Thyme in Healing and Aromatherapy

Thyme has a definite role in aromatherapy. Its scientific name is Thymus vulgaris and is steam distilled. It is 100% pure organic essential oil. It is reddish brown in color and it has a slightly oily and medium consistency. The active ingredients of thyme are thymol, carvacrol, terpinene, cymene, bornel, and linalool. Thyme was used in early civilizations and both Dioscorides and Hippocrates described how thyme was used. Thyme is distilled twice to remove any substances that can be an irritant.

The first strength of the aroma is medium to strong. Thyme is used in several ways for medicinal purposes. It is known to help arthritis, cuts, flu, insect boys, lice, oily skin, poor circulation, dermatitis, colds, and sore throats. There are many uses for this popular essential oil. The only safety concerns are that it not be used in patients that suffer from hypertension. It also can be an irritant to the skin and mucous membrane. Thyme is from the same family as sage and is a strong stimulant. As with all oils, the thyme oil is potent. Use only as directed for maximum benefit.

Thyme can be used as a stimulant to the circulation and raise low blood pressure. Thyme is also good for those who are feeling drowsy, depressed, or fatigued. It’s an appetite stimulant and is good for those that have been seriously ill. Thyme is also known to stimulate the brain and improve memory.

There are some wonderful benefits to using thyme. Diluted in oil it is wonderful for a massage. Massage those parts that you can reach, or have someone else massage any affected area. It will help relieve sore muscles and minor pains of arthritis.

If you add six to eight drops in your bathwater and soak for at least 10 minutes, you will sleep better that night. You can use thyme as a steam inhalant by placing two drops of oil in a steaming bowl of water, draping your head with a towel and taking deep breaths. Using one drop while cooking can help digest your food more efficiently.

Thyme is a strong antiseptic and is often used for disinfecting hands before surgery. It is helpful in gastric infections. Thyme is effective for treating all forms of infection. It’s especially effective against mouth and throat infections, colds, coughs, and sore throats. It can be used as an inhalant, mouthwash, or gargle. Thyme is also good for mouth and gum infections.

There are so many uses for this essential oil, thyme is used in cooking and aids digestion. It’s also good for urinary tract antiseptic, and for use in treating infections in the bladder and urinary tract.

Thyme is used also to ward off infections. By stimulating the production of white corpuscles, it increases the body’s resistance to any organisms that are trying to attack from the outside.

As well as the other benefits that thyme has, it can also be used in hot compresses to relieve pain and joint pain related to rheumatism. Used in hair rinses, it can also be used for sores and wounds. In addition, because it is an antifungal it can also be safely used for athlete’s feet.

Thyme is used in over-the-counter products such as Listerine mouthwash and Vicks VapoRub. It is well-known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Thyme tea is often used for coughs from emphysema, bronchitis, and even whooping cough. Tea made from thyme is also good for colds and flu.

To make the tea you need two teaspoons of dried herb for each cup of boiling water. Let it steep for ten minutes. You may want to add sage to the tea if you have a nagging cough. Thyme was an active ingredient in the over-the-counter cough syrup called Pertussin. You can make the tea a little stronger and it’s effective in treating sore gums.

There are many uses for this essential oil and its all-natural essence makes it a wonderful addition to your essential oil collection. With the many uses of thyme, wouldn’t it be a good idea to stock up on this essential oil and seriously consider some of the cures that can be gained from it.

Scents as an Alternative Therapy

The word “scented” appears on everything from perfumes to household cleaning products. Increasingly, people are aware of the benefits that can be achieved through our sense of smell and are incorporating aromatherapy into their beauty and holistic health care regimens.

Aromatherapy is a completely natural form of therapy that promotes relaxation, relieves symptoms of certain ailments and promotes mental and physical well-being. In its practice, essential oils are inhaled, massaged into the skin or added to a hot bath. According to many aroma therapists and holistic health practitioners, the fragrances of the essential oils, which are highly concentrated plant extracts, have a soothing effect on the brain’s limbic system, the part of your mind involved in memory, emotion and control of hormones. Many experts believe that aromatherapy relaxes the muscles and quiets the brain when applied correctly.

Aromatherapy, though, is not a new concept. Ancient civilizations used plant extracts and fragrances for anointment in religious ceremonies, as healing ointments, and to boost the overall mood of citizens. We have plenty of archaeological data regarding Egyptian culture, which used resins and plant extracts in their ceremonies and medical practices. Western medicine, however, discarded the evident health benefits during the 1800’s, which generally rejected holistic medical practices in favor of their newer scientific discoveries.

Then, in 1928, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, applied lavender oil to a burn on his hand, easing his pain and minimizing the scar. This led him to continue to research this lost art of healing, and he soon coined the word “aromatherapy,” citing the many positive benefits that aromatic oils had on the human body.

What makes aromatherapy make sense as an alternative treatment? While it is rarely thought of as a cure or used as the sole treatment for any ailment, aromatherapy achieves positive health benefits for the body on both the physical and mental levels. The fragrance is carried to the brain through the body's sensory receptors. The brain, in turn, reacts to the fragrance. When the fragrance hits the brain, the effects can be calming, invigorating, relaxing or stimulating depending upon the fragrance used. The oils can also be carried into the body through the skin via massage or submersion in a bath, carrying the healthful properties into the body through the pores. Each essential oil, highly concentrated and carefully produced for purity, either calms or stimulates the skin when applied.

The right fragrances can trigger an emotional reaction, called the “nose-brain connection.” According to scientists, olfactory nerves that connect to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland pick up odor molecules as they travel through the nose. Our limbic system creates a response to the smell, either in the form of a thought or a memory. This causes a response in our thought processes and mood, thus releasing into the body the chemicals that soothe and relax, or that invigorate and stimulate us.

This response is the reason holistic practitioners have been adding aromatherapy to their health care regimes, as have massage therapists and other health professionals. Combining the positive benefits of touch with the enhancement of essential oils and aromatherapy, massage therapists have been very successful in providing their clients with the release of tension inside the muscle tissues and the calming of the mind at the same time. Clients report that aromatherapy added to their massage sessions go deeper and last longer than without the addition of aromatherapy.

If you are interested in aromatherapy, some of these tips might help. Pour a few drops of essential oils into the palm of your hand, and then deeply inhale the fragrance. You could also pour 10-20 drops of an essential oil into hot bathwater before soaking. Infusers, oil warmers and diffusers are also effective tools in dispensing the aromas of essential oils. Remember, these oils are highly concentrated, and a few might be toxic, so never ingest an essential oil. Also, because of the high concentration—a few drops of an essential can contain the extract of an entire plant—it’s also important to dilute the oil in a carrier-oil before applying it directly to the skin. When used alone, aromatherapy is a powerful tool to promote wellness and healing. See how it can change your sense of well being.