Once upon a thyme, the alcove of the Fairy Queen Titania in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was “a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows”. What does the herb of love and courage have to do with oily skin? Thyme is known for its purifying properties and it works as an astringent removing the oil and clearing out build-up that may lead to blocked-up pores.
Thyme
Thyme (Thymus) is part of the mint family Lamiaceae. There are many variants (more than 400) of thyme and they’re all related to economically valuable herbs such as
- Catnip
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Sage
Thyme is native to the Mediterranean region and can be cultivated in hot and sunny locations. It’s a bushy low-growing shrub. It bears aromatic grey-green leaves. In early summer, it sprouts crust
Once upon a thyme
For a very long time, it was said that wherever thyme grows wild, that location is pure – it’s where the fairies dwell – as you hear Oberon saying in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Thyme was also used to ward off evil. When you’d place thyme under your pillow, it could help drive away nightmares, or having them around windows and doors could protect against disaster or keep witchcraft out.
Thyme not only protected things and people, it could also help them feel courageous. The Ancient Greeks burnt it as incense in their template or added it to their baths to boost their bravery.
If you wanted to find your other half, you should wear it in your hair and it would make you irresistible. The herb was sacred to Venus and so it will bring you courage in love. It could also help you divine who you’re going to marry.
Already the Ancient Greeks know about the purification properties of thyme. It’s antiseptic and antibacterial. They used it to treat wounds and added it to their baths (not only for courage). The Romans spread it throughout Europe because they used it to purify their dwellings.
Content
There are over 400 subspecies of thyme, each with its own chemotype. They all look similar or identical but their chemical constituents vary. What they have in common is their aromatic compounds with the main volatile component being thymol. Other aromatic components include linalool, carvacrol, and alpha terpineol.
Thyme has a spicy and warm aroma. It can be steam-distilled into an essential oil which contains about 20-54% of thymol. Thymol is a terpene compound with strong antibacterial and antifungal qualities.
This gives thyme oil its antiseptic properties. This is why thyme oil is a popular ingredient in many commercially produced mouthwashes and toothpastes. It offs germs in your mouth and protects your teeth against plaque. Thyme oil has also antifungal qualities and is added to hand sanitisers and antifungal creams. Before antibiotics were discovered, bandages were treated with thyme oil.
Uses
Thanks to its aromatic components, it has found many uses, from culinary to medicinal and ornamental. Its health benefits have been recognised not only in the Mediterranean area but also in Traditional Chinese Medicine http://chinesenutrition.org/view_image.asp?pid=805 for thousands of years. It’s recognised as the strongest antioxidant and has antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties.
You can use fresh or dried thyme to flavour a wide range of foods, such as poultry, fish, eggs, meats, sauces, soups, cheeses, and veggies. It retains its aroma better on drying than many other herbs such as coriander.
Already Hildegard of Bingen knew and raved about thyme’s benefits in treating coughs and colds.
What can thyme do for you
Other bioactive ingredients present in thyme are flavonoids and tannins. When combined with its natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, thyme serves as an effective natural astringent skin cleanser. It mops up excess oils and even kills off the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes that cause zits.
According to the researchers of the Leeds Metropolitan University it’s more effective in offing the acne bacteria than standard chemicals. What’s even more interesting: It’s more effective but without the irritating side effects.
Also present in thyme or other bioactive such as flavonoids and tannins. It also contains vitamin C, ideal if you also want to lift the pesky aftermath of spots.
How can you sneak thyme into your daily routine
Let’s first take a look at what the researchers used for their study. They made a tincture of thyme. In other words, they stepped thyme in alcohol for days or weeks.
In my humble opinion, applying a tincture – remember it’s the herb steeped in alcohol – is too strong. Still, not all is lost and there are other ways.
One is to prepare a thyme infusion and use it as a toner. For this infusion, you bring 250ml of water to boil and pour it over 2 teaspoons of thyme leaves. Let it steep for ten minutes and strain the liquid. Let it cool down. Now use this infusion after your cleansing as a toner.
You can create your own thyme-witch-hazel essence. Pour 20 ml of witch-hazel into a bottle and add 2 teaspoons of thyme leaves. Close the bottle and shake well. If you’re impatient, you can use your toner after 30 minutes. It’s better to let it steep for a few days. When you store your essence in a cool and dark place, it will keep for up to a month. If you prefer, you instead of witch hazel, you can use aloe vera.
If you don’t have thyme leaves at hand, you can also substitute them with thyme essential oil.
Probably the quickest way is to add a few drops to a carrier oil. Best is to use a non-comedogenic oil such as
To avoid jamming up your pores.
You can use thyme to steam your face. For this, if you have a steaming machine, add 1-2 drops of thyme essential oil. Otherwise, you need a heat-resistant boil and a thick towel to place over your head to keep the steam in. Bring water to boil and place it into the heat-resistant bowl. Add 1-2 drops of thyme oil.
Bottom line
Thyme is great not only as a condiment or to control shine. You can also use it to make a “charm against creepy crawlies”. Instead of using conventional mosquito sprays, make your own insect repellent. For this, you need a carrier liquid, something like witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera water. Pour it into a spray bottle and add a few drops of thyme essential oil.
