Introduction
Thyme tea benefits are increasingly gaining popularity among several groups, and class of thyme lovers. Thyme is a flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. This plant, which has found value among food spices, has over 400 subspecies and can only grow up to 15-30 cm tall and 40 cm wide.
Thyme plant (Thymus vulgaris) is cultivated in most of the European countries together with France, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, etc. It is a perennial shrub. Its leaves are terribly small and vary significantly in form and hair covering, depending on the variety, with every species having a rather completely different scent.
What Are The Nutritional Value Of Thyme?
Thyme plants possess some active essential oil. This oil possesses antibacterial activity against acne causing bacteria. Aside the oil content, thyme also possesses several other vital nutrients such as:
Vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, pantothenic acid, β-carotene.
Minerals: Zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.
Food classes: Carbohydrates, Proteins Oils and fiber.
Amino acids: tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine and valine.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Thyme Tea
Thyme has been reported to possess several antioxidants and bioactive compounds with protect your body from several disease pathogens and autoimmune diseases. when you drink thyme tea, you are absolutely boosting your immune systems and giving your cells the needed ingredients for optimal performance. Here, we list some of the numerous health benefits of drinking thyme tea.
Thyme tea can reduce inflammation in your body
Thyme contains an active compound, thymol, which stop inflammations in your body by inhibiting the inflammation causing enzyme, cyclooxygenase enzyme. This means that thyme tea would be a good home remedy for those suffering rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory diseases.
It possesses antibacterial properties
Thyme has has been used to treat bacteria infection such as staphylococcus, salmonella and E-coli. It is also used against fungal infection like candida albicans. The effectiveness of thyme essential oil in treating microbial infection have been extensively researched on.
Thyme Tea Possess Strong Antioxidants
We already are aware that antioxidants protects the body against free radicals, slow aging processes and detoxify the body of toxic agents. Some of the antioxidants possess anticancer properties. Thyme is fortified with those bioactive compounds such as lutein, zeaxanthine, and naringenin, and some polyphenols. Take a cozy cup of thyme tea today for a healthy living.
May Help Ease Menstrual Cramps.
Thyme contains some active compounds which possess antispasmodic effect. It helps ease the pains associated with menstruation. It may also help in eliminating other side effects associated with menstruation such as mood swings.
May boost your immune system
When your immune system is down, you’d likely be exposed to every form of infection, both the airborne and transmissible infections. Thyme tea is a good remedy for low immunity. Its vitamins and mineral, including zinc, which possess anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antiviral activities coupled to the numerous antioxidants helps in boosting your immunity against disease pathogens.
It improves your cognitive ability
Behavioral abnormalities and cognitive decline in the central nervous system (CNS) are linked to oxidative stress. This means that the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to neuron damage in the hippocampus, causing the impairment of cognitive and memory functions. The antioxidants present in thyme suppress lipid peroxidation and release of free radicals. Another active compound epigenin, slows the deposition of beta-ameloid in the brain. This helps in improving your brain function and nerves cells health.
Thyme tea, therefore, is good for people suffering Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Thyme Tea May Lower Blood Pressure
Thyme is being used in the Mediterranean for treating hypertension. This is because it possesses bioactive compound, rosmarinic acid, which induces normalization of blood pressure and also improves your heart function.
Thyme Has Anti-Poison Properties
For food poisoning, drink a cup of thyme tea before or after each meal. The thymol and carvacrol present in thyme possess anti-poison properties and serve as an antidote against poison in the Roman Empire. Bathing in warm water dosed with thyme could also stop poison, according to a scientific report.
Thyme Is Used In Treating Respiratory Diseases
Thyme has been used in the treatment of several respiratory disorders. It was believed to be an effective remedy for such respiratory diseases as bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, and pharyngitis. The tea is extensively used to treat cold and cough as well as in treating sore throat. When you put uziza fruits and honey to your tea, its effectiveness against respiratory diseases is greatly increased.
Thyme Is Used In Treating Liver Toxicity
Studies showed that thyme tea can stop liver oxidative stress and damage. This is due to its numerous polyphenols content. Also, thyme possesses several antioxidants and vitamin C alongside other vitamins which exert protective functions against liver toxicity. This study, coupled with the anti-poison properties of thyme makes it a must have home remedy.
How To Make Thyme Tea
To make thyme tea, you may either buy thyme tea products from the grocery store or make a your tea from fresh thyme sprigs or the dry leaves.
If you desire to make a tea from fresh thyme sprigs, follow these steps:
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 ½ cup of water
- Orange or lemon juice
- Honey
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the 3 sprigs of fresh thyme in a tea cup (Chop the sprigs into smaller pieces).
- Pour about 1 ½ cup of boiling water into the tea cup and cover.
- Allow to steep for about 10 minutes.
- Add your orange/lemon juice and your honey for taste. (optional).
- Enjoy your tea.
But if you desire to make your tea from dried thyme, follow these steps:
INGREDIENTS
- Dried thyme sprigs or packed thyme from the grocery
- 2 cups of clean water
- Ginger
- Honey
INSTRUCTIONS
- Boil two cups of water in a tea pot
- Place your sprigs of dried thyme or the one you bought in the boiling water.
- Add 3 or 4 slices of ginger.
- Lower the heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain your tea
- Add honey for a taste (Optional).
- Drink your tea.
Do you enjoy our thyme tea recipe? See also,
Amazing recipe for watercress juice and tea
3 Amazing Ways You Can Prepare your Turmeric Tea
Side Effect Of Drinking Thyme Tea
For people with normal health condition, thyme has no none side effects, however, people that are allergic to oregano and other labiaceae family plants may show allergy to thyme tea.
Do not drink the tea if you are undergoing surgery, treating bleeding wounds, as thyme slows blood clotting.
Can A Pregnant Woman Drink The Tea?
Thyme tea has no known scientific effect on pregnancy or breastfeeding mothers. However, caution should be taken against drinking excess thyme tea, as this me pose a risk.
REFERENCES
Soliman, M. M., Aldhahrani, A., & Metwally, M. (2021). Hepatoprotective effect of Thymus vulgaris extract on sodium nitrite-induced changes in oxidative stress, antioxidant and inflammatory marker expression. Scientific reports, 11(1), 5747. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85264-9
Patil, S. M., Ramu, R., Shirahatti, P. S., Shivamallu, C., & Amachawadi, R. G. (2021). A systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Thymus vulgaris Linn. Heliyon, 7(5), e07054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07054
