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Timo in Herbalist: Property of Timo

Scientific name

Thymus vulgaris

Family

Labiatae

Origin

Southern Europe, Balkans

Used Parts

Drug consisting of flowering tops

Chemical constituents

  • Flavonoids;
  • Essential oil (Official Pharmacopoeia): thymol, carvacrol, borneol, linalool, pinene.

Timo in Herbalist: Property of Timo

The dried thyme leaves are used in infusion for stomachicha and antispasmodic activity; the essential oil has mainly antimicrobial activity (depending on the chemotype).

Thyme can also be used externally as a mouthwash or gargle for the treatment of infections of the oropharyngeal cavity (use not officially approved).

Biological activity

As mentioned, the thymus has antispasmodic, stomachic, antimicrobial and expectorant properties.

The stomachic and antispasmodic activity are attributable to the flavonoids present in the plant, while the antimicrobial and expectorant properties are attributable to the essential oil extracted from the flowering tops. More in detail, these latter properties are mostly attributed to terpenes and phenols which are part of the composition of the aforementioned essential oil.

The effectiveness of the thyme is rather consolidated, so that its use has been officially approved for the treatment of bronchitis and cough.

However, it is good to point out that the essential oil of thyme is available in different chemotypes which, therefore, have different activities. In fact, the prevalence of a specific molecule over another in the essential oil can give it various properties.

Basically, among the different types of thyme essential oils, we can distinguish:

  • Chemotype thymol: this particular essential oil is high in phenols (over 60%) and is the one with the greatest antimicrobial activity. However, it is very irritating and therefore must be used diluted.
  • Chemotype linalool: it is an essential oil that contains high percentages of linalool (up to 60%) and is less irritating than the chemotype thymol. It also has antibacterial properties and appears to be effective also against Candida albicans .
  • Chemotipo tujanolo: this essential oil is composed of tujanol in quantities that can reach up to 50%, it is not irritating to the skin and - in addition to being endowed with antibacterial properties - it seems to be able to also exert an antiviral and immunostimulatory action .

For more information on the different chemotypes, see the article on "Thyme and thyme essential oils".

Thyme against bronchitis and cough

As mentioned, the use of the thymus gland has been approved for the treatment of respiratory tract diseases such as coughs and bronchitis, thanks to the expectorant and antimicrobial action of which its essential oil is endowed.

As an indication, to counteract the aforementioned disorders, it is recommended to take 10 grams of drug per day, containing 0.03% of the phenolic component calculated as thymol.

Thyme in folk medicine

Thyme is used in folk medicine since ancient times, where it was used to treat a wide variety of disorders, such as throat inflammation, rheumatic pain, headache, parasitosis, laryngitis, gastritis and digestive disorders.

Externally, moreover, the thyme was used in folk medicine to promote wound healing; during the First World War, this plant was even part of the composition of disinfectants.

Other unapproved uses of the thyme - although very widespread - provide for its use as a mouthwash to gargle or rinse to combat oropharyngeal infections, or involve the use of dried leaves to prepare infusions to aid digestion and combat spasms.

Side effects

If used correctly, the thymus should not cause adverse reactions. However, if excessive doses of essential oil are taken, headaches, nausea and vomiting may occur.

Warnings

Of the essential oil of thyme there are different chemotypes and according to the composition each has its own characteristic action. The chemotype best tolerated is that of linalool (antimicrobial), while the least tolerated is the essential oil of thymol / carvacrol.

Contraindications

Avoid the use of thyme-based preparations in case of gastritis, peptic ulcer, dermatitis (external use) or ascertained hypersensitivity to one or more components. As a precautionary measure, the use of the thyme is not recommended even in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Furthermore, thyme essential oil could exert stimulating effects on the thyroid gland; for this reason, patients suffering from any type of thyroid disorder - before taking the thyme, or preparations containing it - must first seek the advice of their doctor.

Pharmacological Interactions

  • not known