Popular names: thyme, thyme, Bogorodskaya grass, upland pepper, motherboard, incense, muhopal.
Creeping thyme (thymus) (Thymus serpyllum L.)A small, fragrant subshrub of the labiatae family, up to 35 cm in height. The stem is brown, thin, creeping, woody at the base, covered with dark brown bark and often takes root, forming adventitious roots. The leaves are small, crosswise opposite, sessile or with a very short petiole, oblong, elliptical, with dotted glands, along the edge with long white cilia. The flowers are small, pink or pinkish-violet, 2-lipped, in axillary semi-whorls, collected in loose capitate inflorescences. The fruit is dry, splitting into 4 spherical nuts. Blossoms in June – July, fruits ripen in August – September. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. The weight of 1000 seeds is 0.3-0.5 g. It reaches the age of 30 years. Grows on dry and fresh sandy and sandy loamy soils in coniferous and deciduous forests, forest clearings, clearings, meadows. The ancient Greeks dedicated this plant to the goddess Aphrodite and sacrificed it (the grass was burned on a sacrificial fire). Fragrant smoke (incense) ascended to the sky, which symbolized the acceptance of the sacrifice by the gods. Thyme was revered by the Greeks as a symbol of hard work. In Russia, thyme is called Bogorodskaya grass. It was customary to decorate her icons with bundles of this fragrant herb every day of the Assumption of the Virgin. There is a belief among fishermen that fumigating fishing tackle with thyme ensures a successful catch. In ancient times, it was revered as a divine herb, capable of returning not only health, but also life to a person. This is probably why they sniffed powdered thyme during fainting. Widely known for the works of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna. Fragrant smoke (incense) ascended to the sky, which symbolized the acceptance of the sacrifice by the gods. Thyme was revered by the Greeks as a symbol of hard work. In Russia, thyme is called Bogorodskaya grass. It was customary to decorate her icons with bundles of this fragrant herb every day of the Assumption of the Virgin. There is a belief among fishermen that fumigating fishing tackle with thyme ensures a successful catch. In ancient times, it was revered as a divine herb, capable of returning not only health, but also life to a person. This is probably why they sniffed powdered thyme during fainting. Widely known for the works of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna. Fragrant smoke (incense) ascended to the sky, which symbolized the acceptance of the sacrifice by the gods. Thyme was revered by the Greeks as a symbol of hard work. In Russia, thyme is called Bogorodskaya grass. It was customary to decorate her icons with bundles of this fragrant herb every day of the Assumption of the Virgin. There is a belief among fishermen that fumigating fishing tackle with thyme ensures a successful catch. In ancient times, it was revered as a divine herb, capable of returning not only health, but also life to a person. This is probably why they sniffed powdered thyme during fainting. Widely known for the works of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna. It was customary to decorate her icons with bundles of this fragrant herb every day of the Assumption of the Virgin. There is a belief among fishermen that fumigating fishing tackle with thyme ensures a successful catch. In ancient times, it was revered as a divine herb, capable of returning not only health, but also life to a person. This is probably why they sniffed powdered thyme during fainting. Widely known for the works of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna. It was customary to decorate her icons with bundles of this fragrant herb every day of the Assumption of the Virgin. There is a belief among fishermen that fumigating fishing tackle with thyme ensures a successful catch. In ancient times, it was revered as a divine herb, capable of returning not only health, but also life to a person. This is probably why they sniffed powdered thyme during fainting. Widely known for the works of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
For medicinal purposes, creeping thyme grass (Herba Serpylli) is used, which is harvested in the flowering phase, cutting off the upper parts of leafy shoots with knives or secateurs, without coarse lignified stem bases, trying not to pull out the plants with roots. Part of the turf should be left untouched for vegetative propagation of plants. Dry raw materials in the open air in the shade, in well-ventilated areas, in attics or under sheds, spreading out in a thin layer. After drying (after 3-5 days), the raw material is threshed and the coarse parts are separated. It is dried in dryers at a temperature of 35-40°C. The shelf life of raw materials is 3 years. The smell of raw materials is fragrant, the taste is bitter-spicy, slightly burning. Up to 200 tons of wild creeping thyme is harvested in the Stavropol Territory, the Rostov Region, in the Krasnodar Territory of Russia, in Ukraine, etc.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
The medicinal properties of the plant are associated mainly with the presence in it of thymol, which is a derivative of phenol. Unlike phenol, thymol is less toxic, less irritating to mucous membranes, and has a bactericidal effect on coccal flora. Galenic forms from thyme herb have pronounced expectorant properties, stimulate the motor activity of the ciliated epithelium of the upper respiratory tract and increase the amount of secretory discharge of mucous membranes. Plant preparations also contribute to the loosening of inflammatory plaques, liquefaction of sputum and accelerate its evacuation. Even with an insignificant content of thymol in the infusion, it has a pronounced antimicrobial effect. In addition, thyme herb has a diuretic, antispasmodic, analgesic, hypnotic, antihelminthic effect, and normalizes digestion.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Aboveground part. Infusion – for pulmonary diseases as an expectorant, disinfectant; in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a decrease in gastric secretion, atony or intestinal spasms, flatulence; with insomnia, atherosclerosis. In the form of inhalations – for inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, chronic tonsillitis; in the form of rinses – with alveolar pyorrhea, aphthae of the oral mucosa. Liquid extract with glycerin – for the treatment of periodontal canals. Thymol is used to disinfect the oral cavity, pharynx and nasopharynx, is part of the Hartmann liquid used as an anesthetic in dentistry, and serves as a preservative for some pharmaceutical products. Decoction – for the treatment of alcoholism. The herb is part of the Pertussin product. Infusion, decoction – in the form of baths, lotions, wet dressings – for all kinds of skin diseases, hypertension, rheumatism, radiculitis, nervous diseases and diseases associated with metabolic disorders. Oil extract – for eye diseases. Essential oil is part of various liniments used for rubbing with arthralgia, lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. hypertension, rheumatism, radiculitis, nervous diseases and diseases associated with metabolic disorders. Oil extract – for eye diseases. Essential oil is part of various liniments used for rubbing with arthralgia, lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. hypertension, rheumatism, radiculitis, nervous diseases and diseases associated with metabolic disorders. Oil extract – for eye diseases. Essential oil is part of various liniments used for rubbing with arthralgia, lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. associated with metabolic disorders. Oil extract – for eye diseases. Essential oil is part of various liniments used for rubbing with arthralgia, lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. associated with metabolic disorders. Oil extract – for eye diseases. Essential oil is part of various liniments used for rubbing with arthralgia, lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. lumbalgia, radiculoneuritis. In folk medicine, infusion – for whooping cough, bronchitis, heart disease, anemia, bloating, cholecystitis, cystitis, goiter, nervous disorders, insomnia, hemorrhoidal, uterine bleeding, alcoholism; externally in the form of rinses – with stomatitis of the oral cavity, tonsillitis; wash the scalp; compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers. compresses – for pain in muscles, joints, bones; baths – for eczema, radiculitis, rheumatism, gout. Dried grass powder is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Thyme herb infusion (Infusum herbae Thymi): 10 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes , filter, the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1 tablespoon 2-3 times every day for coughing. A decoction of thyme herb (Decoctum herbae Thymi) is prepared as follows: take the herb of the plant in a ratio of 1:10, boil 200 ml of boiling water, heat it in a water bath for 30 minutes, cooled at room temperature and take 1-2 tablespoons 3-5 times every day. Liquid extract of thyme (Extractum Thymi fluidum) take 1 teaspoon 3-4 times every day. Produced in bottles of 100 ml. Pertussin (Pertussinum). Ingredients: thyme extract or thyme extract – 12 parts, potassium bromide – 1 part, sugar syrup – 82 parts, alcohol 80% – 5 parts. Dark brown liquid with a fragrant smell, sweetish taste. It is used as an expectorant and cough softener for bronchitis, whooping cough and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Dose for adults – 1 tablespoon, for kids – from 1/2 teaspoon to 1 dessert spoon 3 times every day. Produced in bottles of 100 ml. Melrosum (Melrosum) – a product made in Germany. 100 ml of syrup contains 100 mg of codeine; 45 mg of copper: grindella and pampinella – 0.2 ml each; primrose, rose and thyme – 1 ml each. The drug has antitussive, expectorant, antispasmodic and bactericidal action. Indications for use are: cough in catarrhal diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, laryngitis), tracheitis, bronchitis, influenza, measles. Adults appoint 1 tablespoon; children: from 6 to 12 years – 2 teaspoons, from 1 to 3 years – 1/2 teaspoon of syrup 3 times every day. CONTRAINDICATIONS for use are chronic constipation, cough with difficult sputum production, pulmonary emphysema, bronchial asthma. Produced in bottles containing 100 ml of syrup. ♦ Infusion of thyme herb: 100 g of raw material is poured into 2 liters of boiling water and infused for 30 minutes in a thermos. It is used in the form of rinses, washes and compresses. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: thyme products are not recommended during pregnancy, cardiac decompensation, diseases of the kidneys, liver, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum in the acute stage. An overdose of products may cause nausea.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
The essential oil is used in perfumery for the fragrance of toilet soap, lipsticks, creams, toothpastes, in the alcoholic beverage industry in the manufacture of tinctures. In a mixture with other plants – to soften leather during tanning. Vitamin salads are made from young leaves and shoots, they are used for salting, canning, pickling vegetables, and also to improve the taste of meat, fish and vegetable dishes. In cooking, it is used to flavor vinegar, sauces, tea, cocktails, sausages, cheese, etc. It is used in veterinary medicine. Cultivated. Honey plant, honey spicy and fragrant. Decorative. How carpet plants can be used for borders, group plantings on lawns, alpine slides, in rock gardens.
ELEMENTS OF AGROTECHNICAL CULTIVATION
The best predecessors are legumes or vegetables. You can sow before winter or early spring. Seeding rate – 5-10 kg/ha. In the first case, the soil must be prepared 15-20 days before sowing. In the spring, the plot is harrowed, mineral fertilizers are applied: 10 g per 1 m 2ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium salt. Shoots at crops in the spring are found in 3-4 weeks. When thinning, 15-20 cm are left between plants. In the 2nd and 3rd year of plant life, when their productivity is highest, it will be necessary to regularly produce mineral supplements. Then the culture needs to be updated. During vegetative propagation (by dividing the bush in the spring), traditionally old plantations are used. In this case, the row spacing should be 50-60 cm, and the distance between plants 40-50 cm. At a young age, plants suffer greatly from freezing.
TASTY TIPS
Salad with thyme and carrots.
Grind carrots (50 g) on a coarse grater, mix with blanched chopped thyme leaves (100 g), green onions (25 g), nettle leaves (50 g), mix, salt. Season with mayonnaise or sour cream (25 g), sprinkle with dill and parsley.
Vegetable salad with thyme.
Grind radishes (50 g) and carrots (50 g) on a coarse grater, add blanched chopped thyme leaves (100 g), cabbage (70 g), green onions (25 g), salt. Season with sour cream or mayonnaise (50 g), sprinkle with dill and parsley.
Meat salad with thyme.
Cut boiled meat (100 g), add chopped boiled potatoes (50 g), hard-boiled egg, blanched thyme leaves (100 g), canned or boiled green peas (50 g), salt (to taste). Season with mayonnaise or sour cream (50 g). Sprinkle with dill, parsley and green onions (30 g).
Soup with thyme.
In meat broth or water (500 ml), boil potatoes (100 g), carrots (50 g), onions (50 g), add blanched thyme leaves (100 g), bring to a boil, salt. Before serving, season with sour cream (25 g), sprinkle with dill and parsley.
Fish soup with thyme.
Boil fish (200 g) until tender (500 ml of water). Strain the broth, put chopped potatoes (100 g), carrots (50 g), onions (50 g) into it. Boil over low heat until cooked, then add thyme leaves (150 g), allspice (several peas), bay leaf (2-3 leaves), boiled fish, browned onion (25 g onion, 20 g vegetable oil), salt and boil. Sprinkle with dill and parsley.
Shchi with thyme.
Boil potatoes (50 g), carrots (50 g), onions (50 g) in meat broth (500 ml), add chopped thyme leaves (100 g), sorrel (100 g), browned onions (50 g onion, 15 g vegetable oil) with tomato sauce (50 g), salt (to taste), bring to a boil. Before serving, put a hard-boiled egg, sour cream (25 g), sprinkle with dill and parsley on a plate.
Stuffed cabbage with thyme.
Boil a head of cabbage (600 g) without a stalk in salted water until half cooked. Disassemble the leaves, slightly beat off the petioles. Put the stuffing with thyme leaves on the leaves, wrap in the form of envelopes, fry in a pan, transfer to a goose dish, pour sour cream or tomato sauce (200 g) and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Sprinkle with dill and parsley before serving. To prepare the filling, mince meat (250 g) and onion (50 g), add boiled rice (150 g), chopped thyme leaves (50 g), pepper, salt (to taste), mix.
Potato casserole with meat and thyme.
In mashed potatoes (400 g) add starch (100 g), egg, mix. Heat the frying pan, grease with butter, sprinkle with breadcrumbs (15 g), put half of the mashed potatoes, minced boiled thyme leaves (100 g) with onions (50 g) and pepper on it, then cover with the remaining mashed potatoes, connect the edges, brush with sour cream ( 50 g), sprinkle with breadcrumbs (15 g) and bake in the oven.
Vegetables stewed with thyme.
Carrots (50 g), beets (50 g), parsley roots (20 g), chopped on a coarse grater, simmer in vegetable or ghee (100 g) until half cooked, add chopped cabbage (100 g), potatoes (50 g), onion onion (50 g), thyme leaves (100 g), bay leaf, dill seeds, caraway seeds, salt (to taste) and simmer over low heat until tender. Season with tomato sauce (75 g), boil for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with dill and parsley before serving.
Tea with thyme.
Mix dried leaves of thyme, lingonberry, St. John’s wort in equal amounts. Brew 1 dessert spoon of the mixture with 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes. Drink with sugar, honey, jam.
Drink with thyme and viburnum.
Boil dried thyme leaves (200 g) for 5 minutes (500 ml of water), strain, pour in viburnum juice (200 ml), add honey (150 g), stir. Pour into bottles, jars, cork. Store in a cold place.
Kvass with thyme.
Boil dried thyme leaves (20 g) in kvass (200 ml), add kvass (up to 1 l), sugar (50 g), mix. Let stand for 10-12 hours, strain, pour into glassware, cover with lids. Store in a cold place.