Garden Thyme
This book, as well as an 1807 edition of Culpeper’s herbal, is available in the John R. Martin Rare Book Room in Hardin Library for the Health Sciences.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe but cultivated in many part of the world, Thyme is a perennial member of the Mint family commonly used as a culinary herb (Erol et al., 2014; Vetvicka & Vetvickova, 2016). Ancient Sumerian and Egyptian cultures used Thyme to embalm the dead and for its medicinal properties; the Romans flavored cheese and alcoholic beverages with it, and burned it to ward off dangerous animals (Halmai, 1972). In modern times, Thyme has been used to treat bronchitis, laryngitis, whooping cough, sore throat, colds, pneumonia, asthma, diarrhea, gastritis, headache, ringworm, athlete’s foot, scabies, herpes, and wounds (Akram & Rashid, 2017). Some of these diverse used may be related to reports documenting Thyme’s antimicrobial activity (Sienkiewicz, Łysakowska, Denys, & Kowalczyk, 2012).
Historical Use
Historical information on the use of Thyme is included in Nicolas Culpepper’s book The English Physician and Complete Herbal written in 1652. Thyme has been used to strengthen the lungs, to purge the body of phlegm, as a remedy for shortness of breath, and to kill worms in the belly. It was applied as an ointment to remove “hot swellings” and warts, and to ease pains in the spleen, the loins, and hips. Ingested, Thyme would provide comfort to the stomach and promote flatulence.
Latest Research
- A Review of the Properties of Clinically Evaluated Plant-Derived Agents in the Treatment of Respiratory Infections
by Alexandra S Alexandrova on May 27, 2026 at 10:00 amBackground: The use of plant-derived agents is a common approach in integrative care for respiratory conditions. However, the evidence of clinical trials has not yet been comprehensively presented. Aim: To summarize the antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and expectorant properties of Echinacea spp., Pelargonium sidoides, Hedera helix, Thymus vulgaris, Althaea officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Zingiber officinale, and Curcuma longa, and to evaluate the evidence level from…
- Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents, Antioxidant Potential, and Toxicological Profile of Selected Medicinal Plants from Romania’s Spontaneous Floraby Lidia-Ioana Virchea on May 13, 2026 at 10:00 am
The aim of this study was to analyze the composition and dual beneficial and toxic effects of Achillea millefolium L., Mentha longifolia L., and Thymus serpyllum L. extracts. The phenolic profile, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and drosopterin eye content (DEC) were determined by modern methods. The viability and developmental time of D. melanogaster were assessed by a diet-dependent viability test. The results show that the phenolic profile varied depending on the extract…
- GC/MS Analysis, Cytotoxicity, and Antimicrobial Properties of Six Moroccan Essential Oils Traditionally Used for COVID-19 Preventionby Houda Zaher on November 13, 2025 at 11:00 am
The COVID-19 pandemic has reignited interest in traditional medicinal plants as potential therapeutic agents. This study examined the chemical composition, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from six Moroccan medicinal plants, namely, Eucalyptus globulus, Artemisia absinthium, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus vulgaris, Artemisia alba, and Santolina chamaecyparissus, which are commonly used by the Moroccan population for COVID-19 prevention. The chemical composition of each…
- The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids along with mixture of medicinal plants on production performance, blood parameters, and reproduction performance in laying hensby Yadollah Chashnidel on November 7, 2025 at 11:00 am
CONCLUSION: Dietary inclusion of 0.075% (0.0375% CLA/omega-6 combined with 0.0375% medicinal plants) optimized production performance, egg quality, blood lipid profiles, and reproductive health in Lohman LSL hens. This supplementation level demonstrated the most pronounced benefits for enhancing poultry productivity and metabolic health.
- Herbs impact on poultry health and antimicrobial resistance: a scoping review with one health perspectiveby Maha Dardouri on July 30, 2025 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSIONS: Various studies confirmed that 5 to 6 g/kg of thyme powder was effective in improving growth performance and gut microbiota in healthy chickens. Further experiments are needed to compare the impact of thyme to antibiotics in chickens infected with multiple drug-resistant bacteria.
References
Akram, M., & Rashid, A. (2017). Anti-coagulant activity of plants: mini review. Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 44(3), 406-411. doi:10.1007/s11239-017-1546-5
Erol, S., Aydin, B., Dilli, D., Okumus, N., Zenciroglu, A., & Gunduz, M. (2014). An interesting newborn case of fructose 1-6 diphosphatase deficiency triggered after thyme juice ingestion. Clínica y Laboratorio, 60(1), 151-153. doi:10.7754/clin.lab.2013.130245
Halmai, J. (1972). Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as employed for the ancient methods of embalming. Therapia Hungarica, 20(4), 162-165.
Sienkiewicz, M., Łysakowska, M., Denys, P., & Kowalczyk, E. (2012). The antimicrobial activity of thyme essential oil against multidrug resistant clinical bacterial strains. Microb Drug Resist, 18(2), 137-148. doi:10.1089/mdr.2011.0080
Vetvicka, V., & Vetvickova, J. (2016). Essential Oils from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Chemical Composition and Biological Effects in Mouse Model. Journal of Medicinal Food, 19(12), 1180-1187. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.0029
Other Links
Natural Medicines record for Thyme (access UI only)