Products
Thyme is available in the form of tea bags and as an open product in pharmacies and drugstores. Numerous cold remedies contain preparations of thyme herb, for example, thyme ointments, tablets, bronchial pastilles, inhalations, cough syrups, baths, cold teas and drops. The essential oil is also on sale.
Stem plant
Both common thyme L. and Spanish thyme L. of the labiates family (Lamiaceae) are used as parent plants.
Medicinal drug
Thyme herb (Thymi herba) consists of the whole leaves and flowers of L., L. or a mixture of both species stripped from the dried stems. The pharmacopoeia requires a minimum content of essential oil, thymol and carvacrol. Among other things, tea mixtures, the essential oil and various extracts are produced from the medicinal drug.
Ingredients
The ingredients include:
- Essential oil: thyme oil (Thymi aetheroleum), e.g. with thymol, carvacrol.
- Labiate tannins
- Flavonoids
- Triterpenes
Effects
Preparations from thyme herb have expectorant, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, bronchospasmolytic, antibacterial, antiviral and circulatory properties.
Indications
Thyme is mainly used to treat the symptoms of a cold. These include cough, phlegm production, irritable cough, cold, sore throat and acute bronchitis. In cooking, thyme is used as a spice. It is also included in rheumatism and sports ointments and mouthwashes.
Dosage
The dosage depends on the remedy. The tea is drunk three to five times a day.
Contraindications
Thyme is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity. Full precautions can be found in the directions for use. Additional precautions apply to the essential oil because it is concentrated.
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects rarely include allergic reactions.
