Words by Dr Viv from Curiosity Research
It is nearing the time of year when we start planning our gardens, and what better moment to consider creating a herb garden. Many of the well-known Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender, grow easily in our climate and are quite forgiving towards gardeners just starting out like myself! These are all herbs I would not do without for their medicinal benefits, but I thought it topical to talk thyme today!
As many people are warding off winter sniffles, thyme is a fantastic herb to grow for your store cupboard. I grow several varieties in pots as they like good drainage. With our rainy winter climate, I find thyme does not thrive in waterlogged beds. It is also easy to grow from seed and the first leaves are quite incredible as they are so tiny yet already packed with the aromatic thyme essential oils.
Thyme is a remedy for cough, as is sage. There have been several research studies into thyme, such as this one written-up on the Herbal Reality.
Typical research studies prepare thyme as a syrup and often give it alongside a placebo (something that looks the same), and this means we can compare the effects of thyme against a blank to know if it is working. The study looked at cough symptoms in children in asthma and is one of many studies that show that thyme can relieve symptoms by reducing the frequency of coughing. Thyme contains a marvellous essential oil called thymol.
To make a simple syrup
Gather a couple of sprigs of fresh thyme. Pull the leaves off the stem and check for any bits of dirt or fluff. Take a teaspoon of sugar or honey and boil in 300 mls of water to dissolve; add the thyme and gently bubble away for a few minutes. Leave to cool and use a strainer to pour the syrup into a small jar. Take a teaspoon of thyme syrup a few times a day if you have a cough. If you keep it in the fridge, it will last a month or two.
An alternative remedy for a cough is to make a thyme tea. The advantage is you can gargle with the tea which is great for soothing sore throats.
To make a thyme tea
Take a few sprigs of thyme and put into a teapot with boiling water. Use a cosy to give the brew a good steep at a hot temperature. Enjoy the tea!
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