Thyme for Natural health
Take a sprig of thyme from your garden and you can enjoy tons of therapeutic health benefits. That tasty and aromatic contains a significant amount of volatile oil called thymol which has been proven to slow down aging and increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures. In particular, the amount of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) in brain, kidney, and heart cell membranes is increased when you eat thyme.
Thyme has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any herb and is packed full of minerals like potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium.
If you’re worried about the bacteria that can occur on lettuce and other vegetables (and well you should be!), washing these vegetables in a solution of thyme can act as a decontaminant against Shigella, a diarrhea-causing organism.
Gargling with tepid thyme water or drinking few sips of thyme tea may help relieve coughs, sore throat, and bronchitis symptoms. And thyme can be used as a mouthwash to cut down on cavities and gingivitis!
Insects don’t seem to like the smell of thyme (although I really do) and planting thyme in your garden could cut down on pesky garden pests. And a great mosquito repellent is an infusion of thyme in water in a spray bottle!
If you could put thyme in a bottle, you could add some extra virgin olive oil and have yourself a great base for a Mediterranean salad dressing. The Greeks have used thyme-infused honey for generations to decrease the incidence and effects of the common cold. Thyme is a great flavor enhancer for a plain old chicken breast, and add some honey to it for a great Greek delight!
