Thyme Tea
Proven Health Benefits of Thyme Tea:
- An effective antimicrobial agent
- Treats respiratory illnesses like whooping cough and bronchitis
- Good remedy for sore throat
- Prescribed with other herbs for asthma and hay fever
- Effective antifungal agent
- Anti-helminth and is used to treat worm infestation especially in children
What is Thyme Tea?
Thyme tea is brewed from the dried leaves of thyme, a perennial shrub with tiny leaves and slender stems that lean partially horizontal. Thymus vulgaris L., the most common species barely grows to 40cm tall with its leaves sometimes being as little as 3mm. The monoecious flowers, when they bloom, are small and either white or purple in color. Thyme is widely grown as a culinary herb, and it is no secret that these lucky chefs who adopt it, add more than just an exotic aroma to their recipes. Thyme has always featured in folk medicine wherever they have been found, including the Mediterranean and North Africa, where they originate from, as well many parts of Europe and Asia.
What is the Usefulness of Thyme?
A study involving school girls show that thyme tea is able to correct primary dysmenorrhea and relieve pains associated with it.1 Thyme is a potent antioxidant. One study that tested it against aflatoxin-induced oxidative stress in rats reports that parameters such as creatinine, uric acid, nitric oxide and blood serum lipid peroxidation were greatly reduced.2 Thyme is clinically used to treat respiratory infections such as whooping cough, bronchitis and asthma. It is observed that its anti-pathogenic and vasodilator properties are very much at play in these instances. Thyme tea is observed to antagonize enteric fungi and worms, and can relieve of indigestion. It has historically been used to treat urinary tract infections and prevent the hardening of arteries, and is still applied today in alternative medicine. Thyme tea is also able to impart sharpness to the mind and correct mild insomnia.
Health benefits
- Analgesic
- Antioxidant
- Antiseptic
- Urinary tract infections
- Toothache
- Antipyretic (reduce fevers)
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Dysmenorrhea
Nutrition
Thyme tea is rich in minerals and vitamins. It abounds in Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, phosphorus and is a surprise source of Iron. Vitamins A, C, K and E are also found in there. What makes thyme special are its polyphenols and other phytochemicals. Chief among them is thymol, a compound, much known for its antioxidant, antibacterial properties.3 Others include carvacrol, linalool, apigenin, eugenol and rosmarinic acid. Together, these hold the properties which have kept thyme in pharmacopoeias and will continue to.
Toxicity
No toxicity has been reported in humans or other organisms with respect to food uses. Thyme tea is generally considered safe and almost never causes any discomforts. It is however acknowledged that a few individuals may react to some essential oils found in thyme.