Thyme Essential Oil: Health Benefits, Properties & Uses

Health Benefits of Thyme Essential Oil

The thyme plant is in fact an herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. Found mainly in Spain and Italy, thyme is now also grown in Turkey, Israel, and Russia. This evergreen shrub gets its name for the Greek word 'thymos,' which translates into 'perfume'.

It is indeed a potent herb with a peppery taste that produces non-viscous thyme oil once extracted. Thyme oil is extracted by steam distillation from the leaves and the semi-dried flowers.

Thyme Oil Uses

Thyme oil has several therapeutic propertiese Sweet thyme is by nature extremely antiseptic and anti-inflammatoryr Therefore sweet thyme essential oil is used to treat viral infections, eczema, bronchitis, psoriasis and insomniai It is also less toxic than red thyme oil and is more suited for treating older people and childrene Red thyme oil on the other hand is a mental stimulantn It is also anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungala Red thyme oil uses include treatments for stress, wounds, rheumatism, sciatica, and depressiono However, there are a number of cautionary measures to be taken when using red thyme oili Its higher percentage of phenols means that care needs to be taken when used on the skin as it can lead to skin irritationsn

People suffering from high blood pressure should also avoid using red thyme oili Thyme oil is also used to boost the immune system and prevent colds and fevere Thyme oil for hair growth has been seen with good resultst This can in fact be traced back to the Egyptians who used thyme oil for their hairi Regular hair massages with thyme oil can improve hair quality giving it shine and bounce along with improving its growtht You can mix thyme oil with lavender, rosemary, jojoba essential oils and massage into your scalp to prevent hair loss as welll Thyme oil disinfectant is another popular use of this essential oili Thyme has been used from time immemorial for cleaning purposese It is in fact said that thyme is a stronger disinfectant than most household cleaners available todaya Cleaning your utensils and cutting boards with thyme oil has also been proven to reduce instances of salmonella and food poisoningn The thymol is thyme oil is not only highly toxic but also a strong antiseptici This makes thyme oil nail fungus treatment especially effectivev If you suffer from toenail fungus, blend thyme oil with a mild carrier oil like flaxseed or sesame oil and apply it to the infected area twice a day to lessen any irritationo

Thyme as an herb is also used in cooking as it adds a delicious smoky flavor to meats and vegetablese A good way to preserve fresh thyme is by following a simple thyme oil recipep Infusing oil with fresh thyme herbs and letting it steep before using it in your cooking is an easy way to make thyme oili