Whether you’re aware of it or not, you probably are already familiar with the aroma of the herb thyme. If you’ve ever attended Thanksgiving dinner, you know the smell. It’s part of a popular culinary herbal trio often used to spice up the turkey, which also includes rosemary and sage. Rarely growing over a foot high and yielding numerous gray-green stems with tiny oval leaves, this little evergreen’s official botanical name is Thymus vulgaris. You may also find it called common thyme, garden thyme, or French thyme. Receiving its name from the Greeks, it originally meant “to fumigate,” while also symbolizing courage and a source of invigoration. Even then, they knew it possessed medicinal qualities beyond its potent yet pleasant aroma.

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

The pungent and spicy aroma is due mostly to the rich concentration of essential oils found in this plant. Essential oils not only produce an aroma, they can also affect a variety of bodily functions. Aromatherapy studies the effects that essential oils have on the body. Oils are extracted from a plant source through water or steam distillation, and in the case of common thyme, they come from fresh or partially dried thyme leaves and flower tops. After distillation, the very concentrated essential oils are left, full of physiologically active compounds.

Thyme’s Non-Culinary Uses

Thyme has a long history of use for a variety of ailments, including respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pertussis; digestive problems, including diarrhea and indigestion; and, because of its antiseptic properties, fighting bacteria and fungal infections. There is some research suggesting it even has antiviral activity. It is used in many mouthwashes and toothpastes, and as a fragrance in soaps and other toiletries. Essential oil of thyme contains thymol, carvacrol, and a variety of other active compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity.

Interestingly, topical application of thyme oil in combination with essential oils of rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood seems to improve hair growth for those with the autoimmune skin condition alopecia areata. They showed a 44 percent improvement after seven months of treatment with the essential oil combo.

Take Care

While the herb thyme is very safe, you should always exercise caution when working with essential oils. In the case of essential oil of common thyme, don’t use it if you have high blood pressure, and it’s best to avoid it if you’re pregnant. It can irritate the mucous membranes and may cause skin irritation in some people. Aromatherapists recommend using it in moderation and always diluted. For example, essential oils are often diluted in carrier oils, such as sweet almond and jojoba oils, that are massaged into the skin. There are very few essential oils you can apply directly to skin undiluted.

On a final note, never swallow essential oils unless under the guidance and direction of a trained aromatherapist. Taking essential oil of thyme internally may lead to dizziness, vomiting, and breathing problems.

—Megan Witt