Thyme

See also: Thymus

Thymus is one of Plante S (usually called thyme ) of Lamiacées. This kind comprises more than 300 S. They are plants crawling or in bearing carrying of small flowers pale pink or white. These plants rich in essential oils and are for this reason belonged to the aromatic plants. The principal essential oil of Thymus vulgaris is a Terpénoïde which owes him its name, the Thymol, a bactericidal substance. In the south of France, thyme is also frequently called farigoule.

Botany

Description

  • Hardy perennials , with Limb foliar entirety.

  • Inflorescence formed, at least in its upper part of Cluster S brought closer in the shape to flowerhead or dense ear.
  • For the examination of the distribution of the hairs on the stem, one will be based preferably on the 2nd entrenœud under the inflorescence.
  • Cheesecloth S exceeding the upper lip of the corolla (at least 2 of them), with divergent nets.

Species

  • Thymus vulgaris , common Thyme
  • Thymus pulegioides , thyme with broad sheets
  • Thymus serpyllum , wild thyme, Wild thyme
  • Thymus citriodorus , lemon-yellow Thym
  • Thymus bleached on grass-barona
  • Thymus pallasianus
  • Thymus praecox , hairy thyme, thyme of the Alps
    • Thymus praecox “Albus” , thyme white
  • Thymus pseudolanuginosus , thyme woolly

Biotope

Western Europe and of the South, established in Eastern Europe and South, cultivated in garden. They are small shrubs.

Components

The thymol and the Carvacrol are the principal components, as well as the p-cymen, 1,8 cinéol, linalool and other monoterpenes, Triterpènes, Flavonoïde S.

The species can be gathered according to Chémotype S identified by the wealth of certain components:

  • chémotype 1: oil rich in carvacrol,
  • chémotype 2: oil rich in aromatic monoterpenes (mainly thymol) and lower in carvacrol, have-terpinene and methyl carvacrol,
  • chémotype 3: oil rich in 1,8-cinéole,
  • chémotype 4: oil rich in linalol,
  • chémotype 5: oil rich in citral,
  • chémotype 6: oil rich in have-terpineol,
  • chémotype 7: oil rich in aromatic monoterpenes and bornéol,
  • chémotype 8: oil rich in géraniol,
  • chémotype 9: oil rich in 1,8-cinéole, camphor and thymol,
  • chémotype 10: oil rich in cis - and trans - hydrates of sabinene and terpinèn-4-ol,
  • chémotype 11: oil rich in ketone,
  • chémotype 12: oil rich in citronellal.

Culture

Thyme is very resistant. It needs sun and pushes in a wild state on the arid and rocky hills of the Mediterranean regions. Germination takes two years also it is preferable to reproduce the plant by division of roots, layering or propagation by cutting. The plantations are carried out to every 30 cm. In each spring, it is preferable to fatten the ground with manure or powder of bone and to cut the plant of half to support the appearance of new growths. On the other hand, one should not put manure during the summer because this surplus contribution of vitamins makes the plant fragile at the time of the frosts. For the culture out of pot, use a porous ground. As they hate the wet grounds, install them in a place raised compared to the alley, so that water runs out. If you must cut them, do it after flowering. As for their mutiplication, it is done by division of the tufts to the primtemps or estival propagation by cutting It can push up to 1500 to 2000 meters of altitude.

The seedlings should be renewed every three years if not the stem becomes too woody and its sheets lose their so characteristic taste.

History

Thymus means “to scent”, because of the pleasant odor that the plant releases.

The Egyptians and the Etruscans used the thyme mixed with other ingredients for embaumer their deaths. The Greeks burned some in front of the furnace bridge of their gods, the public places and the rich person residences; they also put some in their dishes; thyme was as used with profusion as stimulating perfume as they poured in their bath or of which they oignaient the body. The legend wants that thyme was born from the tears of the beautiful Helene. The Romans made many kinds of cosmetics of them.

This symbol of courage remains in Northern Europe until the time of the Crusades. The damoiselles ones embroidered bees fluttering close to a thyme branch on the scarves which they offered to their knight who left too much far from their heart to the country the barbarians.

Uses

Thyme is used as aromatic in kitchen and like plants medicinal, in herb teas or even in the candies (Ricola for example).

Culinary

Thyme is an aromatic very much used in particular in the kitchen of Provence. With the bay-tree and the Parsley, it belongs to the Bouquet furnished which concerns many sauce meat receipts.

Properties medicinal

Thyme is disinfectant and it has antiviral properties. It is also stomachic, expectorant and antispasmodic.

Out of aromatic or infusion, it one disinfecting of the digestive tracts is often used in partnership with the Romarin and the Sauge. Thyme relieves difficult digestions.

The thyme infusion was used in bath of mouth in the event of ignition of the Gencive S and in gargarism in the event of irritation of the throat or of Angine.

But especially the thyme or of the preparations containing of thyme are used in Fumigation to treat the rhinitides and the Sinusite S.

Liquor

Thyme can be also used to manufacture particularly scented liquors when they are containing collected flowers the summer.

External bonds

  • Herb teas and old remedies: thyme

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