Thyme Flower - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

The flowers on thyme are typically lavender-colored and edible. They grow at the top of the stems in a sphere-shape with elongated verticillaster. In nature, the flowering season is from May to September. Thyme is easy to care for once it’s established, and it tolerates drought conditions. It requires minimal watering and upkeep once it’s fully grown.

Thyme produces flowers abundantly, and the blooming period is long. To eat them, use the flowers as a garnish while they’re still attached to the stem. You can also break them up and sprinkle them over a dish. Thyme flowers add a lemony flavor to dishes, and some culinary applications recommend using them to make a flavored butter. In some regions of the world, thyme flowers are used as medicine.

What is thyme?

People have known about and used thyme's benefits for more than 4,000 years. Common thyme, or Thymus Vulgaris, has been used in cooking and medicine for a long time. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used thyme for many different things. Eventually, this use spread to the Roman Empire and other places. The herb was brought to Central Europe by Benedictine monks, who used it in their gardens.

Thyme is in the genus Thymus, which is in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is related to the genus Origanum, which is also in the mint family. Like oregano, thyme is often thought of as a Mediterranean herb, but it is now grown all over the world and used in many different kinds of food.

It is a bushy herb with green-gray leaves that hang down and a strong smell and taste. This herb is native to the western Mediterranean, but you can also find it in Western Asia and southern Europe, where it grows in drier, sunnier areas.

Early use of thyme:

Ancient people in northern Africa and the area around the Mediterranean used thyme because it smells good and is good for you. The Greeks and Romans took baths in water that had thyme in it. From the plant's oil, bath and massage oils were made, and both the oil and the dried leaves were burned as incense.

Folklore about thyme:

The name Thyme comes from the Latin word thymus, which comes from the Greek word thymós, which means "spirit" but once meant "smoke." Ancient Greeks and Romans burned it as incense to make the mind strong and clear and to get rid of illnesses and diseases in the air. It has been shown that Thyme, like its cousin Sage, can kill harmful bacteria and microbes in the air.

Health benefits of thyme:

1. Improves vision: Thyme is full of vitamin A, which is a fat-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant that is important for healthy mucous membranes and skin.
2. Cures cold: Thyme can help get rid of a cold because it has antiseptic and antibiotic properties. This makes it a great cure for a cold, cough, or sore throat. A study found that the herb can help with bronchitis and coughs. People who have a cold should drink thyme tea.
3. Treat acne: Because it kills bacteria, thyme is often used in creams and face washes for acne.
4. Reduces hair loss: When mixed with other herbs and used as an essential oil, thyme can strengthen the roots of your hair and help it grow.

5.Controls blood pressure: This herb has an extract in water that can lower blood pressure when it is too high.

6. Strengthens bones: Thyme is a good source of Vitamin K, iron, calcium, and manganese, so it can help your bones stay healthy. These important nutrients help bones grow and make diseases that affect bones less likely.