16 Benefits of Thyme with Nutritional Values

Thyme, scientifically named Thymus vulgaris, is a member of the Liliaceae family. It contains thymol, p-cymene, borneol, myrcene, and linalool which are the main compounds responsible for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and insecticidal properties. Additionally, there are several benefits of Thyme that you must be aware of so that you can make the most out of this medicinal plant.

Thyme has been traditionally used for its healing attributes, such as its antioxidant nature, fight against infections and anti-inflammation. Read more to learn about the health benefits of Thyme.

Team Digit

Health Benefits of Thyme
How to Use Thyme?
Nutritional Values of Thyme
Side Effects of Using Thyme
Who Should Avoid?
Frequently Asked Questions

Top 16 Health Benefits of Thyme

Thyme is rich in nutrients, giving it various therapeutic properties. The advantages of Thyme are as follows:

1. Helps Combat Acne

Thyme oil can effectively treat acne if you apply it to the affected areas daily. The main reason for this is the antibacterial properties of Thyme against the acne-causing germ, Cutibacterium acnes. However, there is not much evidence supporting the fact that Thyme oil effectively deals with pimples.

2. Treats Cough and Cold

Thyme has proven to be highly effective against cough and cold. Studies have shown that Thyme, along with ivy leaves, cured bronchitis symptoms to a significant extent. So, you can opt for a Thyme tea in case of excess cough.

3. Acts as a Disinfectant

One of the primary uses of Thyme oil is that it acts as an excellent disinfectant due to its antibacterial properties. It can effectively remove disease-causing bacteria from your home. However, it is not so effective against a very high concentration of mould in your house.

4. Boosts Mood and Spirit

One of the advantages of Thyme is that it can significantly uplift your mood when you are upset or depressed. This is because it contains a compound known as carvacrol, which stimulates the secretion of dopamine and serotonin, which are known to regulate your mood.

5. Boosts Immunity

Thyme contains several essential micronutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, manganese, and copper. These nutrients considerably aid in boosting the immunity of an individual. However, you must consume Thyme in sufficient quantities to observe noticeable results.

6. Controls Pests

One of the significant uses of Thyme leaves is that they can effectively kill tiger mosquitoes that are primarily present in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. Additionally, it has successfully fought bacteria, viruses, rats, and mice.

7. Prolongs Cooking Oil Stability

Scientists observed that Thyme significantly lengthens the stability of cooking oil. This is important since the lipid in cooking oil undergoes oxidation over time, leading to the loss of its stability, quality, safety, and nutritional value.

8. Improves Eyesight

One of the most noteworthy health benefits of Thyme is that it can help in improving the eyesight of an individual. The main reason behind this is the presence of Vitamin A, which maintains a healthy amount of mucus in the eyes. You can apply Thyme oil to your eyes in case of irritation to get relief.

9. Improves Heart Health

One of the medicinal benefits of Thyme is that it significantly reduces cholesterol in the blood. This, in turn, prevents severe blockages in your heart and safeguards you from a heart attack. So you can add Thyme leaves to your food to improve your heart health.

10. Disorders

Thyme oil has carminative properties due to the presence of essential oils. Also, it aids in anti-spasmodic movements to provide relief from muscle cramps. Moreover, it prevents the accumulation of harmful gases in the abdomen, thus helping relieve digestive disorders.

11. Treatment

reducDyspraxia is a neurological disorder that is mainly found in children. There are a lot of studies showing that Thyme effectively reduces the symptoms of Dyspraxia. However, you must consult your doctor once before using Thyme leaves for the same.

12. Treats Anaemia

One of the essential medicinal benefits of Thyme is that it is used in the treatment of anaemia. This is mainly because Thyme is rich in iron, the deficiency of which results in anaemia.

13. Antimicrobial Activity

Thyme has strong antimicrobial properties that make it useful against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Thymol is most commonly used to preserve foods and as a natural remedy.

14. Anti-inflammatory Effects

Conditions like arthritis can also be alleviated by the flavonoids’ ability to reduce and relieve by inflammation in the body.

15. Menstrual Health

The antispasmodic effect of Thyme may help relieve menstrual cramps and other symptoms associated with menstruation.

16. Anticancer Potential

Extracts from Thyme may have anticarcinogenic potential because they can promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) among cancer cells and inhibit tumour growth.

How to Use Thyme?

Below are a few ways in which you can use Thyme to maximise its benefits:

You can add Thyme leaves to food while cooking.
Apply Thyme oil topically on your skin to get rid of acne
You can use Thyme as a seasoning for your dish.
You can intake Thyme as medicine to enjoy its benefits.
Thyme tea is another concoction that you can try to get its medicinal benefits.
To keep bugs away, use Thyme oil in sprays and diffusers.
Add fresh Thyme sprigs to olive oil or vinegar for a delicious salad dressing
Place a couple of drops of Thyme essential oil into a bowl with hot water and breathe the steam to help you breathe more easily and unblock your nose.

There are several benefits of Thyme that you can enjoy if you consume it in the right proportion. However, you must keep in mind that, like all other herbs, Thyme, too, has several side effects that you must consider beforehand

What are the Nutritional Values of Thyme?

Thyme has a wide range of benefits for our health because of its nutritional value. Below is a list of the nutritional values of Thyme:

Nutrient	Value per 100 g
Total Fat	1.7 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	9 mg
Potassium	609 mg
Total Carbohydrate	24 g
Dietary Fibre	14 g
Protein	6 g
Vitamin C	160.1 mg
Iron	17.5 mg
Vitamin B6	0.3 mg
Magnesium	160 mg
Calcium	405 mg

What are the Side Effects of Using Thyme?

Although Thyme is beneficial, there are several side effects of using it. The side effects of Thyme consumption are as follows:

Allergies: Thyme might cause allergic reactions in some people. There are people whose allergy to other Lamiaceae herbs can lead to the development of allergies to Thyme.
Gastrointestinal Distress: If taken in large quantities, it can lead to stomach upset and dizziness in those people. Therefore, it is important that one should use Thyme sparingly.
Skin Irritations: There lies a possibility of skin irritations if you directly apply Thyme oil to the skin. Thyme can give rise to skin reddening, irritation and a burning sensation.
Risk of Miscarriage: It can lead to miscarriages if a pregnant woman consumes it. It is, therefore, advised that pregnant women take caution when consuming huge quantities of Thyme.
Mucus Membrane Irritation: Thyme can result in irritation in mucus membranes if you are allergic to it. Thyme can also lead to a runny nose and can often cause occasional sneezing or coughing.
Interference with Medications: Thyme can cause a hindrance to the effect of antithyroid medications. By worsening thyroid conditions, Thyme consumption might affect the efficiency of the medicines.

You can effectively avoid these side effects if you adopt specific precautionary measures.

What are the Precautions of Using Thyme?

Although having various benefits, there are several precautions that you must take to avoid the side effects of this herb. These include:

Precautions	Description
Excessive Consumption	Avoid taking Thyme in excess quantity unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Pre-Surgery	If you have surgery scheduled within two to three weeks, you must immediately stop consuming Thyme.
Allergic Reactions	If you are allergic to oregano, there is a possibility that you are allergic to Thyme as well.
Stomach Upset	Stop using Thyme if it irritates and upsets your stomach upon consumption. Consult a doctor if this happens.
Thyroid Conditions	Thyme consists of chemicals that may cause thyroid issues. Speak to your doctor first for Thyme usage.
Interactions with Medications	Some drugs may be affected by Thyme, such as blood thinners and aspirin-like medications.
Children	Thyme essential oil can be too strong and may cause irritation or allergic reactions in children.
Respiratory Conditions	Although known to aid respiratory health, the essential oil of Thyme could irritate the airways of some sensitive individuals.

Additionally, there are a few groups of people who must avoid Thyme to keep from its side effects.

Who Should Avoid Using Thyme?

Thyme is not beneficial for every group of individuals; thus, they should avoid it. The following people must not consume Thyme:

Cancer Patients: Women suffering from uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis must avoid Thyme as it may have adverse effects.
Allergic People: People allergic to Lamiaceae family plants and oregano must avoid consuming Thyme.
Pre-surgery Patients: Thyme causes excess bleeding in patients. Hence, they must avoid Thyme consumption if they have a scheduled operation to prevent excessive blood loss.
Antithyroid Medication Users: People on antithyroid medicines must avoid Thyme, as it may interfere with thyroid function.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: They should not take Thyme and seek advice from a health practitioner before using it to avoid unsafe effects during these periods.
Children: Because of its strength and potential to cause irritation or allergic reactions, young children should avoid Thyme, especially the essential oil of Thyme.
People with Gastrointestinal Disorders: If one suffers from gastric conditions such as ulcers and severe acid reflux, then this plant should be avoided.
Individuals with Hormonal Imbalances: Thyme must be used carefully by people with hormonal imbalances like PCOS due to its impact on hormone levels.
People with Asthma or Respiratory Conditions: When the person has asthma or a sensitive respiratory system, the essential oil of Thyme can irritate the airways.

Thyme is a strong plant that can be adjusted to any condition and can be applied for many things like cooking as well as health care. Now that you know the benefits of Thyme and its side effects, if you notice any of them, consult a doctor immediately. This will allow you to access expert assistance in time to avoid the severity of its side effects.

FAQs about Health Benefits of Thyme

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Can thyme be used to get relief from menstrual cramps?

Yes, there is a study showing that thyme can effectively reduce pain originating from menstrual cramps.

Does thyme lower blood pressure?

There are several pieces of evidence supporting the use of thyme oil in lowering blood pressure in animals such as rats. However, there is little evidence proving significant benefits of thyme oil in lowering blood pressure in humans.

Is thyme oil safe for children?

Yes, thyme oil is safe for children. There is no such scientific evidence to date showing any harmful effects on children. However, you should keep your children from prolonged use of thyme oil.

Can thyme oil be used to treat alopecia?

There is some evidence that supports recovery from hair loss after 7 months of treatment using thyme. You need to mix thyme oil, rosemary oil, and cedar wood oil in the correct proportion and apply it to your scalp.

Is thyme oil present in perfumes?

Thyme oil is used in perfumes as well as in cosmetics, soaps and toothpaste. Additionally, thyme oil is also used as a flavouring agent in foods.

What are the primary health benefits of Thyme?

The primary health benefits of Thyme are its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help maintain respiratory system, boost immunity and maintain a healthy heart.

Can Thyme treat respiratory problems?

Yes. Thyme contains bronchial muscle relaxants traditionally recommended for treating coughs and bronchitis.

Does it help in the digestion process?

Yes, bloating and other digestion issues can be improved by Thyme through stimulation of the digestive tract along with enhanced production of digestive enzymes to aid digestion.

How does Thyme improve immune health?

Thyme contains thymol and carvacrol chemical compounds which kill microbes that cause infections in the human body.

Are there any dangers linked to the consumption of Thyme?

Thyme in culinary amounts is generally safe. Nevertheless, overuse, especially when taken orally, may result in nausea, giddiness or allergic reactions among other certain individuals.

Is it safe to take Thyme during pregnancy?

Although Thyme is safe in culinary amounts while pregnant, it is advised that individuals should avoid high doses, particularly in the form of supplements or essential oils, due to possible side effects.

How can I add Thyme to my diet?

Fresh or dried Thyme may be used in soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and teas. It can also be added to marinades or used as seasonings on meat and fish.

Does Thyme contain any specific nutrients?

Yes, Thyme contains vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and A (retinol), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and dietary fibre, among others, which make it beneficial for human health when cooked together with other foods.

Can Thyme be used as a natural remedy for acne?

Yes, the antimicrobial attributes of Thyme make it effective in fighting bacteria that cause acne. It may also be used in skincare products or as an alternative remedy.