Plant Comparison

Selfheal vs Thyme

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant
Second plant
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Plant ASelfhealPrunella vulgarisLamiaceaeFull monograph →
Plant BThymeThymus vulgarisLamiaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Selfheal and Thyme: both belong to the Lamiaceae family; they share 4 indicated uses (cold & flu, infection (general), wounds, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.

SelfhealThyme
Constituents22
Pharmacological actions105
Indicated uses1210
Safety notes22
Cited sources3713
Indicated uses
Only Selfheal
Arthritis / joint painBruisingImmune supportInflammation (general)Skin irritationBlood sugar / diabetes supportCardiovascular / heart healthCognitive function
Shared (4)
Cold & fluInfection (general)WoundsCancer (anticancer research)
Only Thyme
BronchitisCoughMenstrual crampsMuscle spasmRespiratory supportSore throat
Pharmacological actions
Only Selfheal
Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAntiviralImmunomodulator / immune supportVulnerary (wound healing)Neuroprotective / cognition supportHepatoprotective (liver support)Antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)
Shared (2)
AntimicrobialAnticancer (preclinical)
Only Thyme
AntispasmodicAntitussive (cough suppressant)Expectorant

Evidence face-off — shared uses

ConditionSelfhealThymeVerdict
Cold & flu2/105/10Stronger for Thyme
Infection (general)2/102/10Comparable evidence
Wounds2/102/10Comparable evidence
Cancer (anticancer research)7/102/10Stronger for Selfheal

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Triterpenoids and phenolic acids[1, 3]

Pentacyclic triterpenoids (ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids), the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid, coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin, esculetin) and the flavonoid luteolin are the main bioactives behind self-heal's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.

Rosmarinic acidPhenolic acidsCoumarinsFlavonoidsLuteolin
Sulphated and polyphenol-conjugated polysaccharides[4, 29, 30, 31]

Water-extracted polysaccharides — including a partially sulphated arabinogalactomannan (PSP-2B) and polyphenolic-protein-polysaccharide conjugates (PVG/PVE30) — are the principal antiviral and immunomodulatory constituents, blocking herpes simplex virus attachment and modulating innate immune signalling.

PolysaccharidesPhenolic compounds
Essential oil rich in thymol and carvacrol[2, 6, 9, 11, 12]

Phenolic monoterpenes responsible for the antimicrobial and expectorant actions.

Essential (volatile) oilTerpenes / terpenoidsCarvacrolThymol
Flavonoids and rosmarinic acid[11]

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.

Rosmarinic acidFlavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory[1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 15, 18, 20, 26, 27, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35]
Antimicrobial[1, 3, 32, 33, 34]
Antioxidant[1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 17, 32, 33, 34]
Antiviral[2, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36]
Immunomodulator / immune support[4, 5, 9, 10, 15, 23, 26, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36]
Vulnerary (wound healing)[1, 27, 32, 33, 34]
Anticancer (preclinical)[6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 21, 22, 28]
Neuroprotective / cognition support[11, 25]
Hepatoprotective (liver support)[12, 16, 17]
Antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)[19, 20, 24]
Anticancer (preclinical)[7]
Antimicrobial[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12]

Antimicrobial (thymol and carvacrol) - supports respiratory infection; Sore throat relief (antiseptic gargle)

Antispasmodic[3, 11]

Antitussive and antispasmodic (eases bronchial spasm and coughing)

Antitussive (cough suppressant)[11]

Antitussive and antispasmodic (eases bronchial spasm and coughing)

Expectorant[11, 13]

Expectorant for productive (chesty) cough associated with cold and bronchitis - a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination outperformed placebo in acute bronchitis (faster, greater reduction in coughing fits)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain[1, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 2
Label: Arthritis / joint pain
Bruising[1, 32, 33, 34]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 2
Label: Bruising
Cold & flu[29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antiviral action

Evidence: 2
Label: Cold & flu
Immune support[10, 15, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36]Traditional · 2/10
Evidence: 2
Label: Immune support
Infection (general)[1, 32, 33, 34]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2
Label: Infection (general)
Inflammation (general)[1, 12, 15, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 2
Label: Inflammation (general)
Skin irritation[1, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 2
Label: Skin irritation
Wounds[1, 27, 32, 33, 34]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2
Label: Wounds
Cancer (anticancer research)[6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 21, 22, 28]Good · 7/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 7
Label: Cancer (anticancer research)
Blood sugar / diabetes support[19, 20, 24]Traditional · 2/10
Evidence: 2
Label: Blood sugar / diabetes support
Cardiovascular / heart health[18, 19]Traditional · 2/10
Evidence: 2
Label: Cardiovascular / heart health
Cognitive function[25]Traditional · 2/10
Evidence: 2
Label: Cognitive function
Bronchitis[11, 13]Moderate · 5/10

Expectorant for productive (chesty) cough associated with cold and bronchitis - a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination outperformed placebo in acute bronchitis (faster, greater reduction in coughing fits)

Evidence: 5
Label: Bronchitis
Cancer (anticancer research)[7]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2
Label: Cancer (anticancer research)
Cold & flu[11, 13]Moderate · 5/10

Expectorant for productive (chesty) cough associated with cold and bronchitis - a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination outperformed placebo in acute bronchitis (faster, greater reduction in coughing fits)

Evidence: 5
Label: Cold & flu
Cough[11, 13]Moderate · 5/10

Expectorant for productive (chesty) cough associated with cold and bronchitis - a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination outperformed placebo in acute bronchitis (faster, greater reduction in coughing fits)

Evidence: 5
Label: Cough
Infection (general)[11, 12]Traditional · 2/10

Antimicrobial (thymol and carvacrol) - supports respiratory infection

Evidence: 2
Label: Infection (general)
Menstrual cramps[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1
Label: Menstrual cramps
Muscle spasm[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1
Label: Muscle spasm
Respiratory support[11, 13]Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5
Label: Respiratory support
Sore throat[11]Traditional · 1/10

Sore throat relief (antiseptic gargle)

Evidence: 1
Label: Sore throat
Wounds[11, 12]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2
Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note[32, 33, 34]Caution

Generally very safe and well tolerated. No significant known toxicity or drug interactions. Safe for topical and internal use in normal medicinal doses. Suitable for most adults including children in appropriate doses.

Safety note[32, 33, 34, 37]Info

Duke (2002) rates self-heal as +++ and notes antioxidant (score 2), anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and COX-2 inhibitory activities. The plant contains luteolin, rosmarinic acid, and hyperoside — all with well-documented bioactivities. Hepatoprotective activity has been experimentally demonstrated. Duke notes that self-heal has a broad antimicrobial spectrum and an impressive antioxidant profile, supporting its traditional reputation as a versatile wound-healing herb. No significant safety concerns at normal herbal doses (Duke, 2002).

Safety note[12]Caution

Culinary amounts are safe. Thyme essential oil is a strong irritant - dilute well before any topical use and do not take the undiluted oil internally.

Safety note[11]Caution

A cough that persists beyond about a week, or with fever or breathlessness, needs medical assessment. Avoid medicinal/oil doses in pregnancy; allergy is possible in people sensitive to the mint family (Lamiaceae).

External Ids

Gbif: 5341297
Wikidata: Q158469
Gbif: 5341442
Powo: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:461765-1
Wikidata: Q148668

Botanical Description

Low, creeping to semi-erect perennial herb (Lamiaceae), 5-30 cm tall, with square, often purplish stems. Leaves are opposite, ovate with slightly toothed margins. Small, two-lipped, violet-purple flowers are densely packed into a compact, club-shaped terminal spike subtended by purplish bracts.[1]

Height: 5-30 cm
Habit: Low, creeping to semi-erect perennial herb
Leaves: Opposite, ovate, slightly toothed
Flowers: Small, two-lipped, violet-purple, in a compact club-shaped terminal spike
Stem: Square, often purplish
Root: Fibrous, spreading perennial rootstock
Fruit: Four small nutlets (typical Lamiaceae schizocarp)
Flowering Period: June-September

Low, woody-based aromatic perennial subshrub with small, narrow, grey-green leaves and small, pale pink to lilac, two-lipped flowers borne in whorled clusters along the upper stems.[11]

Height: 15-40 cm
Habit: Low, woody-based, bushy aromatic perennial subshrub
Leaves: Small, narrow, grey-green, strongly aromatic
Flowers: Small, pale pink to lilac, two-lipped, in whorled clusters along upper stems
Stem: Woody at the base, upright to sprawling, finely hairy
Root: Woody taproot
Fruit: Small nutlet
Flowering Period: May-August

Habitat

Native throughout Europe, Asia and North America (circumboreal), extremely common in lawns, meadows, woodland clearings, roadsides and waste ground, tolerating mowing and a wide range of soils.[1]

Grows on dry, sunny, rocky, well-drained soils; native to the western Mediterranean and widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb worldwide.[11]

Harvesting

Whole flowering aerial parts (flower, leaf and stem) are cut during flowering (summer) and dried.[1]

Parts: Flower, Leaf, Stem
Season: Summer, during flowering

The flowering aerial parts are cut just as flowering begins, when essential oil content is highest, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place; essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the fresh or dried herb.[11]

Parts: Aerial parts (herb) and essential oil
Season: Late spring to summer, at the start of flowering

Traditional Uses

Selfheal has an extremely broad folk-medicine reputation across European, North American and Traditional Chinese Medicine traditions - as its name suggests, used as an all-purpose wound herb, gargle for sore throat, and internal remedy for fevers and inflammation. Modern research on its triterpenoid, phenolic and polysaccharide constituents supports wide-ranging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral activity.[1]

Thyme has a long Mediterranean and European tradition as an antimicrobial and expectorant remedy for coughs, bronchitis and sore throat, formalised in EU herbal monograph recognition, with a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination shown superior to placebo for acute bronchitis with productive cough in clinical trial.[11, 13]

Preparations

Infusion (tea)[1]

Dried aerial parts steeped in hot water, taken internally or used as a gargle or wash.

Infusion[11]

Dried herb infused in hot water as a traditional cough, cold and digestive tea.

Gargle[11]

Infusion used as a gargle for sore throat, drawing on the antiseptic essential oil constituents.

Standardized fluid extract (thyme-ivy combination)[13]

Standardized fluid extract, often combined with ivy leaf, the form studied in clinical trials for acute bronchitis.

Dosage

Infusion (tea)[1]

Traditional guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried herb per cup as an infusion, up to three times daily, or an equivalent tincture; used topically as a wash or gargle at similar strength. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Infusion[11]

The EU herbal monograph suggests around 1-2 g of dried herb per cup, up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription; do not take the essential oil undiluted internally.

References

REF-0659, REF-2422, REF-2423, REF-2424, REF-2425, REF-2878, REF-2879, REF-2880, REF-2881, REF-2882, REF-2883, REF-2884, REF-2885, REF-2886, REF-2887, REF-2888, REF-2911, REF-2912, REF-2913, REF-2914, REF-2915, REF-2916, REF-2917, REF-2918, REF-2919, REF-2920, REF-2921, REF-2922
REF-1303, REF-1304, REF-1305, REF-1306, REF-1307, REF-1308, REF-1309, REF-1310, REF-1311, REF-1312

Lookalikes Review

Outcome: none-known
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07
Outcome: none-known
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

References & Sources

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Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.