H aber garden (Satureja hortensis); savory garden
An annual, rarely biennial plant of the labium family. Stems are erect, 15-35 cm, in overwintered specimens up to 60 cm tall, branched, pubescent with short but multicellular hairs bent down, often lignified at the base. The leaves are opposite, almost sessile, linear-lanceolate, wedge-shaped narrowed to the base, entire, mostly obtuse, on both sides or only below scattered short-hairy, punctate-glandular. The flowers are bisexual, irregular, forming 3-5-flowered axillary spurious rings, the upper ones of which are converging at the end of the stem and branches; calyx bell-shaped, scattered hairy outside, green or purple, with 10 veins and 5 lanceolate pointed teeth, almost equal to the tube; corolla light purple, pink or white, scattered short hairs on the outside, double-lipped, with a flat, with a notched upper lip and a three-lobed lower one, the middle blade of which is notched. The fruit consists of four one-seeded nut-shaped lobes. Blooms in July-August.
Distribution . The homeland of garden thyme is the Eastern Mediterranean, Iran. On the territory of Ukraine, it is cultivated as an essential oil, spicy and decorative plant.
Procurement and storage . For the production of medicines, thyme grass (Herba Saturejae hortensis) is used, which is harvested during the flowering period of the plant, cutting off the entire aerial part at a height of 10-12 cm from the soil surface. Raw materials are dried in clean, well-ventilated rooms or under shelter in the open air, spreading in a thin layer on paper or cloth. After drying, the grass is threshed and sieved through a wire sieve to separate the coarse stems. 16-17% of dry grass is obtained. Ready raw materials are stored in well-closed cans or cans. The plant is unofficial.
Chemical composition . Thyme grass contains essential oil (0.8-2%), tannins (8-9%) and mucilaginous substances and resin. The essential oil contains carvacrol, paracimol, dipentene, pinene, thymol and other terpenes.
Pharmacological properties and use . Experiments have established that thyme essential oil has bactericidal and hypotensive properties. In traditional medicine, thyme is used as an astringent, bactericidal, antispasmodic, weak diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-putrefactive and anthelmintic properties. Large doses of thyme have an abortifacient effect. The use of thyme is especially effective for diarrhea, catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract, indigestion, vomiting, and worm infestation. Externally, thyme is used for dermatitis from insect bites (bites are lubricated with fresh juice).
Medicinal forms and applications. Internally – herbal infusion (2 tablespoons of raw material per 400 ml of boiling water, infuse for 1 hour, strain) half a glass 3 times a day before meals.