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Candles, Aromatherapy & Soaps (Home) > Essential Oils > Thyme
Thyme: Benefits, Using Tips and Side EffectsThyme is a very common essential oil which is used widely nowadays. It is extracted from Thymus vulgaris which is also known as Thymus aestivus, Thymus velantianus and Thymus ilerdensis. It is extracted by the method of steam distillation. It belongs to the Labiate family. Thyme is also known as red thyme or common thyme. The colour of thyme is usually reddish brown to amber colour and it has a consistency of medium and slightly oily. It has a medium to strong aroma. It smells great and it has a fresh, medicinal and herbaceous odour. Thyme consists of B-caryophyllene, a-thujene, a-terpinene , a-pinene, thymol, camphene, B-pinene, carvacrol, p-cymene, , linalool and borneol. The very name thyme was derived from the Greek word 'thymos' which means perfumes and this was used as an incense in many of the Greek temples in the olden times. Thyme oil can be responsible for causing skin irritations but even then they are preferred as lung and bronchial stimulant. Thus thyme oil serves a lot for coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis and even for sciatica, gout, arthritis and also rheumatism. The method of extraction of thyme oil is very simple and is done by the process of steam or water distillation. It is extracted from fresh or partly dried flowering tops and leaves of the thyme plant and by this extraction it yields about 0.7-1.0%. Thyme oil is considered to be very potent and strong oil and it is due to this reason it said not to be used by pregnant ladies and lactating mothers. It should not be used by people who have high blood pressure! It is not referred for skin care products due to the very reason that the phenols present in the thyme cause irritation of the mucus membrane thus causing skin irritation. But in some of the products they are used in minute quantities. It is always recommended to perform a skin patch test before massaging with thyme oil. This might be very useful in determining the sensitivity of the skin of the person. Apart from all its uses, thyme oil has its own therapeutic uses. They are antispasmodic, cicatrisant, vermifuge, expectorant, bactericidal, anturheumatic, hypertensive, antiseptic, diuretic, cardiac, tonic, bechic, stimulant and even carminative. Thyme oil is used for a variety of purposes. The oil is very useful in boosting up the immune system and also fights against infections such as flu, colds, chills and even other infectious diseases. Thyme oil is recognized to be very helpful for treating cystitis and urethritis as it acts as urinary antiseptic. It helps a lot in combating with anorexia, obesity, oedema and also deals largely with scanty periods, speeding up birth and also helps in expelling after birth. Thyme oil is largely used in vapour therapy as it could help in easing the difficulties resulting from respiratory problems, coughs, colds etc. It can be blended with many oils such as bergamot, lemon, pine, rosemary, grapefruit and even lavender. They are preferred to be used as massage oils which can assist colds, flu, gout, eczema etc. Thyme oil serves to be the best to be used as a mouth was or gargle thus fighting against tonsillitis and gum infections. The only thing to worry about thyme oil is their skin irritation, but by doing patch test this problem could also be completely solved. VISITOR COMMENTS on "Thyme: Benefits, Using Tips and Side Effects": 
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