Thyme

Full name of the product: Dryed Thyme

Thyme is a genus of the Lamiaceae family. Leaves of thyme plants are used as a spice.

Cultivation: Thyme grows in the north and midland of the European part of Russia, in Belarus and Armenia, somewhere in he Urals, in Siberia and Kazakhstan, in the Crimea on the southern slopes, rocks, in stony and sandy steppes and steppe meadows, on the outskirts of pine forests, in lichen and rocky tundras.

Flavor: Strong flavor with a spicy warm odor.

Uses:

• Culinary: Thyme leaves are used as a spice in cooking, canning and alcoholic beverage industries. Thyme is one of the components of the so called Herbs de Provence mixes. Stems together with leaves and flowers may be brewed like tea.
• Medicinal: Since ancient times, thyme has been revered as a divine herb that can return not only health, but also life. Thymol that was originally isolated from thyme as well as numerous preparations from plants rich in thymol are used as an anthelminthic, disinfectant and analgesic agent. In folk medicine thyme decoctions and powder are used to make dressings to treat radiculitis and inflammation of the sciatic nerve. In the form of a decoction or ointment based on honey, it “cleanses the chest and lungs”, promotes expectoration, and soothes pain. Thyme improves digestion. Baths with thyme are good for nervous diseases, sciatica, rheumatism, skin rashes, joint and muscle disease. Mixtures with thyme essential oil are used for external rubbing. Essential oil may be used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. A liquid extract and a decoction of the leaves are used as an expectorant. Similarly to thyme and savory, people use cultivated and wild growing Mediterranean thyme (Thymus vulgaris), as well as oregano.