COMMON NAME: Thyme, Serpolet (Mother of Thyme), Wild Thyme, Creeping Thyme

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Thymus serpyllum

FAMILY NAME: Lamiaceae (Mint)

INDIGENOUS COUNTRY: Mediterranean

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Hungary, Spain, formerly Yugoslavia

HISTORY INFORMATION: An ancient herb used medicinally, ceremonially, and in cooking. The thymus gland was named after the thyme flower because their appearance was similar. In the Middle Ages, it was used for melancholy, epilepsy, nightmares, to help urination problems, strengthen the lungs, improve digestion, and for female problems. Thyme is a favorite with honey producers because the bees pollinating the flowers produce delightful honey. As a flower essence it increases or accelerates healing. It reverses damage done by time and is especially healing with the mind on time issues.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Thyme, Serpolet is one of the safer thymes to use, but all thymes need to be used with care because of toxic phenols, carvacrol, and thymol. T. praecox is almost identical to this thyme except it has a purple calyx. There is great confusion with the Thymes primarily because there are so many chemotypes: T. v. Cineole, T. v. Citral, T.v. Geraniol, T.v. Linalool, T.v. Paracymene. T.v. Thujanol, T.v. Thymol, and T. v. Borneol-carvacrol. Sweet thymes (cineol, citral, geraniol, linalool, thujanol) are considered the less dangerous while the phenolic thymes (thymol, carvacrol) are considered more dangerous. Mainly thymol and carvacrol are warming and active. Thujenol is antiviral and penetrating. Citral and linalool are sweet-scented and non-irritating. There are also other thymes under different names. Wild marjoram, Spanish marjoram, or Spanish thyme (T. mastichina) is cineol type, and it isn't marjoram, but thyme.. Corido Thyme, Spanish oregano, or oregano (T. capitatus) is a popular essential oil, but it isn't oregano. You guessed it - its thyme and its high in carvacrol so use with caution if at all. Lemon thyme (T. vulgaris) is the citral type of thyme as well as lemom thyme (T. citiodora) both are less irritating and less toxic, but the common name will not help you here. White and red thyme(T. vulgaris) are commercial oils used mainly in the food and fragrance industry, and they have synthetic enhancers to boost the aroma.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT: A mat-forming, creeping, aromatic herb grows close to the ground with oval leaves and pink and mauve flowers.

PARTS PROCESSED: Flowering tops and whole plant.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Class: Phenol. 50% thymol, up to 30% carvacrol, pinene, terpinene, linalool, borneol, geranlol.

PHYSICAL ACTIONS AND USES: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, analgesic, expectorant, cholagogue, choleretic, cicatrizant, anthelmintic, febrifuge, tonic, general stimulant. Used for acne, impetigo, abscesses, wounds, flu, coughs, asthma, muscular aches and pains, upset stomach, flatulence, edema, and depression.

MENTAL USES: I live in an abundant world. As I focus, I create my world. My thoughts are energy and it is this energy that creates my world. I am a servant for Mother Earth.

EMOTIONAL USES: Depressed, into lack, inferiority, less than, defeated, glum, down hearted, can' t seem to get it right TO feeling abundant, sense of well-being, safe, nurtured, sees the humor in the drama and able to laugh at self.

SPIRITUAL USES: Can indicate that you have been repeating some behavior patterns and the same things keep happening to you over and over. You are depressed by the lack of progress or the same old same old. You may feel that you just aren't good enough and not worthy of the good things in life. Thyme will help you move through this so you can get on with new lessons and live in an abundant world. Thyme clears negative thought forms from the energy field especially from the lower chakras and root chakra. Mother Earth energy is allowed to flow through the body. Thyme addresses energy blocks caused by erroneous beliefs. It will continue to support you doing something over and over until you clear the block or let go of it. In this way, it lightens the system and brings humor to having to do something over and over again and again until we learn it.

APPLICATIONS: Aroma lamp, bath (under proper supervision and fixed oil), compress, diffusor, food, inhaler, light bulb ring, liquid candle, massage, mist spray, salve, steam inhalation.

WARNINGS\CONTRAINDICATIONS: Toxic, avoid in pregnancy, with children and babies, possible skin irritation, avoid with high blood pressure.