Thyme Essential Oil
I’d say it’s about time we talk about thyme…essential oil.😜 Okay, all bad puns aside, thyme essential oil is the second essential oil I apply to the soles of your feet and to your back in a Raindrop Technique session. It has a lot of similar properties to oregano essential oil, so if you haven’t checked out that blog post yet, head there next to get caught up.
The Nerdy Stuff
Thyme’s Latin name is Thymus vulgaris and, like oregano, is part of the Lamiaceae botanical family. It originates from the Mediterranean region and is now grown world-wide. Thyme essential oil is extracted via steam distillation from the plant’s leaves, stems, and flowers. Most bottles of thyme essential oil come from thyme grown in Europe or the USA.
Like oregano, it contains the constituents thymol, para-cymene, carvacrol, and myrcene. However, it contains these key constituents in different concentrations and has some other constituents that are part of its primary composition.
Thyme’s key constituents are:
Thymol (37-55%)
As thyme’s name suggests, it is primarily made up of thymol, which has strong antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antitumor properties. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5483461)
para-Cymene (14-28%)
An aromatic compound that also has incredible properties. Some of these are: analgesic, immune system stimulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691521002921)
gamma-Terpinene (4-11%)
This is a monoterpene, which is characterized by a light, lemony scent, and is commonly used to flavor food, as well as in perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics for the scent. Gamma-Terpinene is a powerful antioxidant. (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/gamma-Terpinene)
Linalool (3-6.5%)
A naturally occurring alcohol, linalool has a floral, spicy aroma and has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), and antidepressant properties. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/linalool#:~:text=Linalool%20is%20an%20acyclic%20monoterpene,treatment%20of%20certain%20neurological%20disorders.)
Carvacrol (0.5-5.5%)
Known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer action; especially potent against food-borne pathogens (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744941/)
Myrcene (1-2.8%)
A popular flavoring found most often in hops, Myrcene has powerful analgesic (pain-relieving), antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8326332; https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/myrcene)
Actions/Properties
Thyme essential oil has a long list of medical properties and ancient references to its use in the Mediterranean region. In Egypt, it was used in the embalming process, and in ancient Greece, used to disinfect against infectious diseases by fumigation. Here’s a list of thyme essential oil’s pharmaceutical properties (note those that overlap with oregano):
Antiparasitic
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Antiseptic (helps to prevent blood stream infections)
Antirheumatic
Antispasmodic
Antitussive (aids in calming coughs)
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antiviral
Appetite stimulant
Relieves flatulence
Diuretic
Emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow)
Immune system & circulation stimulant
Calms nerves
Cicatrisant (helps wounds heal)
Enjoy a brief video giving you the highlights of thyme essential oil.
Using Thyme Essential Oil
Safety first, folks: Thyme contains a large amount of phenols, just like oregano (thymol & carvacrol), so can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. So, dilution is key. Some may tolerate neat application to the skin, but do a patch test first and don’t apply neat near the face or other mucous membranes. When using aromatically, diffuse rather than inhaling the essential oil directly.
In the Raindrop Technique, thyme essential oil is applied neat (no dilution) to the soles of the feet which contain the largest pores on your body but are also less sensitive to irritation. It is applied after the oregano essential oil, using a reflexology technique. On the back, it is again applied after the oregano essential oil using effleurage (light touch), but your back has been prepped with a neutral massage oil to dilute the oils applied to the back to prevent sensitization, irritation, and reactions.
At home, thyme essential oil has a wealth of potential uses. Thyme, or its primary constituent, thymol, is often used in over the counter mouthwashes, toothpastes, and cough lozenges. You can use it, diluted with a neutral carrier oil, on the skin to help heal acne, abscesses, burns, cuts, insect bites, dermatitis and more. Massaging it into your muscles can help relieve muscular aches, arthritis or rheumatism pain, and improve circulation. Diffusing thyme essential oil can help with respiratory issues, such as coughs, asthma, sinusitis, sore throats, bronchitis, and laryngitis. Inhaling the diffused oil or rubbing some diluted thyme essential oil on the abdomen can relieve symptoms of diarrhea, flatulence, and indigestion.
I personally love to use thyme essential oil to boost my immune system, help me recover from the flu or a cold faster, and soothe headaches, insomnia, and stress. What do you think you would use it for?
Additional Sources
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The complete guide to the use of aromatic oils in aromatherapy, herbalism, health and well-being. Julia Lawless. Thorson’s Publishing, 2012.
Essential Oils Pocket Reference (6th ed.). Life Science Products and Publishing, 2014.
