Thyme leaves are often used as a spice and spice for cooking. However, behind its benefits as a food ingredient, thyme leaves are also believed to be useful as herbal medicine to overcome various health problems.
Thyme with latin name Thymus vulgaris It can be consumed fresh or in dried form. Besides being used as a cooking spice, thyme can also be processed into herbal teas, essential oils for aromatherapy, to traditional medicines.
Efficacy of Thyme Leaves for Health
Thyme leaves contain a variety of nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, folate, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and potassium. In addition, thyme leaves also contain various types of antioxidants, such as polyphenols and thymol. Substance thymol This is what gives thyme its distinctive aroma.
Thanks to the content of several types of nutrients and antioxidants above, thyme leaves are believed to provide health benefits, including:
1. Relieves cough
Several studies have shown that essential oils containing thyme leaf extract are useful as a natural cough medicine to treat coughs due to flu and ARI. This is thought to be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory content found in thyme leaves.
2. Strengthen the immune system
Thyme is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants. The ingredients in thyme leaves are known to help strengthen the body's resistance to fight viral and bacterial infections that cause disease.
3. Relieves inflammation and irritation of the skin
Several studies show that thyme leaves can relieve inflammatory conditions and irritation of the skin, for example in eczema and acne. This is thanks to the content thymol in thyme leaves which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
4. Helps relieve stress
The essential oil of thyme leaves has a refreshing aroma. When used as aromatherapy, the oil is known to have a calming and stress-relieving effect.
5. Relieves pain
Thyme leaves contain substances that have anti-inflammatory and anti-pain properties. Thanks to these ingredients, thyme leaves consumed as tea or herbal supplements are thought to be able to relieve pain, for example due to cramps during menstruation.
In addition to some of the benefits above, thyme leaves can also be used as herbal medicine to maintain healthy teeth and mouth, as well as overcome bad breath.
You need to know, some of the health benefits of thyme leaves above are still limited to small-scale research studies. Therefore, the medical benefits of thyme leaves as a treatment still need to be studied further, especially regarding its effectiveness and safety level.
You are not advised to consume thyme leaves in excess because they have the potential to cause various side effects, such as indigestion and headaches.
In general, thyme leaves are quite safe for consumption as herbal teas or cooking ingredients. However, if you want to use supplements or herbal remedies that contain thyme leaves, you should consult your doctor first.
