alcohol. The drug causes aversion to alcohol.

Ingredients:

1. Thyme - 15 gr.
2. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour 250 ml of water over the thyme, place on the stove, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and squeeze out leaves. Pour them with a second glass of water, after boiling it. Infuse the product for 30 minutes.

How to use: Take 50-70 ml of infusion 3-5 times a day. The course of treatment is from 1 to 2 weeks.

Result: With regular use, thyme infusion develops a persistent aversion to alcohol. The patient becomes nauseous when smelling alcohol.

You learned the beneficial properties of thyme and its use in folk medicine. Now let's talk about contraindications to the use of plant-based products. Indeed, despite the many beneficial properties, thyme herb can have a negative effect on the body if you independently increase the dosage or course of administration.

For more information about thyme, watch the video:

Contraindications and possible harm

Contraindications to the use of thyme-based products:

• gastritis;
• stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• diabetes;
• individual intolerance.

Thyme-based products should be taken with caution in case of asthma and tuberculosis. The expectorant effect of the plant can provoke complications of these diseases.

Taking thyme-based products during pregnancy and breastfeeding is possible only after consultation with a specialist. If self-medicated, the plant can negatively affect the development of the baby. The doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage and tell you how to take thyme correctly. Read more in the articles - Thyme for pregnant women and Thyme for breastfeeding.

What to remember

1. The medicinal properties of thyme are widely used not only in folk, but also in official medicine.
2. The beneficial properties of thyme herb and contraindications for use lie in the chemical composition of the plant.
3. Despite the many beneficial properties, thyme herb has a number of contraindications and can have a negative effect on the body if you independently increase the dosage or course of administration.