BeWell Bohemia Herbs & Things
Herbal Monograph, by Brooke Criswell
Thyme -Thymus vulgaris
Who does not know, and find themselves occasionally singing the lyrics of the folk song made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, “Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme…” The last in a list of beloved herbs referenced, thyme closes the line. Do you know the plant as well as the lyric? Does it come to mind when cooking? Considering herbal medicine? Well, this herb offers much in kitchen and apothecary alike; from the heady aroma of a thyme steam, to the flavorful seasoning in main dishes.
If you have a head cold, a thyme steam works wonders to clear your sinus and ward of infection due to its antimicrobial aromatic constituents that enter the respiratory tract upon the moist air as the steam is inhaled. Katja Swift of Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalist touts the effectiveness of a thyme steam, both at the onset of infection and as a preventive measure in advance of illness, “...breathe in that hot Thymey steam. It’s hot alright – and not just because the water was boiling, but also because the volatile oils themselves are super carminative. It will feel pretty intense to breathe in deeply, but try to – the further down into your lungs that you can get that Thymey steam, the more microbes you’re literally killing on contact! So breathe deep, and have your handkerchief at the ready, because this is one of the best sinus-clearing methods I know.”
Thyme grows as a creeping ground cover, that develops woody stems in areas where it successfully overwinters. An excellent plant for rock gardens, or as a low growing plant beneath taller growers. Thyme holds a long history in Greek, Roman, and Medieval European cultures; associated with imparting courage, warding off evil, and as a healthful tonic. Contemporary research explores many and varied compounds and actions of Thymus vulgaris. The abstract of Determination of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and antifungal effects of Thymus vulgaris, Trachyspermum ammi and Trigonella foenum-graecum extracts on growth of Fusarium solani states, “... thyme and fenugreek are spice and aromatic crops with a number of medicinal properties which are known as important sources of essential phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and antifungal activities of these plant extracts…” This, and many other studies, discuss the impact of thyme, in either essential oil or plant extract (in alcohol) form. The article explains the methods and conclusions of the study, including a detailed description of how the essential oil of the plants were collected, and how the plant constituents were extracted in alcohol solutions. The study showed that many phytochemicals are present in thyme, and reinforced that the method used to extract phytochemicals informs which are present, and to what degree, in the resulting item. Or to put more simply, whether you use water, vinegar, or alcohol determines what attributes of thyme are extracted; different constituents are soluble in different media. This is true not only of thyme, but of any plant used to make herbal concoctions. If you have little interest in specialized scientific research into plants, but are curious about the plant’s cultivation needs, and at home uses, we can turn focus there.
As a home gardener, thyme will be used as a tea, spice, or even to make homemade tinctures, oxymels, vinegars, or other herbal preparations, rather than as an essential oil, which requires special equipment and vast amounts of plant material. Many of the benefits of thyme are accessible via home preparation. Additionally, thyme has much to offer the garden ecosystem: a companion to brassica family plants, thyme may repel cabbageworm and whitefly. Thyme is also reported to enhance the growth of some nightshade family plants, including potato, eggplant, and tomato.
Garden Use
Growing Conditions
Thyme grows as a bushy, or creeping & low-growing woody perennial (depending on cultivar) in zones 5 through 9. While thyme will tolerate poor soil, good drainage is a must; without good drainage, thyme may be susceptible to fungus. TanyaDenckla, in The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food states that pruning helps keep the plant bushy and prevent it becoming, “woody and straggly.”
While not especially noted for its flower, thyme is a summer bloomer, flowering in June and July.
Preferences
- Full sun
- Well-drained, light, dry to stony poor soils
- Tolerates drought
- pH 5.5 - 7.0
Plant details
Flowers pink to lilac* varies (along with leaf color) depending on cultivar
Height to 12 inches* varies by cultivar`
Width 18 inches - 3 feet* varies by cultivar and pruning
Companion Planting Affiliations
Thyme enhances the growth of many nightshade family plants
Potato
Eggplant
Tomato
Thyme repels pest insects, including:
Cabbageworms
Whitefly
“Bees love the tiny blossoms.”
Care notes
Be sure to site thyme in an area of your garden that has consistent and expedient drainage. Thyme does not tolerate ‘wet feet’. Choose a spot with ample sunlight. Remember, thyme is a mediterranean plant by origin, and thus is partial to warm, balmy, sunny, and dry conditions.
Herbal Use
Parts Used - leaves, aerial parts
When to Harvest
- Harvest as needed for use or midsummer cut plant back to 2 inches of growth. Freeze or dry the harvest for future use. After the cutting, the thyme plant will regrow before onset of winter. Continue to make light harvests for single use, but if you trim back the second growth before winter, the plant may struggle to survive the winter.
How to Prepare
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs asserts, “[Thyme] has served as a carminative, vermifuge, rubefacient, and antiseptic. Thyme is particularly beneficial in quieting gastrointestinal complaints…. A tea ..for shortness of breath and congested lungs.”6
Below are some ideas for using your home grown yarden thyme as a culinary spice and medicinal concoction. I love the savory flavor of thyme in tea; warming of a winter day and refreshing iced in summer.
- As a tea - Infuse the herb in boiling water to extract many of the beneficial constituents.
- Boil water
- Place 2 tsp of fresh thyme or 1 tsp of dried herb per 8 oz water into teapot, press, thermos, or mason jar
- Pour boiling water over herb
- Cover - if uncovered the constituents will rise with the steam, and you will have a less flavorful, less potent infusion
- Allow to steep - 12 minutes is my favorite flavor and texture; infuse least 10 minutes to extract medicinal doses of constituents
- Strain and Enjoy!
- Drink while hot
- Cool, add ice, and savor the savory.
- As a spice
> “Add sprigs of fresh thyme to olives in their brine”6
> “Serve sprigs of thyme on iced beet borscht that has been topped with plain yogurt”6
> Saute sweet peppers, onions, and garlic in olive oil; add thyme; serve over pasta, rice,(6) or spiralized vegetables
- As a steam
If you have a head cold, a thyme steam works wonders to clear your sinus and ward of infection due to its antimicrobial aromatic constituents that enter the respiratory tract upon the moist air as the steam is inhaled. Katja Swift of Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalist touts the effectiveness of a thyme steam, both at the onset of infection and as a preventive measure in advance of illness, “...breathe in that hot Thymey steam. It’s hot alright – and not just because the water was boiling, but also because the volatile oils themselves are super carminative. It will feel pretty intense to breathe in deeply, but try to – the further down into your lungs that you can get that Thymey steam, the more microbes you’re literally killing on contact! So breathe deep, and have your handkerchief at the ready, because this is one of the best sinus-clearing methods I know.”1
As a flavored (infused) honey
Follow the recipe from “Pantry Profiles” in the Fall 2018 Issue of Herb Quarterly
- Fill a glass jar ⅔ full with fresh thyme. Including leaf and blossom
- Cover with Raw honey
- Stir to remove air bubbles
- Seal jar and set in a sunny window for two weeks
- Gently heat honey over low heat (less than 110degrees farenheit) so that you may strain out the thyme
- Place in airtight bottle and store in a cool dry place
Cautions/Considerations
Fresh thyme may be enjoyed ingested or topically.
Do not ingest or apply topically the essential oil of thyme, it is very concentrated and must be diluted in a carrier oil for topical use or diluted in water for steam inhalation.
Reference List
1. “Thyme: Herb of the Week · CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism.” CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, 12 Apr. 2018, commonwealthherbs.com/thyme-herb-week/.
2. Gedikoğlu, Ayça, et al. “Evaluation of Thymus Vulgarisand Thymbra SpicataEssential Oils and Plant Extracts for Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties.” Food Science & Nutrition, John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2 Apr. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6526640/.
3. Denckla, Tanya L. K. The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organid Food. Storey, 2003.
4. Buchanan, Rita. Taylor's Guide to Herbs. Houghton Mifflin, 1995.
5. Wilson, Rickie. “Companion Planting With Herbs: Boost Your Garden This Season with the Right Pairings of Plants.” Herb Quarterly, 2018, pp. 48–52
6. Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs: Editors. Rodale Press, 1987.
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