THYME IN MEDICINE AND MAGIC
Introduction
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
Botanical name: Origanum vulgare L. (from the Greek words oros - mountain and ganymai - rejoice, ganos - shine: "mountain decoration")
Pharmacy: Thyme herb - Origani herba (formerly: Herba Origani)
Genus name: Origanum
Folk names: wild marjoram, mother's joy, joy-bringer, little swan, bee-lover, spiritual flower, sweet marjoram, thyme, aromatic herb, bluegrass, forest mint, flea herb, bedbug grass, bone-breaking herb; dittany of Crete (English), Dost (German), oregano (Spanish).
In ancient manuscripts, thyme was called "dictamnon" or sometimes "dictamnus". There were various variations, but all of them were associated with the name of Mount Dicte.
Planet: Mercury, Venus
Zodiac sign: Libra, Pisces
Element: Air
Aura: Warm
Flower language: Contentment, significance
Main properties: protection from evil forces, love
Thyme Description:
Perennial herbaceous plant up to 70 cm tall.
The rootstock is highly branched, creeping; the thin roots are adventitious.
Stems are green or purple (reddish), erect, four-angled, branching at the top and sometimes also at the base. They are covered with soft hairs on the outside, with a round cross-section.
Leaves are opposite, petiolate, finely toothed, elongated-ovate or elliptical, dark green on top, grayish-green underneath, and covered with delicate hairs with visible black dots-glands.
Flowers are small, irregular, numerous, with lilac-pink (sometimes almost white) indistinct two-lipped corolla (5-10 mm long), regular purple calyx (with five triangular-lanceolate teeth), and dark purple bracts, gathered into spreading spike-like inflorescences. The tube and four stamens, two longer and two shorter, prominently protrude from the flower calyx.
Fruits are dry, shiny brownish-brown nuts (0.5-10 mm long), four in each calyx. The weight of 1000 seeds is about 0.1 g. The entire plant has a pleasant scent.
Habitat:
Thyme is native to the Mediterranean region. However, it also grows in Western and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, mountainous regions of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia, and as an introduced plant is found in the Russian Far East - particularly in Primorsky and Amur regions. In Europe, its range stretches from the Mediterranean to Scotland and Norway, and in Western Asia - to the Himalayas. Thyme is cultivated in the USA, France, and several other countries. In Russia, it grows throughout (except for the Far North): in meadows, grasslands, on edges, in river valleys, on forest clearings, and along roadsides (although it is not recommended to gather thyme growing along roadsides), in shrub thickets, on dry open herbaceous areas, on hillsides, in sparse and light coniferous and birch forests (always preferring bright and dry places). In the forest-steppe zone, this plant is more common than in the forest zone.
Parts Used:
The medicinal raw material is the herb of thyme - the upper part of the shoots with flowers and leaves. Harvest and Preparation:
Blooming Thyme Thyme blooms in July-August, starting from the second year of its existence. It winters well and begins vegetation at the end of February - beginning of March. This plant is harvested during flowering, starting from the second year of growth.
Thyme shoots should not be pulled out, or the entire plant will die. It is necessary to cut thyme with a knife, scissors, or secateurs at a height of 15-30 centimeters, ensuring that the collected green mass contains a minimal number of stems. For wild-growing plants, you can cut fewer shoots - after which it needs to "rest" for two years.
The harvesting of the herb is carried out in dry (preferably sunny) weather. It is dried in attics (or alternatively, outdoors in the shade or in special dryers), spread out on paper or canvas in a loose layer of 5-7 centimeters, and turned over 1-2 times a day. In urban conditions, herb bundles are dried by hanging them on a string while protecting them from drafts and sunlight. The temperature during drying should not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. These are the conditions for preparing the herb as a spice. In terms of obtaining essential oil, the above-ground mass is processed using hydrodistillation immediately after harvesting.
Drying is considered successful when the dried plants do not change color, retain a strong aroma, and have a slightly bitter-spicy, slightly astringent taste, with the stems breaking easily when bent. Dried thyme should be ground to remove coarse stems and stored in glass jars with airtight lids. It can be stored in this form for two to three years.
The yield of green mass in the second year of growth is 4-5 tons per hectare, and in subsequent years, it can reach 20-25 tons per hectare. With an average yield of essential oil at 0.26%, thyme collection amounts to 10-13 kg per hectare in the first year of harvest and 50-65 kg per hectare in the following three to four years. After that, the yield decreases sharply, and a new plantation is established in a different location.
For magical purposes:
Thyme is harvested at the end of July, after sunrise, during the waxing moon. Beginning with Medicine:
This medicinal herb has been known for several thousand years. Among the authors who recommended it for treating various illnesses were Hippocrates, Aristotle, Dioscorides, Pliny, and Avicenna. One of the most actively used properties of thyme is its incredible abilities in treating women's health issues: it helps with menstrual cycle irregularities, menstrual delays, and severe menstrual pain. It aids in managing PMS, severe menopausal symptoms (providing a soothing effect). For nursing mothers, it increases lactation. Another popular use of thyme is for its abortive qualities. Thyme helps with sexual disorders - for example, excessive sexual arousal in men. And it almost does not diminish male potency. In terms of children, thyme has a calming effect on them, sometimes even acting as a mild sedative. Additionally, thyme enhances intestinal peristalsis, increases intestinal tone, boosts its secretory function (increasing gastric juice and bile production), improves digestion, and stimulates appetite.
Thyme is used as an anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic, and hemostatic agent. It is applied as a sedative for neuroses, insomnia, headaches, and for gastritis with reduced secretion, dyskinesia of the biliary tract, cholecystitis, tuberculosis of the lungs, and chronic bronchitis.
Active ingredients:
Thyme contains tannins and ascorbic acid (mg %): flowers - 166, leaves - 565, and stems - 58. The herb also contains between 0.3 to 1.5% essential oil, phytoncides, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, vitamins C, B1, B2, and many other substances. The essential oil (usually about 1.2% in common thyme) - colorless or slightly yellow - contains aromatic phenols, tricyclic sesquiterpenes, geranyl acetate, free alcohols, thymol (an antiseptic substance), carvacrol, fatty oil, bitterness, and phytoncides. Beginning with Folk Medicine:
In folk medicine, thyme leaves were used in thyme infusions - to treat alcoholism and insect bites; steamed herb - to relieve itching and dissolve skin infiltrates. Folk medicine also recommends sniffing thyme powder for colds, washing the head with thyme decoction for dandruff or hair loss, as well as for headaches and insomnia. An ointment made with thyme-infused vegetable oil effectively helps with mild frostbite and burns, as well as against cramps. A spirit tincture of thyme herb is used for toothache (a small piece of cotton wool soaked in the tincture is placed in the cavity of the painful tooth). It was believed that thyme "cheers the heart" - that is, it uplifts the overall body tone. And this is completely justified. Beginning with Magic:
Thyme is known as a love herb. Its primary use is in various potions associated with manipulating human emotions. Thyme is used not only as a remedy for sexual problems but also as a magical plant that can influence people's intimate sphere of life and steer it in a desired direction. However, there are some nuances to consider. Many believe that the goddess protector of this plant is Aphrodite. In mythology, she is the goddess of love and beauty and symbolizes the forbidden fruit desired by men. This contradicts the belief that thyme can dampen lust and romantic impulses. This is the main feature of thyme as a magical plant - it does not increase interest in someone. It acts as a strengthener of existing relationships. In other words, if you wish to calm an existing bond or deepen the connection with your current partner, thyme is always at your service. Thyme acts gently and rationally - it does not render men impotent or women frigid, nor is it used in break-up potions. It allows individuals to reassess what they have and make a logical choice. Therefore, thyme might be more suited to be associated with Hera, the protector of faithful friends and wives, rather than Aphrodite.
Myths and Legends:
The oldest legend is about Zeus.
When Cronus dethroned and then killed his father Uranus, he married his sister Rhea and became the ruler of Hellas. But he could not peacefully rule as his dying father predicted that a similar fate awaited him - he would also be overthrown by one of his sons. The Titan did not just take this into consideration - this prophecy became his obsessive thought. And he swallowed all of his children born to him by Rhea. One after another... And when five children had already been killed, Rhea finally decided to save at least one of her children - her own blood, after all. The boy was born in secret, on a dark night on Mount Lycaeum in Arcadia (where, rumor has it, no shadow had fallen from any living creature). After bathing the newborn in the river Neda, Rhea handed her son to Gaia - Earth, who then took him to the island of Crete - where she hid him in a cave on Mount Dicte. The resourceful wife passed off a swaddled stone to her husband, which he peacefully swallowed instead of the child.
Zeus grew up on Crete, cared for by the nymphs Adrasteia and Ida, who fed him with honey and milk from the divine goat Amalthea. And here is the first mention of thyme - because the honey was collected by bees from the miraculous plant covering the slopes of Mount Dicte, which fed Amalthea who nurtured the child. So it can be said that thyme played a significant role not only in the future of the little child but also of a whole country and even the world.
Due to this, thyme was called "dictamnus," sometimes - "dictamnus." There were various variations, but all of them were associated with the name of Mount Dicte. In the Russian language, an erroneous translation took hold - and this plant began to be called "yasenets." Yasnets belongs to the family of Rutaceae, whose Latin name is also pronounced as "Dictamnus." Dictamnus is a plant of the Lamiaceae (or Labiatae) family - Cretan thyme (Origanum dictamnus).
Aristotle in the 4th century BC in his work "History of Animals" wrote that if a goat living in Crete is wounded by an arrow, the animal goes in search of thyme, which, as believed, can expel the arrow lodged in the body.
About three centuries later, in the 1st century BC, thyme is mentioned in the Aeneid by Virgil, who not only repeats the ancient tradition about goats but also adds to it a beautiful legend: Sorrowful Venus beheld her innocent son tormented.
At once, she plucked yasnets on Mount Dictean Ide,
A stem with a purple flower, curly from the ripe leaves;
This herb is known to swift-footed mountain goats,
Seeking it out, escaping with a feathered arrow in their bodies.
Shrouding her face in a dark cloud,
Venus brings the herb
And secretly immerses it in a shining cup;
With dew filled within, giving it healing power,
She pours the nectar of the gods and the fragrant healing mixture.
Not knowing anything, Iapyx washed the wound with dew,
The pain immediately departed and left the body of Aeneas,
The blood ceased to flow, the deep wound dried,
The arrow's sting obediently, effortlessly,
Came out of the body, and the king regained his former strength.
Recipes:
Culinary
Thyme is often used as a seasoning (oregano) and is actively used in pickling (for pickling mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes) - it preserves the taste and adds a pleasant aroma. Additionally, it increases the shelf life of the dish. However, oregano is traditionally used in main dishes - it adds specificity and uniqueness to them. Thyme is also added to tomato sauces, dishes made from vegetables and eggs, sausages, stews, crab dishes, preserves, stuffing, cheese dishes, spaghetti, peas, beans. It can be mixed with cottage cheese, added to cheeses, soups, and so on.
Thyme-infused oil
Pour a handful of thyme (dried or fresh) into 0.5 liters of oil (sunflower or olive), then infuse for 8-16 hours and strain. The oil can be added to various dishes. For example, in salads.
Meat salad with thyme
Boiled meat, potatoes, fresh and pickled cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, lettuce leaves, canned green peas, lemon juice or vinegar, thyme leaves – mix all these ingredients well, then dress with thyme oil.
Energizing herbal teas
1. Thyme (herb) - 2 parts, marsh cinquefoil (rhizome) 0.5 parts, St. John's wort (herb) - 7 parts, lemon balm (leaves) - 2 parts, juniper (berries) - 0.5 parts, plantain (leaves) - 2 parts, knotgrass (herb) - 1 part, rosehip (fruits) - 3 parts.
Brew tea from 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 0.7 liters of boiling water. Drink in equal portions twice a day - in the morning and evening, 15 minutes before meals.
2. Lemon balm (leaves) - 3 parts, raspberry (leaves) - 3 parts, Labrador tea (leaves) - 3 parts, thyme (herb) - 1 part.
Brew tea from 1 teaspoon of the mixture per 1 glass of boiling water. Infuse for 20 minutes. Drink 1-2 glasses in the first half of the day.
3. Cucumber grass, hawthorn (fruits), thyme (herb), knotweed (herb) - in equal parts.
Brew tea from 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 1 glass of boiling water. Infuse overnight. Drink 1/2 glass twice a day - in the morning and evening.
Against Smoking:
1. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), root 4 parts; common mallow, leaves 4 parts; common thyme, herb 2 parts.
Take 3 tablespoons of the dry crushed mixture, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water into a thermos, infuse for 1-2 hours, strain and drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day when quitting smoking. The infusion relieves withdrawal symptoms, calms the nervous system, and aids in cleansing the lungs.
2. Common thyme, herb 4 parts; peppermint, leaves 4 parts; black currant, leaves 2 parts.
Pour 3 tablespoons of the dry crushed mixture into a thermos with 0.5 liters of boiling water, infuse for half an hour to an hour, strain, and use for rinsing the mouth when the urge to smoke arises. It is also beneficial to consume 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day, half an hour before meals. It alleviates withdrawal symptoms and calms the nervous system.
For Headaches:
1. Peppermint - 1 part; thyme - 1 part; marsh cinquefoil - 1 part.
Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 500 grams of boiling water. Infuse, covering for 30 minutes, strain. Drink 1/2 - 1 glass for headaches.
2. Thyme, herb.
Take 1 tablespoon of dried herb per 0.5 liter of boiling water. Infused, covered for 30 minutes, strain. Consume 0.5 - 1 glass 2-3 times a day for headaches. Not recommended for pregnant women.
For Respiratory Diseases:
1. Common mallow, leaves - 2 parts; thyme, herb - 1 part; chamomile - 2 parts.
Two tablespoons of the crushed mixture per 500 grams of boiling water. Infuse, wrapping for 5-6 hours, strain. Consume 1/2 cup three times a day before meals in warm form. Used for dry bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
2. Wood horsetail, herb - 4 parts; birch buds - 1 part; thyme, herb - 2 parts; common nettle, leaves - 1 part.
Prepare and use as described in the second recipe of this group. Used for chronic bronchitis.
3. Common mallow, leaves - 2 parts; birch leaves - 1 part; chamomile - 2 parts; wood horsetail, herb - 2 parts; thyme, herb - 1 part.
Preparation and application method as in the second recipe of this group. Used for chronic pneumonia.
Contraindications:
Thyme, as well as various preparations/infusions/decoctions and dishes prepared with it as a spice, should not be consumed by pregnant women. It is also advisable for them not to use personal hygiene products that contain thyme.
THYME IN MEDICINE AND MAGIC
Introduction
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
Botanical name: Origanum vulgare L. (from the Greek words oros - mountain and ganymai - rejoice, ganos - shine: "mountain decoration")
Pharmacy: Thyme herb - Origani herba (formerly: Herba Origani)
Genus name: Origanum
Folk names: wild marjoram, mother's joy, joy-bringer, little swan, bee-lover, spiritual flower, sweet marjoram, thyme, aromatic herb, bluegrass, forest mint, flea herb, bedbug grass, bone-breaking herb; dittany of Crete (English), Dost (German), oregano (Spanish).
In ancient manuscripts, thyme was called "dictamnon" or sometimes "dictamnus". There were various variations, but all of them were associated with the name of Mount Dicte.
Planet: Mercury, Venus
Zodiac sign: Libra, Pisces
Element: Air
Aura: Warm
Flower language: Contentment, significance
Main properties: protection from evil forces, love
Thyme Description:
Perennial herbaceous plant up to 70 cm tall.
The rootstock is highly branched, creeping; the thin roots are adventitious.
Stems are green or purple (reddish), erect, four-angled, branching at the top and sometimes also at the base. They are covered with soft hairs on the outside, with a round cross-section.
Leaves are opposite, petiolate, finely toothed, elongated-ovate or elliptical, dark green on top, grayish-green underneath, and covered with delicate hairs with visible black dots-glands.
Flowers are small, irregular, numerous, with lilac-pink (sometimes almost white) indistinct two-lipped corolla (5-10 mm long), regular purple calyx (with five triangular-lanceolate teeth), and dark purple bracts, gathered into spreading spike-like inflorescences. The tube and four stamens, two longer and two shorter, prominently protrude from the flower calyx.
Fruits are dry, shiny brownish-brown nuts (0.5-10 mm long), four in each calyx. The weight of 1000 seeds is about 0.1 g. The entire plant has a pleasant scent.
Habitat:
Thyme is native to the Mediterranean region. However, it also grows in Western and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, mountainous regions of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia, and as an introduced plant is found in the Russian Far East - particularly in Primorsky and Amur regions. In Europe, its range stretches from the Mediterranean to Scotland and Norway, and in Western Asia - to the Himalayas. Thyme is cultivated in the USA, France, and several other countries. In Russia, it grows throughout (except for the Far North): in meadows, grasslands, on edges, in river valleys, on forest clearings, and along roadsides (although it is not recommended to gather thyme growing along roadsides), in shrub thickets, on dry open herbaceous areas, on hillsides, in sparse and light coniferous and birch forests (always preferring bright and dry places). In the forest-steppe zone, this plant is more common than in the forest zone.
Parts Used:
The medicinal raw material is the herb of thyme - the upper part of the shoots with flowers and leaves. Harvest and Preparation:
Blooming Thyme Thyme blooms in July-August, starting from the second year of its existence. It winters well and begins vegetation at the end of February - beginning of March. This plant is harvested during flowering, starting from the second year of growth.
Thyme shoots should not be pulled out, or the entire plant will die. It is necessary to cut thyme with a knife, scissors, or secateurs at a height of 15-30 centimeters, ensuring that the collected green mass contains a minimal number of stems. For wild-growing plants, you can cut fewer shoots - after which it needs to "rest" for two years.
The harvesting of the herb is carried out in dry (preferably sunny) weather. It is dried in attics (or alternatively, outdoors in the shade or in special dryers), spread out on paper or canvas in a loose layer of 5-7 centimeters, and turned over 1-2 times a day. In urban conditions, herb bundles are dried by hanging them on a string while protecting them from drafts and sunlight. The temperature during drying should not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. These are the conditions for preparing the herb as a spice. In terms of obtaining essential oil, the above-ground mass is processed using hydrodistillation immediately after harvesting.
Drying is considered successful when the dried plants do not change color, retain a strong aroma, and have a slightly bitter-spicy, slightly astringent taste, with the stems breaking easily when bent. Dried thyme should be ground to remove coarse stems and stored in glass jars with airtight lids. It can be stored in this form for two to three years.
The yield of green mass in the second year of growth is 4-5 tons per hectare, and in subsequent years, it can reach 20-25 tons per hectare. With an average yield of essential oil at 0.26%, thyme collection amounts to 10-13 kg per hectare in the first year of harvest and 50-65 kg per hectare in the following three to four years. After that, the yield decreases sharply, and a new plantation is established in a different location.
For magical purposes:
Thyme is harvested at the end of July, after sunrise, during the waxing moon. Beginning with Medicine:
This medicinal herb has been known for several thousand years. Among the authors who recommended it for treating various illnesses were Hippocrates, Aristotle, Dioscorides, Pliny, and Avicenna. One of the most actively used properties of thyme is its incredible abilities in treating women's health issues: it helps with menstrual cycle irregularities, menstrual delays, and severe menstrual pain. It aids in managing PMS, severe menopausal symptoms (providing a soothing effect). For nursing mothers, it increases lactation. Another popular use of thyme is for its abortive qualities. Thyme helps with sexual disorders - for example, excessive sexual arousal in men. And it almost does not diminish male potency. In terms of children, thyme has a calming effect on them, sometimes even acting as a mild sedative. Additionally, thyme enhances intestinal peristalsis, increases intestinal tone, boosts its secretory function (increasing gastric juice and bile production), improves digestion, and stimulates appetite.
Thyme is used as an anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic, and hemostatic agent. It is applied as a sedative for neuroses, insomnia, headaches, and for gastritis with reduced secretion, dyskinesia of the biliary tract, cholecystitis, tuberculosis of the lungs, and chronic bronchitis.
Active ingredients:
Thyme contains tannins and ascorbic acid (mg %): flowers - 166, leaves - 565, and stems - 58. The herb also contains between 0.3 to 1.5% essential oil, phytoncides, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, vitamins C, B1, B2, and many other substances. The essential oil (usually about 1.2% in common thyme) - colorless or slightly yellow - contains aromatic phenols, tricyclic sesquiterpenes, geranyl acetate, free alcohols, thymol (an antiseptic substance), carvacrol, fatty oil, bitterness, and phytoncides. Beginning with Folk Medicine:
In folk medicine, thyme leaves were used in thyme infusions - to treat alcoholism and insect bites; steamed herb - to relieve itching and dissolve skin infiltrates. Folk medicine also recommends sniffing thyme powder for colds, washing the head with thyme decoction for dandruff or hair loss, as well as for headaches and insomnia. An ointment made with thyme-infused vegetable oil effectively helps with mild frostbite and burns, as well as against cramps. A spirit tincture of thyme herb is used for toothache (a small piece of cotton wool soaked in the tincture is placed in the cavity of the painful tooth). It was believed that thyme "cheers the heart" - that is, it uplifts the overall body tone. And this is completely justified. Beginning with Magic:
Thyme is known as a love herb. Its primary use is in various potions associated with manipulating human emotions. Thyme is used not only as a remedy for sexual problems but also as a magical plant that can influence people's intimate sphere of life and steer it in a desired direction. However, there are some nuances to consider. Many believe that the goddess protector of this plant is Aphrodite. In mythology, she is the goddess of love and beauty and symbolizes the forbidden fruit desired by men. This contradicts the belief that thyme can dampen lust and romantic impulses. This is the main feature of thyme as a magical plant - it does not increase interest in someone. It acts as a strengthener of existing relationships. In other words, if you wish to calm an existing bond or deepen the connection with your current partner, thyme is always at your service. Thyme acts gently and rationally - it does not render men impotent or women frigid, nor is it used in break-up potions. It allows individuals to reassess what they have and make a logical choice. Therefore, thyme might be more suited to be associated with Hera, the protector of faithful friends and wives, rather than Aphrodite.
Myths and Legends:
The oldest legend is about Zeus.
When Cronus dethroned and then killed his father Uranus, he married his sister Rhea and became the ruler of Hellas. But he could not peacefully rule as his dying father predicted that a similar fate awaited him - he would also be overthrown by one of his sons. The Titan did not just take this into consideration - this prophecy became his obsessive thought. And he swallowed all of his children born to him by Rhea. One after another... And when five children had already been killed, Rhea finally decided to save at least one of her children - her own blood, after all. The boy was born in secret, on a dark night on Mount Lycaeum in Arcadia (where, rumor has it, no shadow had fallen from any living creature). After bathing the newborn in the river Neda, Rhea handed her son to Gaia - Earth, who then took him to the island of Crete - where she hid him in a cave on Mount Dicte. The resourceful wife passed off a swaddled stone to her husband, which he peacefully swallowed instead of the child.
Zeus grew up on Crete, cared for by the nymphs Adrasteia and Ida, who fed him with honey and milk from the divine goat Amalthea. And here is the first mention of thyme - because the honey was collected by bees from the miraculous plant covering the slopes of Mount Dicte, which fed Amalthea who nurtured the child. So it can be said that thyme played a significant role not only in the future of the little child but also of a whole country and even the world.
Due to this, thyme was called "dictamnus," sometimes - "dictamnus." There were various variations, but all of them were associated with the name of Mount Dicte. In the Russian language, an erroneous translation took hold - and this plant began to be called "yasenets." Yasnets belongs to the family of Rutaceae, whose Latin name is also pronounced as "Dictamnus." Dictamnus is a plant of the Lamiaceae (or Labiatae) family - Cretan thyme (Origanum dictamnus).
Aristotle in the 4th century BC in his work "History of Animals" wrote that if a goat living in Crete is wounded by an arrow, the animal goes in search of thyme, which, as believed, can expel the arrow lodged in the body.
About three centuries later, in the 1st century BC, thyme is mentioned in the Aeneid by Virgil, who not only repeats the ancient tradition about goats but also adds to it a beautiful legend: Sorrowful Venus beheld her innocent son tormented.
At once, she plucked yasnets on Mount Dictean Ide,
A stem with a purple flower, curly from the ripe leaves;
This herb is known to swift-footed mountain goats,
Seeking it out, escaping with a feathered arrow in their bodies.
Shrouding her face in a dark cloud,
Venus brings the herb
And secretly immerses it in a shining cup;
With dew filled within, giving it healing power,
She pours the nectar of the gods and the fragrant healing mixture.
Not knowing anything, Iapyx washed the wound with dew,
The pain immediately departed and left the body of Aeneas,
The blood ceased to flow, the deep wound dried,
The arrow's sting obediently, effortlessly,
Came out of the body, and the king regained his former strength.
Recipes:
Culinary
Thyme is often used as a seasoning (oregano) and is actively used in pickling (for pickling mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes) - it preserves the taste and adds a pleasant aroma. Additionally, it increases the shelf life of the dish. However, oregano is traditionally used in main dishes - it adds specificity and uniqueness to them. Thyme is also added to tomato sauces, dishes made from vegetables and eggs, sausages, stews, crab dishes, preserves, stuffing, cheese dishes, spaghetti, peas, beans. It can be mixed with cottage cheese, added to cheeses, soups, and so on.
Thyme-infused oil
Pour a handful of thyme (dried or fresh) into 0.5 liters of oil (sunflower or olive), then infuse for 8-16 hours and strain. The oil can be added to various dishes. For example, in salads.
Meat salad with thyme
Boiled meat, potatoes, fresh and pickled cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, lettuce leaves, canned green peas, lemon juice or vinegar, thyme leaves – mix all these ingredients well, then dress with thyme oil.
Energizing herbal teas
1. Thyme (herb) - 2 parts, marsh cinquefoil (rhizome) 0.5 parts, St. John's wort (herb) - 7 parts, lemon balm (leaves) - 2 parts, juniper (berries) - 0.5 parts, plantain (leaves) - 2 parts, knotgrass (herb) - 1 part, rosehip (fruits) - 3 parts.
Brew tea from 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 0.7 liters of boiling water. Drink in equal portions twice a day - in the morning and evening, 15 minutes before meals.
2. Lemon balm (leaves) - 3 parts, raspberry (leaves) - 3 parts, Labrador tea (leaves) - 3 parts, thyme (herb) - 1 part.
Brew tea from 1 teaspoon of the mixture per 1 glass of boiling water. Infuse for 20 minutes. Drink 1-2 glasses in the first half of the day.
3. Cucumber grass, hawthorn (fruits), thyme (herb), knotweed (herb) - in equal parts.
Brew tea from 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 1 glass of boiling water. Infuse overnight. Drink 1/2 glass twice a day - in the morning and evening.
Against Smoking:
1. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), root 4 parts; common mallow, leaves 4 parts; common thyme, herb 2 parts.
Take 3 tablespoons of the dry crushed mixture, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water into a thermos, infuse for 1-2 hours, strain and drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day when quitting smoking. The infusion relieves withdrawal symptoms, calms the nervous system, and aids in cleansing the lungs.
2. Common thyme, herb 4 parts; peppermint, leaves 4 parts; black currant, leaves 2 parts.
Pour 3 tablespoons of the dry crushed mixture into a thermos with 0.5 liters of boiling water, infuse for half an hour to an hour, strain, and use for rinsing the mouth when the urge to smoke arises. It is also beneficial to consume 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day, half an hour before meals. It alleviates withdrawal symptoms and calms the nervous system.
For Headaches:
1. Peppermint - 1 part; thyme - 1 part; marsh cinquefoil - 1 part.
Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 500 grams of boiling water. Infuse, covering for 30 minutes, strain. Drink 1/2 - 1 glass for headaches.
2. Thyme, herb.
Take 1 tablespoon of dried herb per 0.5 liter of boiling water. Infused, covered for 30 minutes, strain. Consume 0.5 - 1 glass 2-3 times a day for headaches. Not recommended for pregnant women.
For Respiratory Diseases:
1. Common mallow, leaves - 2 parts; thyme, herb - 1 part; chamomile - 2 parts.
Two tablespoons of the crushed mixture per 500 grams of boiling water. Infuse, wrapping for 5-6 hours, strain. Consume 1/2 cup three times a day before meals in warm form. Used for dry bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
2. Wood horsetail, herb - 4 parts; birch buds - 1 part; thyme, herb - 2 parts; common nettle, leaves - 1 part.
Prepare and use as described in the second recipe of this group. Used for chronic bronchitis.
3. Common mallow, leaves - 2 parts; birch leaves - 1 part; chamomile - 2 parts; wood horsetail, herb - 2 parts; thyme, herb - 1 part.
Preparation and application method as in the second recipe of this group. Used for chronic pneumonia.
Contraindications:
Thyme, as well as various preparations/infusions/decoctions and dishes prepared with it as a spice, should not be consumed by pregnant women. It is also advisable for them not to use personal hygiene products that contain thyme.
