Herbal Highlight

Thyme
Thymus species

       Thyme likes to grow in full sun in well-drained, alkaline soil, just like it does on the sunny hillsides of their native Mediterranean lands. The plant adapts well to indoor growing conditions but must be in a very sunny window, or supplemented with grow lights.
        The leaf is the part that is used. Thyme is used either to cook with, or as medicine. The best time to harvest the aromatic leaves is during the summer, when they are in bloom, though it can be picked from plants in the winter in temperate zones, and still the aroma will be strong. To preserve the leaves, dry them or put in vinegar or oil.
       The genus name probably derives from the Greek ‘thymon’, which means courage. Many traditional uses relate to that virtue. Roman soldiers bathed in it to give themselves vigor. If a Greek person was said to have “smelled of thyme”, it was a compliment about their elegant style. In Medieval times, ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on tokens for their traveling knights. A soup recipe of 1663 listed among its ingredients beer and thyme, used to overcome shyness. Scottish highlanders drank wild Thyme tea for strength and courage, and to prevent nightmares. The Egyptians used it as a powerful antiseptic and preservative, especially for their embalming, which is one of its present-day uses, as well as a preservative for anatomical and herbarium specimens. Sprigs were clasped by nobility to protect themselves from disease and odor.
       As flavoring, Thyme is mixed with Parsley and Bay in ’bouquet garni’. Add sparingly (due to its strong, pungent flavor) to stocks, marinades, stuffings, sauces and soups. It aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Foods like poultry, shellfish and game, when cooked slowly in wine, will benefit from the use of Thyme. This is a flavor in Benedictine liqueur.Lemon Thyme is particularly well-suited to chicken and fish dishes, hot vegetables, fruit salads and jams.
       Medicinally, make a tea to use as a digestive tonic, for respiratory and digestive infections, and for hangovers. Mix the tea with honey to quell convulsive coughs, colds and sore throats, for bronchitis, whooping cough and asthma. Thyme may also relieve insomnia, poor capillary circulation, muscular pain and stimulate the
production of white corpuscles to resist infection. The essential oil of Thyme (2 or 3 drops mixed with ½ teaspoon of olive oil) is applied as a massage for headaches, also in lotions to treat infected wounds.
       Make a strong tea from the leaf for use as a household disinfectant. Mix with a little alcohol, then spray. Or use the essential oil as a very effective antiseptic room spray –  20 drops in 8 oz. of distilled water and a Tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Spray it in classrooms, offices, courtrooms, hospitals, etc, for instance, during times when the flu is “going around“. Need other effective recipes? Please contact Joanie:
http://everlastinggardener.net/contact_us.htm  
       Make a strong tea to stimulate circulation, and use in baths, facial steams and ointments for rashes. Infuse with Rosemary as a hair rinse to help prevent dandruff. Use the essential oil as an antiseptic in toothpastes and mouthwashes.

(some information obtained from "The Complete Book of Herbs“, by Leslie Bremness,
and from "Holistic Herbal" by David Hoffmann)

Joanie’s Upcoming Classes

Valentine Herbs
Friday, February 12
6:00 until about 8:00 pm

This class promises to be an interesting and enjoyable focus on the Herbs of Love. We will experience and ‘play’ with Herbs that we know and some we don‘t.
Aromatherapy will be included, and we will sample many essential oils.
We’ll also have High Tea, with delicious Herbal foods such as quiche and Lavender chocolate cake.
$20.00 per person.

Attend with a friend and each receive a $1.00 discount.

Make your deposit through PayPal by 10 am, Thursday, Feb 10.

Or have your deposit check of half the class amount in Joanie’s mailbox by Thursday, Feb 10.

Attend with a friend and each of you receives a $1.00 refund at the time of the class.
You may call the evening before the class, to check for availability. If this class time does not suit your schedule, you can arrange with Joanie for a private class.
 

Enjoy a safe and cozy January!