Added: 09/17/2005 |
Can thyme aroma be really effective in treating diseases?Like many other herbs in its family, thyme herb has been known for a very long time now. Ancient Egyptians used this herb for embalming their Pharaohs.
Its botanical name is "Thymus vulgaris" and at first it was only spread in Southern Europe and Northern Africa, but thanks to the Romans, who used it as a purifying agent in their rooms, it was brought into almost all the European countries and Asia. Greeks used their wild thyme species for making relaxation baths and incensed it in their temples. And in medieval times thyme was used even as a cure for a hangover.
Thyme herb also had a great symbolic meaning. Not only the plant itself, but its representation as well, considered to be a protective mean. Usually thyme plant was a symbol of sacrifice or courage - in the Middle Ages ladies decorated clothes of knights with pictures of thyme. It is also believed that thyme was in straw of Christ child's bed.
Thyme plant can grow up to 30 - 40 centimeters tall. Its small leaves have small glandules that excrete essential oil. Thyme leaves have a very specific burning taste, which is caused by the substances of that essential oil.
A great number of remedies are made out of thyme herb, and even greater number of different diseases can be cured with remedies. As analgesic thyme tincture is used while thyme herb shows great wound healing activity. In form of baths or decoction thyme can be used to cure all kinds of rheumatism. This herb can be used as sedative mean and not only as some sort of remedy. Many people put dried thyme leaves in their pillows (There is a strong belief that such methods give health and longevity). Thyme herb is such a popular medical herb that in every country you can meet a great number of folk medicine health recipes with thyme.
Although all the parts of thyme plant are used to make different sorts of remedies, the most common way of using it is thyme oil. Specific thyme aroma (thyme aroma is very fine and a little bit dry) is caused by this essential oil that consists mainly of thymol - crystal substance with a strong antiseptic effect. Thanks to thymol thyme aroma therapy itself can be very effective in treatment of diseases of tunica mucosa of mouth. Thyme essential oil is also suitable for internal use. And strong thyme aroma attracts honeybees - all kinds of thyme are nectar sources for them, which makes thyme a melliferous herb.
But as many people say the best honey comes out of wild thyme which grows on rocky soils (such as those in Greece or northeastern United States). This honey has a soft taste and a specific thyme aroma which is great for tea-drinking.
Most of the thyme species can be easily used for cooking as seasoning. Thyme matches best with meat dishes (mostly with roasts). This herb can also become a part of wonderful sauces. Thyme also goes very well with tomato dishes. All sorts of recipes that include thyme can easily be found in any cookbook. Together with sage thyme herb becomes a great basis for herbal tea, which will give you a wonderful sense of relaxation.
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