Updated 31 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Genus: Thymus
- Distilled portion: Whole plant
- Country of origin: France
Authorised users
Children under 6 years
Routes of administration
- Oral route: +++
- Skin: +++
Scientific properties
- Anti-infective, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, vermifuge
- Intense immunostimulant
- Liver regenerating, detoxifying, stimulates bile secretion, diuretic
- Warming power, stimulates blood circulation
Energy Properties
- Nervous tonic
- Balances and restores energy circulation
Indications
- Immunity
- Acne
- Respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Gynaecological infections
- Mouth ulcers
- Gingivitis
- Hepato-vesicular weakness
- Circulatory insufficiency
- Physical or nervous fatigue
- Parasites
- Mycosis
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
Directions for use/usual dosage
- For immune deficiency, liver problems or parasitosis, add 1 tablespoon to 1 liter of water and drink for several days.
- As a gargle or mouth spray for sore throat, canker sores or gingivitis.
- Spray externally to cleanse acne or other skin problems.
Precautions for use/contraindications
- None known
Cosmetic
- Regulates sebum secretion
- Cleansing
- Acne, herpes, minor burns, boils, warts
Cooking
- This hydrosol can be used to give a light Provencal touch to your vegetable dishes (tian, ratatouille...), sauces or gazpachos.
Interior use
- Sprayed on, this hydrosol helps to purify a room in the event of an infectious epidemic.
Additional information
Habitat and botanical description
Vulgaris grows in dense tufts in the poor, stony, dry, sunny soils of the garrigue, and is a small, greyish, perennial sub-shrub that rarely grows more than forty centimetres tall. It is a well-known aromatic species. It has deep roots and a woody, rough, very thin stem that divides into numerous upright branches. It flowers around the summer solstice, in spring and autumn, when its small pinkish-white flowers appear. Its leaves are very small and numerous, opposite and very narrow, greyish on top and velvety and whitish underneath. Thyme vulgaris tolerates drought and summer well. The thujanol chemotype is rare and less common in nature, less robust and more susceptible to rot in cultivation than others such as Thymus vulgaris CT linalol.
Mythology / History / Anecdotes and traditional virtues
The root of its name may come from the Greek 'thymos', 'thumon' meaning 'smoke' or 'perfume', or from 'tham', an aromatic plant used to embalm the dead. Its virtues have been known since at least the Middle Ages and it has been used in many ways. It was used to embalm the dead, to purify the atmosphere, to perfume the water in thermal baths, then as an offering to the gods, as a symbol of courage in the Middle Ages, to flavour the kitchen, especially the light dishes of the seigniorial hunts, cheeses, liqueurs, cosmetics and infusions. ... to talk to the fairies about its anti-infectious, tonic and immunostimulant properties, essential during the winter season. Thyme, nicknamed "Farigoule" by the people of Provence, leaves no one indifferent!