botanical name(s): Thymus serphyllum, Thymus vulgaris
synonyms: mother of thyme, serphyllum; common thyme, garden thyme, echter thymian, rornischer quendel, thym, tomillo, timo
part(s) used: herb
qualities: pungent, bitter, warm, dry
affinities: stomach, lungs
actions: carminative, antiseptic, antitussive, expectorant, spasmolytic, emmenagogue, diuretic
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
» oil: 0.05 - 0.3 ml.
therapy: coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough and similar complaints both acute and chronic; digestive problems
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 1; essential oil is toxic
» contraindicated during pregnancy (Brinker, p. 99) pregnancy due to emmenagogue effect (Farnsworth)
» warning: excessive use may cause an overstimulation of the thyroid gland (Westbrooks and Preacher, p. 182)
» essential oil, thymol: dermatitic, external use in bathwater has been found to cause hyperemia and severe inflammation (Duke, pp. 483-484; Westbrooks and Preacher, p. 182); applications to oral mucosa may result in cheilitis and glossitis (Duke, pp. 483-484); systemic intoxication includes: nausea, colic, vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo, headache, and muscular weakness; severe effects include cardiorespiratory depression with decreased heart and respiratory rate, and body temperature; potentially fatal convulsions and coma occur (Duke, pp. 483-484; Westbrooks and Preacher, p. 182; von Oettingen, p. 575)
» laboratory findings include methemoglobinemia (Dreisbach, p. 432)
constituents: essential oil, the major constituent is thymol; flavonoids, labiatic acid, caffeic acid, tannins
footnotes
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Dreisbach, R.H. 1980. Handbook of Poisoning: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment, 10 ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Lange Medical Publications.
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1958. Poisoning: A Guide to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Company.
Westbrooks, R.G., Preacher, J. W. 1986. Poisonous Plants of North America. Los Angeles: University of Southern California Press.