Perennial thyme, whose medicinal properties and contraindications are worth exploring, can benefit you. The delicate lilac flowers of this perennial have an amazing, incomparable aroma. Spicy fragrant thyme - a unique and miraculous herb. This is not only a spicy seasoning for vegetable or meat dishes, but a storehouse of healing ingredients to maintain our health. The healing qualities of the thyme are really impressive: with its help they treat nervous disorders, gastrointestinal tract disorders, apply externally to treat joints, relieve fever, colds.
When to collect thyme and where it grows
Summer is considered the best time for harvesting gifts of nature - herbs or roots. When is thyme (thyme, misspelled) or thyme collected? Usually, when the mass flowering of a plant begins. Starting around the end of May, rocky slopes, hills, steppes, forest glades are covered with flowering thyme carpets, gathering around bees and other insects. Small leaves of the plant have an elongated oval shape, the flowers are arranged tightly to each other, form inflorescences. The color of the flowers has a predominantly lilac-pink color range, creeping stems, woody in its lower part.
Thyme - what is hidden in this modest low shrub that makes people cultivate it or harvest it for the future? It's all about healing essential oil, which is successfully used to treat a wide range of diseases.
It can be found in southern Europe, the forest-steppe zone of Belarus, Crimea, Transbaikalia, in the south of Russia, in Ukraine, the Caucasus, in the steppes of the Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory - where thyme grows freely, like a wild plant.
Now many gardeners have begun to cultivate this perennial, since its benefits, medicinal and healing properties are gaining more and more popularity among followers of traditional medicine, adherents of the use of natural natural gifts.
Thyme, photo:
What is the difference between thyme and savory, thyme, oregano - confusion in the names of the plant
In fact, this culture has many species, but the most popular, common are thyme (thyme) ordinary and creeping. Supermarkets or spice departments sell pretty bottles or small bags that say "Thyme." This aromatic herb is one of the most basic spices in French cuisine, but in fact thyme and thyme are one and the same plant.
Also, people often confuse two very similar names - thyme and savory, believing that these are two designations of the same grass. This is not so, despite the fact that both representatives belong to the same family, and are also used as spices, drug fees, they are completely different. Their official names also vary: thyme is thyme, and savory is sometimes called kondari.
Thyme, as mentioned above, is a creeping shrub with creeping shoots that tend to root.
Savory is an upright plant, native to the Mediterranean countries, reaching a height of 15-30 cm. The leaves of this annual have a burning, spicy taste, somewhat reminiscent of hot green pepper, because of this it is sometimes called pepper grass. The appearance of flowers, leaves of savory is also different, you can not confuse it with a relative thyme.
Savory, photo:
At the same time, it is also worth dispelling the misconception that thyme and oregano are one and the same plant. This is not true. They really have something similar in flavor, however, in oregano it is less pronounced. Both herbs are used as seasonings for various dishes, and are also brewed as medicinal tea. Their main similarity lies in a sedative, anti-inflammatory effect on the body, but even outwardly they differ significantly.
Thyme is stunted with small inflorescences, and oregano can reach a height of half a meter, has branched stems, lilac-pink flowers collected by a “panicle”.
Both herbs are useful, widely used by traditional medicine, but they are completely different, therefore, when drawing up medicinal prescriptions they cannot be replaced by each other.
If we are talking about names, then it is worth mentioning another, quite common designation of thyme - Bogorodskaya grass. According to a beautiful legend, the Theotokos herself pointed out this medicinal plant to people; in some places, the tradition to decorate the icons of the Blessed Virgin with flowering branches of the Bogorodskaya grass has been preserved to this day. Be that as it may, the popular name has taken root, and the plant itself benefits people.
Thyme useful properties - what are they
Due to the rich composition of therapeutic and healing components, this herb successfully treats colds, respiratory diseases in children and adults. For treatment, all parts of the thyme are used, except for the rhizome: leaves, inflorescences, twigs. Medicinal reserves are recommended to be harvested in June-July, carefully cutting off the upper part of the shrub, leaving the root. Thyme is dried in the fresh air, in a shaded place, laying out raw materials on a clean cotton cloth. To store dry grass, it is better to use fabric bags or thick paper boxes, in places where there is no moisture, bright light.
What is thyme grass from, what diseases? A truly wide list of diseases with the symptoms of which he successfully fights. Traditional medicine has preserved a lot of different ancient recipes.
Thyme herb copes with various intestinal inflammations (even of an infectious nature), colds, nervous diseases, depression, skin rashes (external use: lotions, compresses). Baths with herbal decoction - a real relaxation rescue after a busy day full of emotions.
The general tonic, immunomodulating effect is exerted by tea with thyme. Headaches, migraines, eye diseases, muscle pains, manifestations of rheumatism, arthritis - all of the above are within the power of thyme, provided that the dosage is correct and taken regularly.
Alcohol tincture of thyme inflorescences helps to alleviate the effects of a stroke (8 tablespoons / 0.5 l of vodka). The composition rub hands, feet, numb parts of the body, 25-30 drops diluted with half a glass of water is recommended to be taken orally three times a day.
With brain injuries or concussions, a decoction helps - a tablespoon of grass (with a slide) is poured with two glasses of water, brought to a boil, infused for 1 hour, taken orally three times a day, half a glass. The same recipe helps with insomnia, migraines, headaches (especially of nervous origin), the course of treatment is at least 5-6 months.
To restore the intestinal microflora, a similar composition can be taken orally, only increase the amount of the therapeutic dose (1 glass / twice a day). The course of treatment is at least 2 months. Treatment of cataracts gives positive results if you mix 500 g of liquid honey with ground very finely (like pollen) 100 g of dry raw thyme. To enhance the effect, the resulting mixture can be darkened in a water bath for about 1 hour, periodically stirring with a spoon. Such a medicine should be taken 1 teaspoon at night.
The healing properties of thyme successfully fight annoying cough, manifestations of bronchitis, even asthma. To do this, chop 1 tablespoon of grass, pour 250 g of boiling water, insist in a thermos for about 2 hours. After filtering, such a decoction should be taken 2 tablespoons 4 times a day, after eating. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to rub the chest with the same infusion, cover with a plastic wrap on top, leave it overnight. Two or three nights with such a “compress” on the chest have an effective, healing effect.
With such diseases, you can use a regular decoction on water, or you can use alcohol, on vodka - an expectorant, bronchodilating effect is guaranteed. Infusions, as well as finely ground flowers, leaves are used to make ointments.
Thyme from alcoholism
Alternative medicine knows another, somewhat non-standard area of application of thyme. It helps fight alcoholism. Its medicinal properties are due to the presence of thymol, a substance that causes the gag reflex when mixed with alcohol. For a positive effect, however, the consent of the patient himself is necessary, since the treatment consists in washing 50 g of the decoction with a small amount of an alcoholic drink, two to three times a day. After two weeks of such treatment, as a result, there is a persistent rejection of alcohol.
Tea with thyme, benefit
Tasty, very useful tea with this medicinal herb, which is a natural stimulant. The best time to receive healing tea with thyme is morning. It is recommended for children suffering from anemia, it removes the feeling of heaviness in the stomach during overeating, symptoms of fermentation in the intestines, increased gas formation. After eating fatty foods, it will never be superfluous to drink a cup or two of this aromatic drink to normalize digestion. The grass can be brewed independently, or can be combined with the addition of ordinary black tea.
Herbal medicinal tea, photo:
How is tea with thyme useful? This honey plant contains organic acids, flavonoids, vitamin "C", resins, tannins, essential oil, vitamins "B" group. This list of useful components has a positive effect on the body as a whole, has antiseptic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, wound healing, disinfecting effects. Moreover - cool brewed tea with thyme is successfully used for inhalation.
Drink more tea with the symptoms of a cold, runny nose - essential oils will do the trick, you can be sure. Such tea will increase mood, performance, vitality, despite its tonic effect, it will calm shattered nerves, help cope with fatigue. It is indispensable with the onset of the cold season, when viral, colds become more active.
Even such an unpleasant thing as halitosis is successfully eliminated by regular rinsing, the use of this healing tea.
Contraindications
Despite all its useful properties, thyme also has contraindications.
- If a person has liver or kidney disease, then these decoctions, infusions, teas should not be consumed.
- If there is a thyroid disease, especially a decrease in its function, then taking this herb is also contraindicated.
- In the presence of vascular atherosclerosis, cardiosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, the use of thyme is strictly contraindicated due to the presence of a high content of thymol.
- This warning also applies to those who have an increased acidity of gastric juice.
Thyme for healthy, warnings
The effect of thyme tea on healthy people, what is it?
- Even if your health can only be envied, you should not get carried away by the long, frequent use of this delicious drink.
- Thyme-based infusions and teas help reduce thyroid hormone production, which inevitably leads to hypothyroidism in case of an overdose.
- Do not forget that thyme contributes to an increase in blood pressure, moreover, it does it unnoticed, and the achieved effect then persists for a long time.
- An allergy or individual intolerance to the constituents of the plant can also occur, although this rarely happens.
Thyme - beneficial properties for women and men
Thyme is useful for women
The positive effect of thyme on the female body is due to its ability to reduce pain symptoms during PMS, critical days. The same tea or baths with thyme infusion have a positive effect on the health of women during this period. The use of infusions, decoctions favorably affects the genitourinary function in general, provided that there are no individual contraindications.
Is it possible for pregnant women to have thyme tea? The answer to this question will not be concrete, since everything depends on the situation, the state of health of the woman, how the pregnancy proceeds. On the one hand, this is a natural diaphoretic, analgesic, which does not have chemistry in its composition, like most pharmacy drugs. Based on this, with a cold, cough or inflammation of the genitourinary sphere, it will be much safer to use herbal tea or decoction to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
On the other hand, thyme works to increase the tone of the uterus, which can pose a threat to the baby, increase the likelihood of a miscarriage. Such tea can be safe, even useful literally before the onset of labor, since at the same time it can provide only positive stimulation. If a pregnant woman suffers from impaired cardiac function, then medicines containing thyme in their composition should not be taken categorically. Is it possible to consume thyme during pregnancy, only your personal attending physician, who sensibly assesses your situation specifically, will say.
Thyme for men
Since we have touched on women's health, it will be fair to recall the benefits of thyme for men. Thyme is famous for its positive effect on the male genitourinary sphere. Due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effect, it successfully fights prostatitis and other inflammatory phenomena in this area. Regular consumption of herbal infusion (1 tablespoon of inflorescences / 250 g of boiling water, 5-6 times a day, before eating), has a persistent preventive, therapeutic result.
Thyme is also favorable for male power. The healing properties, contraindications for men do not particularly differ from other tips, recommendations on the use of medicinal plant raw materials. The main thing here is the measure, the regularity of taking, taking into account the individual intolerance of the components of thyme. It is used as an adjuvant to combat male infertility, it increases the viability of sperm, potency.
Dried thyme, photo:
The health benefits of thyme are not in doubt, but do not forget about the dosage, the permissible duration of the use of herbs in your particular case. You can grow this amazing aromatic plant in your summer cottage, after carefully digging a shrub at the place of growth. It is useful, fragrant, looks beautiful on a flower bed next to flowers.
Thyme in the flowerbed, photo:
Let the natural doctor thyme, whose healing properties and contraindications you now know, help to strengthen and maintain health.