Thyme: benefits and harms for women, men and children, photos, reviews

The benefits and harms of thyme are of interest to everyone who trusts traditional medicine - this plant is found very often in medicinal recipes. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with all the properties of thyme in order to determine what effect it has on the body.

What does thyme look like and where does it grow?

Thyme, also called thyme, is a plant from the genus Lamiaceae growing up to 40 cm in height. The photo of the thyme plant shows that the stems of the grass are recumbent or slightly rising up. Thyme can have both oblong and rounded leaves, it usually blooms with bright pink or purple flowers, collected in inflorescences.

Thyme is a plant that grows everywhere in the middle lane. It is found in the steppes and on forest edges, on sandy and clay soils, on rocky slopes and in humid ravines throughout Eurasia.

The chemical composition of thyme

The health benefits and harms of thyme are the result of the rich chemical composition of this plant. The medicinal herb contains:

  • flavonoids;
  • vitamins B - from B1 to B9;
  • vitamins A, C and K;
  • vitamin PP;
  • barium and selenium;
  • copper and zinc;
  • iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium;
  • manganese;
  • tannins and essential oils;
  • organic acids and bitterness.

The benefits of thyme for the human body are also due to the presence of thymol, a natural antiseptic with a powerful effect.

Why thyme is useful for the body

The healing properties of thyme have a complex effect on the entire body with proper use. In particular, this plant:

  • eliminates the symptoms of anemia, tones, improves the state of the nervous system and normalizes sleep;
  • helps with inflammatory processes in the body - fights against symptoms of cystitis and prostatitis, has an antiseptic effect, allows you to quickly get rid of a cold;
  • has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, not only helps to maintain youth, but also benefits in the treatment of fungal diseases and dermatitis, accelerates the healing of injuries;
  • has a good effect in the fight against parasites, helps to cope with constipation and generally normalizes intestinal activity;
  • regulates hormonal levels and has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system;
  • helps to get rid of bad habits - cravings for alcohol and smoking;
  • strengthens the defenses of the immune system and helps to get rid of a lingering cough;
  • relieves pain in muscles and joints.

The benefits of thyme herb are used for the prevention of oncology - the plant protects the body from the appearance of malignant tumors.

For women

The benefits of thyme for the female body is that the plant relieves unpleasant symptoms during menstruation and reduces pain. Reception of thyme allows you to align the hormonal background and improve mood, medications based on the plant relieve inflammation in case of diseases of the genitourinary system.

In addition, the benefits and harms of thyme for women are widely used in cosmetology. On the basis of the plant, they make homemade masks and lotions for washing, rinse hair with thyme and treat dandruff.

For men

The benefits and harms of thyme for men are the beneficial effects of the plant on potency and reproductive capacity. Thyme improves libido and semen quality, prevents the development of prostatitis. The healing properties of thyme for men are also manifested with an existing disease - plant-based drinks help relieve pain and burning during exacerbations of the disease.

For children

The healing properties of thyme for children under 3 years of age are best manifested when adding herbal decoctions to the baths. The benefit of the plant is that the thyme relieves irritation and diaper rash on the skin, has a calming effect on the child and normalizes sleep.

After 3 years, thyme can be offered to a child for internal use, after making sure that the baby is not allergic. The benefits will be from inhalation of a decoction of the plant when coughing.

Attention! Since thyme has a number of strict contraindications and can cause serious harm, you should consult a pediatrician before using it for the first time.

Is thyme possible during pregnancy

The health benefits and harms of thyme are not so straightforward. During the period of bearing a child, it is recommended to completely stop using funds based on it. The fact is that thyme increases the tone of the uterus, and muscle contractions can lead to bleeding and miscarriage. To avoid harm, it is better to replace thyme with safer medicinal herbs until childbirth.

The benefits and harms of thyme when breastfeeding

But during lactation, thyme can be of great benefit. It helps a woman's reproductive organs return to a healthy state more quickly, promotes increased milk production and protects against postpartum bleeding.

The benefits of thyme for weight loss

Thyme does not have a pronounced dietary effect, it does not have a fat-burning effect. However, when losing weight, it will still benefit, not harm - the plant stimulates digestive processes and speeds up metabolism.

Therefore, with a healthy diet and physical activity, the beneficial properties of thyme will have an auxiliary effect. It will help to quickly remove toxins, toxins and excess fluids from the body.

Traditional medicine recipes based on thyme

The medicinal properties of thyme are widely used in homemade recipes. In small doses, this plant is not harmful, but it helps to cope with the symptoms of numerous ailments or alleviate the course of chronic diseases.

Cough and bronchitis syrup

The beneficial properties of thyme are of great benefit for bronchitis and prolonged cough. For treatment, you need to prepare a healthy syrup. They do it like this:

  • a fresh bunch of thyme is thoroughly washed and chopped;
  • raw materials are poured with 500 ml of water and put on low heat, and then they wait until the water has half evaporated;
  • the finished broth is cooled and filtered;
  • then add to it 300 g of liquid honey and juice obtained from 50 g of garlic.

Useful syrup is thoroughly mixed and consumed twice a day for a teaspoon. You need to store the product in the refrigerator, and it retains its useful properties for up to six months.

Infusion from pressure

Infusion of thyme in water helps to dilate blood vessels, relieve spasms and lower blood pressure.It is very simple to prepare a useful remedy - a couple of teaspoons of the plant must be brewed, like ordinary tea, and insisted for about a quarter of an hour.

Recommended reading:  Mint tea: useful properties and contraindications, how to make

Take the infusion twice a day, half a glass, in total, you need to continue treatment for 3 days. But if the pressure is lowered, then the benefits of a decoction of thyme will appear with a two-week daily intake of the drug, but you need to drink it three times a day, just a large spoon at a time.

Infusion from alcoholism

With excessive alcohol cravings, ordinary thyme can be beneficial. The substance thymol in its composition is responsible, among other things, for aversion to alcohol - if you regularly take the drug, then the use of alcohol will only cause nausea and vomiting.

A healthy drink is prepared like this - a large spoonful of thyme is poured into 500 ml of water, boiled in a water bath for a quarter of an hour, then filtered and again added with water to the original volume. You need to take the product once a day, 3 large spoons, and it is recommended to drink thyme for a couple of weeks.

Important! The best effect of thyme will bring if the alcoholic himself makes the decision to fight the bad habit - a conscious intention will enhance the beneficial properties of the infusion.

Decoction for cystitis

The medicinal properties of thyme help with inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract. It is necessary to prepare a simple broth - pour 10 g of grass with a glass of boiling water and insist in a closed thermos for a couple of hours. The filtered drink is taken several times a day, 3 large spoons - the remedy quickly relieves inflammation and pain.

Prescription for prostatitis

The beneficial thyme helps men with prostate inflammation. For treatment, you need to pour a large spoonful of thyme with a glass of hot water, insist under the lid for an hour and drink 3 large spoons three times a day. In total, therapy lasts a month, and every day you need to prepare a new portion of the drug.

Enema with thyme for pinworms

To quickly remove parasites from the intestines and restore microflora, you can prepare the following anthelmintic:

  • 2 large tablespoons of thyme pour a glass of boiling water and leave for about half an hour;
  • then the infusion is cooled to a temperature of about 35 ° C, collected in a syringe and injected into the rectum.

Before emptying the bowels, it is recommended to hold the beneficial enema for about 20 minutes. The procedure must be repeated daily for a week, then the medicinal thyme enema will be beneficial.

Pressure normalizing agent

In order to reduce high blood pressure, you can prepare an infusion of thyme - pour boiling water over 1 large spoonful of dry raw materials and insist for 3 hours. The strained ready-made drink is drunk three times a day for several sips.

For migraines and sleep disturbances

The benefits of thyme for sleep and the nervous system are manifested when using the usual infusion - 15 g of dry grass should be brewed in 200 ml of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. The filtered product is drunk twice a day, 2 large spoons.

Advice! To improve sleep, you can additionally put a cloth bag filled with dry thyme under the pillow - the aroma of the plant has a calming effect.

To increase potency

For problems with libido, thyme helps well - 15 g of a dry plant should be poured with 100 ml of boiling water and insisted for about an hour. A filtered healthy drink is drunk three times a day, only 20 ml, and therapy should be continued no longer than 3 weeks in a row.

Collecting herbs for dysbiosis

With intestinal dysbiosis and associated indigestion, it is useful to take a medicinal collection of several herbs.

  • 4 parts of Icelandic cetraria are mixed with 2 parts of marsh rosemary;
  • add to the mixture 1 part each of thyme, eucalyptus and ordinary anise;
  • collection in the amount of 1 large spoon is poured with a glass of boiling water;
  • within 20 minutes, the product is kept in a water bath.

Then the useful collection is insisted for another 40 minutes, filtered and added with water to the original volume. You need to drink herbs shortly before eating, half a glass.

Anti-smoking thyme

The medicinal properties of thyme even help to get rid of the addiction to smoking. To quickly quit the addiction, it is recommended to take a tea with the addition of thyme essential oil in the amount of 1 drop. You can also put a teaspoon of honey in the drink.

Advice! Heavy smokers can try to start by switching to cigarettes with dried thyme - smoking this plant brings more benefits than harm.

Infusion for gastritis

The benefits of thyme for the human body are manifested in the fact that the plant helps to eliminate the symptoms of gastritis. To prepare a healing infusion, 10 g of herbs are poured with a glass of boiling water and wait 40 minutes, and then the product is filtered. You need to drink it three times a day, the dosage is 1 large spoon.

Compress for joint pain

For arthritis and bruises, it is recommended for external use alcohol tincture of thyme - 30 g of the plant is poured with 150 ml of vodka and infused for a week. The filtered agent is rubbed into the affected areas several times a day, or gauze bandages soaked in tincture are applied and kept for half an hour.

Soothing baths

To relax and eliminate stress, you can add thyme infusion to a filled bath - to prepare 200 g of dry raw materials, pour 2 liters of boiling water and leave for a couple of hours. You need to lie in a fragrant bath for a quarter of an hour; it is best to repeat the procedure every other day.

Thyme essential oil: properties and uses

Thyme essential oil, available over the counter, is beneficial for both topical and internal use. It has antiseptic, sedative, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The use of thyme oil affects the following ailments:

  • cystitis and prostatitis;
  • painful periods;
  • intoxication and food poisoning;
  • metabolic disorders;
  • ailments of the respiratory organs.

In addition, the oil is used to lubricate burns, cuts and skin irritations. When rubbed with a small amount of oil, it effectively soothes and relieves headaches.

The use of thyme in cosmetology

The healing properties of thyme are used for face and hair care. Homemade beauty recipes allow you to prolong youth and eliminate minor defects in appearance.

For facial skin

A healthy mask can be prepared to help soften dry, irritated skin. A large spoonful of dry thyme is stirred in 100 ml of olive oil, insisted in a glass container under a lid for exactly one day, and then the mixture is evaporated for 3 hours in a water bath.

The finished product is filtered through gauze and the skin is treated daily with it in the morning, leaving the oil on the face for a quarter of an hour.

For the health and beauty of hair

A decoction of thyme will help stop hair loss. Dry grass in the amount of 4 large spoons is boiled in 400 ml of water for 10 minutes, then filtered. After each wash, the curls need to be rinsed with a healing agent.

Thyme in cooking

In addition to the medicinal and even magical properties of thyme, its culinary benefits are known. The plant, dry and fresh, is used as a seasoning.

Thyme goes well with vegetable and meat dishes. It is especially useful to use it as an additive to fatty foods, in this case thyme will speed up its digestion. In meat soups and broths, the plant not only improves the taste, but also prolongs the shelf life of the product - the soup stays completely fresh for 3 days longer.

Daily intake of thyme

The benefits and contraindications of thyme depend on the amount consumed. During the day, you can consume no more than 1 large spoonful of dry herb - that is, from 2 to 4 glasses of decoctions and infusions based on the plant.

Thyme harm and side effects

The beneficial thyme can be harmful if used incorrectly.The plant cannot be used for medicinal purposes for more than 2 weeks in a row, and after this period, thyme must be abandoned for 2 months. The properties of the plant accumulate in the body, if you use thyme for too long, it will have a bad effect on the nervous system and restful sleep.

A single overdose of the plant can lead to nausea. Thyme should not be overused because it can harm blood vessels and the brain - in excess quantities of thyme increases blood pressure.

Contraindications

In some cases, thyme cannot be consumed even in small doses, otherwise it will be harmful. Contraindications will be:

  • allergy;
  • suffered a heart attack;
  • severe ailments of the kidneys and liver;
  • diseases of the thyroid gland.

Thyme should not be consumed during pregnancy, the harm is that the risk of miscarriage is too high.

Collection, preparation and storage of thyme

It is customary to collect thyme during its flowering period - from late June to early August.

  1. It is important to choose an environmentally friendly area for collecting medicinal herbs.
  2. Thyme shoots are carefully cut with scissors, and the raw materials are placed in a bag or basket so that the leaves and stems are not crumpled.
  3. It is best to harvest thyme early in the morning in dry and warm weather.

For long-term storage, it is customary to dry thyme. Drying is carried out in the traditional way - first the grass is sorted out, and then laid out in a thin layer on a flat surface away from the direct sun. When the grass becomes brittle and dry, it can be stored in a glass jar, paper or linen bag. In a dry and well-ventilated corner of an apartment, thyme can retain its beneficial properties for up to 2 years.

Advice! It is recommended to dry the grass only naturally - when heated in dryers or ovens, essential oils and other valuable components are destroyed in the plant.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of thyme are not the same for everyone - sometimes this plant is forbidden to use in any form. But if there are no contraindications, then you can fearlessly drink thyme drinks and add herb to food - thyme will only benefit.

Reviews

Afanasyeva Irina Vladimirovna, 34 years old, St. Petersburg
I regularly use thyme syrup for children - this plant relieves colds and helps to get rid of the temperature in a couple of days. Cough thyme is one of the best mucolytics I know, phlegm starts to drain almost immediately, and the treatment goes faster.
Istomina Anna Sergeevna, 43 years old, Tyumen
Three years ago I read that thyme is very useful for women from the point of view of cosmetology - and decided to try the plant for the face and head. Thyme for hair did not disappoint - dull curls quickly acquired shine and strength. I also heard that thyme helps from alcoholism - one of my acquaintances managed to give up alcohol, taking, among other things, thyme.

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