The Health Benefits of an Herbal Remedy like Thyme

Thyme has been used in kitchens for hundreds of years. Some like it for the taste but did you know that it is an herbal remedy with many potential health benefits?

But before we go there, we have to know what thyme is. Centuries ago, the Egyptians once used it as one of the ingredients in making their embalming fluids because it was a preservative and antifungal agent. Later on, roman soldiers would bathe in it to prepare them for battle. During the medieval period, the ladies of yore would sew springs into the vest of knights as a token of good luck.

One important health benefit of thyme is its antiseptic qualities. If you happen to have a bruise or cut, you can crush it and then put this over the wound to prevent it from getting infected.

For those who suffer from gastroenteritis, you can drink or eat it raw to help relieve the stomach pain. When used as a tea bag and warmed, it can help cure people suffering from pink eye or conjunctivitis.

Thyme is a great cough remedy, it's essential oil possess bronchial antispasmodic and expectorant properties. This means it is useful in treating patients who have acute or chronic bronchitis, colds, sore throat or whooping cough and the reason that companies use it as a major component in cough drops.

It does this by enhancing the action of the cilia in the bronchi and directly acts on the bronchial mucosa. The terpenoids are responsible for the expectorant activity of thyme while a variety of flavonoids are responsible for the spasmolytic effect of thyme on the bronchioles.

This herbal remedy can be used as a mouthwash as it treat inflammations in the mouth as well as throat infections.

The best part about this herbal remedy is that you can buy this from the supermarket or you can plant this in your own garden. Just be careful when you decide to plant it because it attracts bees.

There are 350 species of thyme and some of these are stronger than others. One thing you cannot deny though is the health benefits from this herbal remedy which is why it is still use today.