The essential oil of thyme is derived from the thyme plant, botanically known as Thymus vulgaris, specifically from the fresh leaves and flowers through a process of steam distillation. This perennial herb is a member of the mint family, commonly used in cooking, potpourri, mouthwashes and aromatherapy.

The plant can actually withstand extreme temperatures, ranging from droughts to deep freezes. The herb has a lot of health benefits, particularly its antibacterial nature, which is what it is most famous for.

Not only that, it is also one of the most potent antioxidants as it supports a whole range of bodily systems and processes in the body, thus enhancing the health of your body. The benefits of thyme have been recorded since centuries ago.

In fact, the oldest Egyptian medical text, called Ebers Papyrus, has recorded the healing values of thyme, and this dates back to 1550 B.C. The ancient Greeks used thyme in the baths and temples as it was believed to bring about feelings of bravery and valiancy.

Read on to find out more about thyme essential oil and its wonderful benefits!

Health Benefits of Thyme Essential Oil:

1. Helps to Eradicate Bacteria and Infections

As alluded to earlier, one of the most popular uses of thyme oil is its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which makes it a potent disinfectant agent. Chemical constituents like caryophyllene and camphene as well as thymol present in the oil give this oil its antiseptic functions. As such, it is able to get rid of and inhibit bacteria internally in your intestines, genitals or urethra and externally on your skin when you incur wounds or cuts.

A 2011 research study carried out by researchers from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland found that the oil from the thyme plant exhibited strong activity against the clinical bacterial strains that were obtained from patients who had infections of the oral cavity, respiratory and genitourinary tracts. Thyme oil has also demonstrated good efficacy against the bacterial strains which were antibiotic-resistant as well, further attesting to its strong antimicrobial agent.

As such, you can always include thyme oil in your first aid kit whenever you need to heal cuts and wounds and even use the oil to cleanse your body and internal systems of bacteria.

2. Potent Antifungal Agent

Since it exhibits strong antibacterial activity, it is also a good agent to rid yourself from any fungal infections. For example, a 2015 research study published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology found that thyme oil has demonstrated strong inhibitory activity against the candida bacterial strains, which causes yeast infections in various parts of your body, such as your intestinal tracts, mouth and genital area.

As such, this shows how thyme oil can also help alleviate conditions of candidiasis.

3. Provides Respiratory Relief

Not only that, thyme oil is also a great expectorant, meaning it offers relief from respiratory ailments and congestion in your nasal passageways. It is able to clear up excess phlegm and mucus that is lodged in your respiratory passageways, thus alleviating the common cold or cough.

Additionally, its antibacterial properties are useful for helping to cure infections that cause such respiratory ailments in the first place, and its anti-spasmodic properties help to offer pain relief and comfort from intense coughing spells.

4. Promotes Skin Health

Thyme oil is also great for getting rid of bacteria on your skin and face. As such, it is able to alleviate skin conditions such as eczema or even acne as it cleanses your skin and inhibits the growth of bacteria and inflammation. Furthermore, it has anti-oxidant compounds, making it perfect to fight off free radical damage and prevent the onset of premature ageing. Thus, it keeps your skin radiant, glowing and healthy always!

Additionally, another major property of thyme oil is its ability to facilitate a speedy and fast recovery of scars brought about by wounds, cuts or even acne marks. It is able to help make such dark marks, pox and acne or wound scars disappear due to its cicatrisant abilities.

5. Promotes Circulation

Additionally, thyme oil is a stimulant, which means it facilitates circulation to the vital parts of the body, thus allowing for the smooth functioning of the various organs and bodily processes.

Improved circulation helps to prevent a host of problems, ranging from arthritis, rheumatism and gout, to even stroke! Since it is also a tonic, it helps to tone up and fortifies your circulatory system, digestive system, nervous system, heart, muscles and skin, thus boosting immunity levels.

6. Supports Emotional Health

Thyme oil is also a great therapeutic agent to boost your emotional health and to alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety. It relaxes the body and the mind, thus promoting tranquility and calmness instead which is very important because this ensures the physical health of your body too as it decreases the risks of high blood pressure, insomnia, panic attacks and even digestion problems.

As such, if you are feeling tired or stressed after a long and exhausting day, try using thyme oil to ease the stress and anxiety and to promote emotional rejuvenation! In fact, a 2015 research study published in Behavioural Brain Research notes how the thymol compound found in thyme oil exhibited strong antidepressant-like effects in the mice which were being tested and prevented proinflammatory cytokines during the study. This hence potentially opens up new therapeutic avenues in treating depression.

7. Facilitates Hormonal Balance

Also, thyme oil is a great natural hormonal balancer as it exhibits progesterone balancing effects, which makes it a much safer and viable option than prescription drugs or synthetic treatments like hormonal replacement therapy. The hormone progesterone is important because it promotes fertility in women and proper menstrual cycles.

A 1998 study published in the Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that thyme oil was one of the six highest oils to have exhibited progesterone and estradiol binding. In this way, it also helps to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells. Therefore, this attests to its abilities to naturally balance hormones in our body.

As such, it helps to delay menopausal symptoms and regulates menstrual cycles, proving to be a great agent for women who suffer from irregular or obstructed menstrual cycles. It can also relieve other symptoms commonly associated with the time of the month, such as mood swings, hot flashes and insomnia.

Not only that, it also serves as a good natural fibroid treatment for women who have excessively heavy periods due to fibroids, which are brought about by high levels of estrogen but low levels of progesterone. Since thyme oil helps to increase and regulate progesterone levels, it helps to manage fibroids as well.

8. As an Insect Repellent

Furthermore, thyme oil is a potent insecticide. Because of its antimicrobial features, it can effectively kill off unwanted and pesky insects, creepy crawlies, pests and parasites that can potentially invade your body or even your households. Thus, you can use thyme oil to repel such mosquitoes, fleas, lice, bed bugs or moths before they cause problems on your household environment or on your body.

Other Benefits:

Besides these 8 benefits of thyme oil, the oil is also great for boosting teeth health due to its antibacterial nature, promotes detoxification since it has diuretic properties, prevents the formation and buildup of excess gas in your stomach and intestines as well as serves as a memory booster to your mind.

How to Use Thyme Essential Oil?

Now that you have read about the wonderful and amazing benefits of thyme essential oil that is all-encompassing to the health of your body, read on further to find out how you can utilize thyme essential oil in your everyday life to reap its benefits and effects.

• You can apply 2 drops of the oil topically onto your skin to heal wounds or cuts or to manage skin conditions like acne or eczema. Simply dilute the oil with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply onto the affected areas. If you suffer from menstrual cramps, you can also gently massage onto your abdominal area.

• To relieve yourself from respiratory ailments, promote circulation and to destress, you can diffuse 2-3 drops of the oil in a diffuser or vaporizer and inhale the aromatic wafts.

• Alternatively, you can also create a steam inhalation by adding 2 drops of the oil into a bowl of hot water and inhale the vapors emanating out.

• You can also add about 5-6 drops of the oil in warm, bathing water to soak away the stress or tension, or add the same amount to a warm foot bath to get rid of fungal infections on your feet.

Safety Precautions:

• When applying it topically onto your skin, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil first and perform a skin patch test to ensure no sensitive or allergic reactions crops up.

• If you are pregnant, it is wise to avoid thyme oil since it induces menstruation.

• Do not ingest thyme oil on your own.

• If you have pre-existing medical conditions and are under the prescription of drugs, such as high blood pressure or a bleeding disorder, it is always wise to consult your doctor first and seek for his/her professional medical advice before using thyme oil as a form of treatment.

• Also, if you are due to undergo a surgical operation, do not use thyme oil 2 weeks prior to the surgery date since it increases the risks of bleeding when used in large amounts.

References:

Sienkiewicz M, et al., “Antibacterial activity of thyme and lavender essential oils”, PubMed (2011); 7(6)

Piotr Szweda, et al., “Essential Oils, Silver Nanoparticles and Propolis as Alternative Agents Against Fluconazole Resistant Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida krusei Clinical Isolates”, Indian Journal of Microbiology (2015); 55(2)

Xye-Yang Deng, et al., “Thymol produces an antidepressant-like effect in a chronic unpredictable mild stress model of depression in mice”, Behavioural Brain Research (2015)

Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M, “Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs and spices”, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (1998); 217(3)