Earthnotes
Herb Library

Back to Herb Menu     Back to Index

DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.


THYME
(Thymus vulgaris)
imageImage
Also see Thyme Varieties Chart

PROPAGATION: By seed, division, cuttings and layering. Perennial.
NEEDS: Full sun and light, dry well-draining soil. Prune often and hard to keep healthy; remove at least 1/2 of the length of the stems in early spring, then again in early summer or late summer.
HARVEST: As desired. Dry and then strip leaves from stems, or, freeze fresh.
FLOWERS: Late July onward.

USES

MEDICINAL:
Oil contains the antibacterial chemical thymol. Antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, expectorant.
Has been used for all types of cough.
Has been used for asthma (steam inhalation), chronic asthma, nervous cough, dry cough, hacking cough, whooping cough, infection of lung or bronchial tubes, and bronchitic asthma.
Has been used for intestinal infections, intestinal worms, fungal growths, thrush and mouth fungi (mouthwash and gargle), wound cleanser, scrophulous skin condtions (lotion), liver diseases, indigestion, and as a skin disinfectant (washing wounds before dressing).
The tea has been used for colds, nervous conditions, colic, and headache
The steam is inhaled from the infusion for congestion; often combined with marjoram and chamomile.
Oil used in liniments for muscle pain.
Has been used to combat itchiness.

DOSE: TRADITIONAL DOSAGES FOR PROFESSIONAL NOTE ONLY
All others buy commercial preparations and follow directions carefully.
INFUSION = 1 oz. herb to 1 quart water just off the boil and infused for 5 to 10 minutes (3 to 4 cups taken daily)

CULINARY:
Popular seasoning.

COSMETIC:
Antiseptic and stimulating. Used in herbal lotions. An ointment used for spots and pimples. Used in the bath to stimulate and for nervous exhaustion.

CRAFT:
Dried flowers used like lavender in insect repellant sachets. Used in dried herbal wreaths.

INSECTS:
Repels cabbage worm.

LANGUAGE:
Daring


Although the thymes have been separated into two distinct categories for reference, all thymes make good ornamentals. Caraway thyme is especially suited for walkways.

VARIETIES of CULINARY THYME
Alba (T. sp. 'Alba')
Caraway (T. Herba-barona)
Caraway, Lemon (T. Herba-barona citriodorus)
E.B. Anderson (T. citriodorus 'E.B.A.')
English (T. 'Broad-leaf English')
English, Variegated (T. 'Variegated English')
English Wedgewood (T. 'Wedgewood English')
French (T. vulg. 'Narrow-leaf French')
German French (T. v. sp. 'Tall German')
German Winter (T. vulg. sp 'N.-L. F')
Greek (T. v. sp 'N.-L.F.')
Green, Compact (T. vulg. 'Dottie Jacobsen')
Grey Hill (T. vulg. 'Grey Hill')
Japanese (T. quinquecostatus ibukiensis 'Alba')		 Lemon (T. x citriodorus)
Lemon, Golden (T. x citriodorus 'Aureus')
Lemon, Silver (T. x citriodorus 'Argenteus')
Lemon, Silver-Edged (T. x. citrod. 'Argenteus' sp)
Lime (T. x citriod. sp)
Miniature (Thymus sp)
Miniature, English, Narrow-Leaf (Thymus sp)
Mother of Thyme (T. pulegioides)
Nutmeg (T. herba-barona)
Oregano (T. puleg. 'O-scented')
Pennsylvania Dutch Tea (T. pulegioides ssp)
Porlock (T. 'Porlock')
Provencal, Narrow-Leaf (T. vulg. ssp)
Rosa's Delight (T. vulg. ssp)

VARIETIES of ORNAMENTAL and OTHER THYMES
Annie Hall (T. praecox arcticus 'A.H.')
Archer's Gold (T. sp. 'A.G.')
Bressingham Pink (T. Doerfleri 'B.P.')
Caespititus "Tufted Thyme" (T. caespititus)
Camphor Thyme (T. camphoratus) - tender perennial
Carnosa (T. carnosus) - tender perennial
Coconut (T. praecox ssp)
Conehead (Coriothymus capitatus)
Creeping, 'Clear Gold' (T. sp. 'C.G.')
Creeping 'Dot Wells' (T. pulegoides 'D.W.')
Creeping Golden Variegated (T. praec. arct. 'Mayfair')
Creeping PInk (T. sp)
Creeping Red (T. puleg. 'Kermesinus')
Creeping Red, Narrow-Leaf (T. praec. arct. 'Coccineus')
Creeping White (T. praec. arct. 'Alba')
Creeping White Moss (T. praec. arct. 'W.M.')
Creeping Woolly (T. sp)
Doone Valley (T. 'D.V.')
Dr. Blackburn (T. sp)
Drucei (T. praec. arct.)
Emerald Cushion (T. praec. arct. 'E.C.')
Epiroticus (T. sp)
Erectus (T. sp)
Lanicaulis (T. thracicus)
Lavender (T. thracius) - potpourri and sachet
Lemon Frost (T. sp x 'L.F.')		 Loevyanus (T. 'Long-leaf Gray')
Longwood (T. 'Longwood')
Marchallii (T. pannonicus)
Marshallianus (T. 'Linear-leaf Lilac')
Micans (T. caespititus 'Tuffet')
Minus (T. minus)
Moonlight (T. leucotrichus 'M')
Nummularius (T. sp)
Orange Balsam (T. vulg. 'O.B.') - potpourri and sachets; fruit salads
Pinewood (T. 'P.')
Pink Chintz (T. praec. arct. 'P.C.')
Pulegioides (T. puleg.)
Russian (T. sp)
Serpentine Citriodorum (Thymus sp)
Serp. Nutmeg (T. praecox Arct. sp)
Serp. Rosea (T. praec. arct. sp)
Silver (T. 'Argenteus')
Silver Needles (T. cherleriodes 'S.N.')
Silver, Hi-Ho (T. sp)
White Magic (T. puleg. 'W.M.')
Woolly (T. praec. arct. lanuginosus)
Woolly, Hall's (T. praec. arct. 'H.'s W')
Woolly-Stemmed Early (T. sp)
WoollyStemmed Sharp (T. 'W.-s S.')
Woolly-Stemmed Sweet (T. 'W.-s S')
.



©2001 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

top