What is Thyme: Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

Thyme, scientifically named Thymus vulgaris, is a member of the Liliaceae family. It contains thymol, p-cymene, borneol, myrcene, and linalool which are the main compounds responsible for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and insecticidal properties. Additionally, there are several benefits of thyme that you must be aware of so that you can make the most out of this medicinal plant.

The advantages of thyme are as follows:

• Fights acne: Thyme oil can effectively treat acne if you apply it to the affected areas daily. The main reason for this is the antibacterial properties of thyme against the acne causing germ, Cutibacterium acnes. However, there is not much evidence supporting the fact that thyme oil effectively deals with pimples.
• Treats cough and cold: Thyme has proven to be highly effective against cough and cold. Studies have shown that thyme, along with ivy leaves, cured bronchitis symptoms to a significant extent. So, you can opt for a thyme tea in case of excess cough.
• Acts as a disinfectant: One of the primary uses of thyme oil is that it acts as an excellent disinfectant due to its antibacterial properties. It can effectively remove disease causing bacteria from your home. However, it is not so effective against a very high concentration of mould in your house.
• Uplifts mood: One of the advantages of thyme is that it can significantly uplift your mood when you are upset or depressed. This is because it contains a compound known as carvacrol which stimulates the secretion of dopamine and serotonin, which are known to regulate your mood.
• Boosts immunity: Thyme contains several essential micronutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, manganese, and copper. These nutrients considerably aid in boosting the immunity of an individual. However, you need to consume thyme in sufficient quantities to observe noticeable results.
• Controls pests: One of the significant uses of thyme leaves is that they can effectively kill tiger mosquitoes that are primarily present in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. Additionally, it has also successfully fought bacteria, viruses, rats and mice.
• Prolongs cooking oil stability: Scientists observed that thyme significantly lengthens the stability of cooking oil. This is important since the lipid in cooking oil undergoes oxidation over time, leading to the loss of its stability, quality, safety, and nutritional value.
• Improves eyesight: One of the most noteworthy health benefits of thyme is that it can help in improving the eyesight of an individual. The main reason behind this is the presence of Vitamin A, which maintains a healthy amount of mucus in the eyes. You can apply thyme oil to your eyes in case of irritation to get relief.
• Improves heart health: One of the medicinal benefits of thyme is that it significantly reduces cholesterol in the blood. This, in turn, prevents severe blockages in your heart and safeguards you from a heart attack. So you can add thyme leaves to your food to improve your heart health.
• Treats digestive disorders: Thyme oil has carminative properties due to the presence of essential oils. Also, it aids in anti-spasmodic movements to provide relief from muscle cramps. Moreover, it prevents the accumulation of harmful gases in the abdomen, thus, helping relieve digestive disorders.
• Used in Dyspraxia treatment: Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder that is mainly found in children. There are a lot of studies showing that thyme effectively reduces the symptoms of Dyspraxia. However, you must consult your doctor once before using thyme leaves for the same.
• Treats anaemia: One of the essential medicinal benefits of thyme is that it is used in the treatment of anaemia. This is mainly because thyme is rich in iron, the deficiency of which results in anaemia.

Below are a few ways in which you can use thyme to maximise its benefits:

• You can add thyme leaves to food while cooking.
• Apply thyme oil topically on your skin to get rid of acne.
• You can use thyme as a seasoning for your dish.
• You can intake thyme as medicine to enjoy its benefits.
• Thyme tea is another concoction that you can try to get its medicinal benefits.

There are several benefits of thyme that you can enjoy if you consume it in the right proportion. However, you must keep in mind that, like all other herbs, thyme, too, has several side effects that you must consider beforehand.

The side effects of thyme consumption are as follows:

• Thyme might cause allergic reactions in some people.
• If taken in large quantities, it can lead to stomach upset and dizziness in those people.
• There lies a possibility of experiencing skin irritations if you directly apply thyme oil to the skin.
• It can lead to miscarriages if a pregnant woman consumes it.
• Thyme can result in irritation in mucus membranes if you are allergic to it.
• Thyme can cause hindrance in the effect of antithyroid medications.

You can effectively avoid these side effects if you adopt specific precautionary measures.

There are several precautions that you must take to avoid the side effects of this herb. These include:

• You must immediately stop using thyme if it causes irritation on your skin.
• If you are expecting a baby, you must first consider a doctor before starting to use thyme for its medicinal values.
• Avoid taking thyme in excess quantity unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• If you have surgery scheduled within two to three weeks, you must immediately stop consuming thyme.
• If you are allergic to oregano, there lies a possibility that you are allergic to thyme as well.
• Stop using thyme if it upsets your stomach upon consumption.

Additionally, there are a few groups of people who must avoid thyme to keep from its side effects.

The following people must not consume thyme:

• Women suffering from uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis must avoid thyme.
• People allergic to Lamiaceae family plants and oregano must avoid consuming thyme.
• Thyme causes excess bleeding in patients. Hence, they must avoid thyme consumption if they have a scheduled operation to prevent excessive blood loss.
• People on antithyroid medicines must avoid thyme.

Now that you know the benefits of thyme and its side effects, if you notice any of them, consult a doctor immediately. This will allow you to access expert assistance in time to avoid the severity of its side effects.