We often hear from our grandparents or the elderly in various countries of the Middle East about the benefits of dry thyme . What are the benefits of this wild plant that is harvested by hand in one season of the year?
Thyme is a perennial woody plant that grows in some countries in Asia and Europe, and belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which also includes mint.
There are 6 different types of thyme, and it is characterized as evergreen throughout the mild winter period.
The thyme plant grows to about 30 centimeters in length, and has small, oval-shaped aromatic leaves, which sometimes have a bitter taste.
It was used in the past in the Egyptian and Greek civilizations , and it is currently used in seasoning meat, vegetables , seafood, and other dishes.
What is the nutritional value of thyme?
Thyme tea contains high levels of vitamin C , vitamin A, copper, iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorous , carvacrol, pyridoxine, and several powerful antioxidant compounds.
Now.. let's talk about the benefits of dry thyme
This type of plant offers many health benefits to the human body, and the following are the most important of these benefits :
Reducing the risk of heart disease : One study found that thyme extract reduced heart rate in mice with high blood pressure , and it also contributed to reducing their cholesterol levels.
Boosting body immunity : Thyme is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin A, so eating it may contribute to recovery from colds .
Possessing antibacterial properties: Studies conducted on various essential oils - including thyme - found that thyme oil may represent a natural preservative for food products against foodborne bacteria associated with many diseases .
Another study indicated that this type of oil was effective in combating some strains of bacteria. Such as staphylococcal bacteria, pseudomonas bacteria, and bacteriophage.
Reducing the risk of some types of cancer : One type of thyme contributes to reducing the risk of colon cancer , and in another study conducted in Turkey, it was found that wild thyme can cause the death of breast cancer cells .
Reducing the risk of fungal infection: Researchers have found that thyme essential oil may stimulate the elimination of a type of fungus in the body , called Candida albicans, which is one of the most important causes of fungal infection in the mouth and vagina , a condition called thrush.
Promoting skin health: Herbal preparations are important medicines for treating many skin problems.
A study was conducted on people with eczema- like lesions, using a cream consisting of 10% of chamomile extract, or an antifungal cream containing 3% of thyme oil, and the results were complete recovery for 66.5% of people who used thyme essential oil cream. While only 28.5% of people who used the placebo were cured, the chamomile extract had a similar effect as the placebo.
Contribute to the treatment of acne : It was found that thyme can be effective in treating acne , as it has an antibacterial effect, and is stronger than benzoyl peroxide, which is an active ingredient in skin lotions and creams that are used to treat acne.
However, the use of this substance may cause burning and irritation on the skin. Therefore, thyme may contribute to the treatment of acne with fewer side effects.
Contribute to the eradication of pests: Thyme contains thymol, which can eliminate harmful organisms. Such as: bacteria, viruses , mice, and other animal pests, and this compound is one of the ingredients used in insecticides.
One study indicated that thyme extract repels mosquitoes, by rubbing thyme leaves by hand until the oils come out of them, or by preparing a mixture of four drops of the oil of this plant, with a teaspoon of olive oil .
Mood boosting: Regular use of thyme or thyme oil may have a good effect on mood swings , because it contains carvacrol.
As one study indicated that this substance has an effect on the activity of neurons, which contributes to enhancing the feeling of satisfaction.
Helping to treat cough : Thyme oil is used as a natural remedy for coughing, and the use of a mixture of thyme leaves and ivy leaves has helped relieve coughing and other symptoms of bronchitis .
Increasing the stability of cooking oils: Fat oxidation is one of the problems that occur during the production and storage of foods , and these problems can cause foods to lose their quality, safety, and nutritional value.
However, thyme extract may be a powerful antioxidant that improves the stability of sunflower oil.
Preparing thyme tea
Thyme tea can be prepared to take advantage of all the properties of this local plant, by placing its leaves over boiling water and leaving it for several minutes before drinking it.
It is not recommended to boil it with water so as not to lose its properties and high nutritional value.
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