Thyme

Thyme is often confused with thyme or creeping thyme. Thyme (lat. Thymus vulgaris) is a species of the genus Thyme (Thymus) of the family Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae).

Wild thyme grows in the North-Western Mediterranean coast of his homeland, Spain and southern France, southern Europe and North Africa. In our country in a wild condition does not occur. Cultivated as an aromatic plant in Moldova, southern Ukraine (Crimea) and the Krasnodar region, Germany and Central Asia. Other common names of this plant and synonyms: thyme, thyme, pimento, cap gorodni.

                                             In appearance and taste:

Thyme is a small, sellersville, erect perennial shrub, with ascending stems height up to 30-40 see Thyme - like creeping thyme, but he's not crawling on the ground, and grows upwards. Taproot branched. The stem is woody in the lower part of the Liane, much-branched. Flowering young sprigs of thyme, short and grassy, square, thick-lined and densely covered with grayish-downy, downward pointing hairs, with short lateral shoots, and older branches glabrous. Leaves narrow, small (length 5-10 mm), dark green, korotkochereshkovye, opposite, almost needle-like, down a very curved, rigid, and on the reverse side is coated with a thin, soft scales, solid edge, point-glandular, dense pubescence, with a pleasant aromatic scent is the best scent of thyme in the upper half of the plants in colour, it has the largest part essential oil. Flowers - small, dvugubye, light purple, develop from the axils of the upper stem leaves. The flowers are collected at the ends of branches in racemose inflorescences of false axillary Polubotok, forming an elongated inflorescence. Bloom thyme in June-July. The fruit consists of four nuts, prisoners remaining in the Cup. Nuts length of 0.7-0.9 mm, almost rounded, grayish or grayish-brown.

As a spice used mainly dried herb thyme - the upper half or third of the stalk with leaves, buds or flowers. Collect thyme in June - July, at the beginning of flowering. The crop is dried in the open air under canopies and are threshed.

How to choose:

Thyme has a pleasant strong aroma and spicy, very spicy and bitter taste, its leaves are used as a spice. Raw thymus vulgaris differs from raw material creeping thyme to the presence of smaller folding leaves. Store dry thyme in pharmacies - in boxes with lids or in cans, in warehouses in bales and bags in well ventilated areas. Shelf life of dry raw material - up to 1 year.

Health:

Thyme is one of the most commonly used herbs for the treatment of colds. But it is not necessary to refer it to only one first aid kit. Two teaspoons of this herb contain 20% of the daily iron requirements, in addition thyme is rich in manganese, a mineral that improves brain function and maintains healthy bones and skin. From the leaves of thyme extract essential oil - red-brown color, with a ”medical” smell. In the blossoming grass contains from 0.8 to 1.2% essential oils, important components of which are thymol and karwakol. Also in the oil detected n-cimal, linalool, borneol. Herb thyme also contains organic acids: triterpenoid, ursolic, Cleanaway, coffee, Hinn, chlorogenic; resin, flavonoids, tannins. This spice contains from 1 to 2.5% essential oil, and 63.9% carbohydrates, 9.1% of protein, significant concentrations of calcium (1890 mg/100 g), magnesium (220 mg/100 g) and vitamin a (3800 mg /100 g). Preparations of herbs, thyme possess expectorant, antioxidant, Antirheumatic, balsamic, antispasmodic, carminative, antibiotic, diuretic, antiseptic, stimulant, tonic, antidepressant, analgesic, causing redness of the skin, anti-virus and disinfecting action. Thyme - enhances the activity of ciliated epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, increases secretion bronchial glands. Liquefies phlegm and accelerates its evacuation. Has an enveloping action on the mucous. Has antibacterial activity. Flavonoids provide thyme ability to relieve bronchial spasm and muscle of the Airways and therefore thyme indicated for the treatment of bronchitis. The most widely thyme is used for diseases of the respiratory system: bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngotracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, colds, flu and sinusitis. Also used in diseases of the stomach, accompanied by a decrease gastric secretion, flatulence, atony or spasm of the bowel. Used for rinsing the oral cavity and pharynx inflammation of the mucous membrane, whooping cough and bronchitis. Liquid extract of leaves is part of the drug ”Pertussis” as an expectorant for bronchitis and whooping cough. Sugar syrup with tinctures of thyme herb (1:10) - half-and-half - 1 tablespoon of cough, children - 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day. Extract of thyme is part of a combined herbal preparation ”Bronchipret”, which is used in a wide range of diseases of the respiratory system.