THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 1

THYME

LATIN NAME Thymus vulgaris

FAMILY NAME Lamiaceae

SYNONYMS

COLOUR red thyme = reddish brown to amber

white thyme = pale yellow

VISCOSITY medium to watery

AROMA sweet yet strongly herbal smelling

NOTE top

COUNTRIES OF PRODUCTION

Algeria, China, Israel, Turkey, Tunisia, USA

PARTS USED fresh or partly dried flowering tops & leaves

EXTRACTION METHOD water or steam distillation

red thyme = first distillate (often called crude distillate)

white thyme = produced by further re-distillation or rectification

YIELD 0.7 – 1%

BLENDS WELL WITH

bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, Palmarosa, tea tree, lavender, rosemary, pine

MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

linalool, carvacrol, thymol, borneol, caryophyllene, terpinene, a-pinene, limonene, a-

phellandrene, a-thujene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, g-terpinolene, a-

terpinene, g-terpinene, r-cymene, b-caryophyllene, terpinene-4-ol, a-terpineol, geraniol,

b-terpineol, camphor, a-thujone, 1,8-cineole, trans-linalool oxide, cis-linalool oxide, linalyl

acetate, a-terpinyl acetate, geranyl acetate

WARNINGS & CONTRA INDICATIONS

→ Safety is not fully established

→ very potent

→ do not use during pregnancy

→ do not use in cases of high blood pressure

→ red thyme contains high amounts of toxic phenols – carvacrol & thymol – can cause

skin irritation, irritate mucous membranes, cause skin sensitisation

→ Sweet thyme (Thymus vulgaris CT linalol) is preferred for the elderly, critically ill &

children

→ when using white thyme in massage therapy – do skin patch test first to determine

persons sensitivity to oil

→ one source states this oil is one of the strongest antiseptic available & may cause toxic

reactions – this info comes from a poorly defined reference, & may refer to internal

use of the oil

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 2

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES

antibiotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-microbe, anti-rheumatic, anti-infectious, anti-

putrefactive, aperitif, aphrodisiac, balsamic, carminative, cicatrisant, diuretic,

emmenagogue, expectorant, insecticide, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge

THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS –

EMOTIONAL

→ depression

→ headaches

→ insomnia

→ nervous tension

→ stress

CIRCULATION

→ stimulates the circulation

→ raises low blood pressure

DIGESTIVE

→

GENITO-URINARY

→ cystitis

→ urethritis

→ scanty periods

→ leucorrhea

→ speed up birth

→ expel afterbirth

NERVOUS SYSTEM

→ strengthens nerves

→ aids memory & concentration

→ feeling of exhaustion

→ combats depression

RESPIRATORY

→ fortifies the lungs

→ colds

→ bronchitis

→ coughs

→ asthma

→ laryngitis

→ sinusitis

→ catarrh

→ whooping cough

→ sore throat

→ tonsillitis

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 3

SKIN

→ acne

→ abscesses

→ bruises

→ burns

→ cuts

→ dermatitis

→ eczema

→ lice – very effective – red thyme – but be cautious of the skin irritant effect

→ insect bites

→ scabies

→ oily skin

→ sores & wounds – compress

→ has been used as a solution to disinfectant hands before surgery

→ a much stronger antiseptic than those commonly used in hospitals eg. phenol,

hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate

STRUCTURAL

→ arthritis

→ rheumatism

→ gout

→ muscular aches & pains

→ sprains

→ sport injuries

OTHER

→ cellulite

→ anorexia

→ obesity

→ oedema

→ one reference states that thyme has the rare property of counteracting adrenaline

spasms – this helps balance the adrenal cortex system, where there is an

overproduction of adrenaline hormones, which can cause the kidneys & digestive

system to malfunction

→ calms spasms caused by too much acetylcholine – only other eo with this property is

melissa & sage

→ lethal to mosquito larvae

→ one of the most important actions attributed to thyme is that it stimulates the

production of white corpuscles – this strengthens the body’s immunity & the ability to

fight off disease

→ Oil of thyme is largely eliminated through the alveoli (Weiss)

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 4

CHEMOTYPES

→ at least 9 naturally occurring chemotypes

→ CHEMOTYPE: the same botanical species that has been modified or is occurring in

other forms due to conditions of growth such as soil, altitude, climate. Often referred

to as CT. chemical properties in such a plant may vary from original plant

→ EXAMPLES OF CT:

• thymol & carvacrol types – warming & active oils

• thujanol type – penetrating & antiviral oils

• alcohol & ester type – non-irritant sweet-smelling oils

→ There is a thyme eo often referred to as sweet thyme which is a chemotype of Thymus

vulgaris. there are 4 types:

• Thymus vulgaris CT linalol CT linalol

• Thymus vulgaris CT geraniol CT geraniol

• Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol CT thujanol

• Thymus vulgaris CT terpinyl acetate CT terpinyl acetate

METHODS OF APPLICATION

AEROSOL

→ one of the most effective anti-infectious agents when diffused through the

atmosphere

→ bronchitis

→ coughs

→ respiratory problems

→ sinusitis

→ mucous congestion

→ muscular pains & aches

→ Excellent pulmonary disinfectant – useful for all respiratory infections

→ inhalant for nose, throat & chest infections

→ people who are convalescing, fatigued, depressed or lethargic

→ stimulates the appetite, which is often poor after illness

→ revives & strengthens body & mind

→ Stimulates brain & memory

FOOT BATH

→ DO NOT USE IN BATHS – may irritate mucous membranes

→ In footbath in proper dilution if there is no skin irritation present

→ one reference will state it helps insomnia & is most effective when used in the bath,

the other reference will state it has a well-earned reputation as a skin irritant & should

be used on the skin with caution

BLENDED MASSAGE OIL

→ arthritis

→ bronchitis

→ colds

→ flu

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 5

→ coughs

→ gout

→ rheumatism

→ bruises

→ eczema

→ mucous congestion

→ muscular aches & pains

→ obesity

→ USE WELL DILUTED – SKIN PATCH TEST FIRST!!!

COMPRESS – diluted!

→ sores & wounds

→ hot compress for rheumatic pain

NOTES

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