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From the soil through the still to the scents (an article in Hungarian language) Read Post »
Be among the first to discover our Thymus vulgaris thymol chemotype essential oil, distilled from our very first cultivated plant: garden thyme.
Native to the Mediterranean region, thyme (Thymus), a perennial subshrub belonging to the mint family, has many varieties. Today, garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) can be found in almost every garden. In earlier times, it was also known as balm herb, dermutka or incense herb.
Its characteristic sweet scent and dense clusters of small white to pale violet-pink flowers attract bees from afar. Thanks to its aromatic, spicy, intense fragrance and numerous beneficial properties, it has long been a valued medicinal and culinary plant.
It was introduced to Hungary through the Romans, who primarily used it to season wines, liqueurs and cheeses.
Its oil was already known in antiquity; the Egyptians used it for embalming because of its strong scent and excellent antiseptic properties.
Among the Greeks, thyme symbolised courage and bravery. The Greek word thymon means courage. Perhaps this is why women embroidered it onto the garments of warriors preparing for battle. Victors were sprinkled with thyme as a symbol of their bravery.
In Europe, during major plague epidemics, thyme was used as a disinfectant. In the beak-like part of the so-called plague masks, a piece of fabric infused with thyme and other aromatic plants was placed.
“The nose is half a foot long, shaped like a beak, filled with perfumes, with only two small openings near the nostrils, sufficient for breathing and for conveying the vapours of the herbs contained at the lower part of the beak with the inhaled air,” wrote French plague doctor Charles de Lorme in 1619.
At that time, besides consuming the plant as much as possible, it was also used for fumigation and rubbing onto the body.
During the First World War, thyme was used to treat soldiers’ wounds.
For centuries it was applied in the treatment of various respiratory ailments, against intestinal parasites, and to stimulate digestion. In the past, meat was wrapped in thyme to protect it from spoilage.
American herbalist Matthew Wood describes thyme as a remedy that counterbalances cold and constrictive conditions with fire and energy. As such, it is excellent for coughs, colds and even whooping cough. It effectively loosens mucus, works its way through congestion, and induces sweating, thereby supporting detoxification processes.
Thyme essential oil supports the respiratory, nervous, digestive and circulatory systems.
Perhaps it is not only the nectar of thyme that attracts bees. Among beekeepers, the use of natural plant-based essential oil preparations is becoming increasingly widespread as a biological alternative to synthetic antibiotics used against mites. One of the most important components of these preparations is thymol, an excellent disinfectant compound.
The garden thyme thymol essential oil that we cultivate and distil contains this active ingredient at an average concentration of 25–30 percent, and in some years nearly 40 percent.
Thymol was discovered in 1719 by Caspar Neumann, a chemist of Polish origin.
From both a quantitative and functional perspective, thymol is the most important compound found in thyme. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi and intestinal parasites. In medicine, it is still used independently today as a highly effective disinfectant. Its scent is distinctive, fiery and sharp.
Another important compound among its active constituents is carvacrol, which also has disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. Thanks to these two substances, the long-proven antiseptic effect has earned garden thyme thymol chemotype essential oil the title “master of disinfection.”
Numerous studies have examined the properties of essential oils against pathogens causing respiratory illnesses. Several scientific studies have confirmed the disinfectant, mucolytic and expectorant effects of garden thyme essential oil. Due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties, it can be successfully used as a complementary treatment for various viral and influenza-like illnesses. It may help in the prevention of colds and flu, support defence mechanisms, and accelerate the recovery of a weakened immune system.
During periods of coughing and colds, in cases of throat and tracheal inflammation, unpleasant symptoms can be alleviated by sipping thyme tea or adding its oil to a diffuser.
Its essential oil can also be used in mouth rinses, inhalation preparations, massage and bath oils, as well as liniments, for the treatment of oral and respiratory inflammations and rheumatic pain.
It can be added to mop water; through diffusion it helps purify indoor air. It may also be used in diffusers or aroma lamps blended with other antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory essential oils that have pleasant scents and improve overall well-being, such as lavender, lemon, eucalyptus or niaouli.
Attention!
It is very important to use only full-value, tested essential oils from reliable sources.
Thyme essential oil containing thymol and carvacrol may irritate both the skin and mucous membranes; therefore, it should always be used diluted in a carrier oil. For external use, the recommended concentration should not exceed 1 percent.
Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and for children under six years of age.
When using essential oils, caution is always required, as certain components may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. For guidance on the use of essential oils, consult your physician or a qualified aromatherapist.
Tip:
The following blend may help protect against airborne pathogens:
Fill a 30 ml spray bottle with aromatic water (for example lemon balm or lavender hydrosol), then add 2 drops each of the following essential oils: Thyme thymol, Lemon, Peppermint, Niaouli, Eucalyptus radiata. Add a few drops of an emulsifier (soy lecithin or glycerine). The disinfectant effect can be enhanced by mixing the aromatic water and essential oils with alcohol. Shake well before use and spray into the surrounding air.
Do not use this blend in the presence of small children.
Sources:
Aromatika Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 1, Budapest, 2018
Péter Babulka: The Medicinal Plant Heritage of the Carpathian Basin, Budapest, 2015
Gudrun and Peter Germann: Plants of Aromatherapy, Stuttgart, 2012
Dr Györgyi Horváth: The Use of Essential Oils in Respiratory Diseases, Farmakognóziai Hírek, Vol. III, No. 7, Pécs, 2018
Judit Lechner: Spices and Medicinal Plants in Hungarian Organic Gardens, Budaörs, 2013
Gábor Rácz, Kotilla Erzsébet Rácz, László Gy. Szabó: Knowledge of Medicinal Plants, Budapest, 2012
Garden Thyme, the Master of Purification Read Post »