Key Constituents

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

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

Bronchitis^{[11, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for bronchitis →detailed sources →

Cold & flu^{[11, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Cough^{[11, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

Antimicrobial (thymol and carvacrol) - supports respiratory infection

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Menstrual cramps^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for menstrual cramps →detailed sources →

Muscle spasm^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for muscle spasm →detailed sources →

Respiratory support^{[11, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

more plants for respiratory support →detailed sources →

Sore throat^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Sore throat relief (antiseptic gargle)

more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

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).

References

REF-1303, REF-1304, REF-1305, REF-1306, REF-1307, REF-1308, REF-1309, REF-1310, REF-1311, REF-1312

References & Sources

Sakkas, H. and Papadopoulou, C (2017) 'Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils', Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 27(3), pp. 429-438. doi:10.4014/jmb.1608.08024 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.1608.08024
Salehi, B., Mishra, A.P., Shukla, I., Sharifi-Rad, M. and others (2018) 'Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses', Phytotherapy Research, 32(9), pp. 1688-1706. doi:10.1002/ptr.6109 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6109
Kowalczyk, A., Przychodna, M., Sopata, S., Bodalska, A. and others (2020) 'Thymol and Thyme Essential Oil-New Insights into Selected Therapeutic Applications', Molecules, 25(18), pp. 4125. doi:10.3390/molecules25184125 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25184125
Wirtu, S.F., Ramaswamy, K., Maitra, R., Chopra, S. and others (2024) 'Isolation, characterization and antimicrobial activity study of Thymus vulgaris', Scientific Reports, 14(1), pp. 21573. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-71012-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71012-2
Diniz, A.F., Santos, B., Nobrega, L.M.M.O., Santos, V.R.L. and others (2023) 'Antibacterial activity of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) essential oil against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from meat product', Brazilian Journal of Biology, 83, pp. e275306. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.275306 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.275306
Tardugno, R., Serio, A., Purgatorio, C., Savini, V. and others (2022) 'Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils from Emilia Romagna Apennines (Italy): phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity on food-borne pathogens', Natural Product Research, 36(3), pp. 837-842. doi:10.1080/14786419.2020.1798666 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2020.1798666
Doghish, A.S., Shehabeldine, A.M., El-Mahdy, H.A., Hassanin, M.M.H. and others (2023) 'Thymus vulgaris Oil Nanoemulsion: Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities', Molecules, 28(19), pp. 6910. doi:10.3390/molecules28196910 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196910
Oliva, M.L., Carezzano, M.E., Giuliano, M., Daghero, J. and others (2015) 'Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare on phytopathogenic strains isolated from soybean', Plant Biology, 17(3), pp. 758-765. doi:10.1111/plb.12282 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12282
Vetvicka, V. and Vetvickova, J (2016) 'Essential Oils from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Chemical Composition and Biological Effects in Mouse Model', Journal of Medicinal Food, 19(12), pp. 1180-1187. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.0029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2016.0029
Sikic Pogacar, M., Klancnik, A., Bucar, F., Langerholc, T. and others (2016) 'Anti-adhesion activity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) extract, thyme post-distillation waste, and olive leaf extract against Campylobacter jejuni on polystyrene and intestine epithelial cells', Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 96(8), pp. 2723-2730. doi:10.1002/jsfa.7391 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7391
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L., herba (Thymi herba)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/thymi-herba Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/thymi-herba
Sharifi-Rad, M., Varoni, E.M., Iriti, M., Martorell, M., Setzer, W.N., del Mar Contreras, M., Salehi, B., Soltani-Nejad, A., Rajabi, S., Tajbakhsh, M. and Sharifi-Rad, J (2018) 'Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research. doi:10.1002/ptr.6103 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6103
Kemmerich, B., Eberhardt, R. and Stammer, H (2006) 'Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough', Arzneimittel-Forschung, 56(9), pp. 652--660. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1296767 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1296767

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