The whole herb is used which is humming with volatile oil, giving it its gorgeous smell. It also contains tannins
Thyme is strongly antiseptic and antibacterial; it soothes coughs and helps the lungs to cough up mucous.
Not surprising then that it is used for coughs, colds, sore throats and as a mouthwash for gum infections.
An excellent property of volatile oils is that once they hit the warmth of the stomach they start to, in effect, evaporate and fill up all the spaces in the respiratory system, disinfecting them on the way through.
The reason we add it to foods is because apart from tasting nice, it has good digestive aid actions.
Wild thyme growing on the downs is very small but you know when you are walking on it due to the heavenly smell.
Linda Bostock
Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information
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