Useful properties of thyme - Bogorodskaya travki

Thymus( thumos), popularly called Bogorodskaya grass or thyme, is a fragrant medicinal half-shrub with a creeping branchy stem, which from the end of May is covered with mauve flowers of small flowers.

Application in antiquity

Useful properties of thyme are known to man since antiquity. In Egypt, it was used for embalming bodies and as a perfume. The Greeks used it as a medicinal plant. Roman soldiers swam in infusion of thyme, gaining strength and courage. Therefore, the word "thyme" is translated from Latin as "strong."Already in those days thyme was used as a spice, appreciating its taste and smell.

Useful properties of thyme in folk medicine

This plant has an essential oil consisting of thymol 40% and other components, due to which the plant is bactericidal. Infusion of herbs normalizes digestion, stops stomach colic. Thyme broth is a good expectorant, it helps to dissolve mucus in the bronchi for lung diseases: bronchitis, bronchial asthma. Herbal decoction rinse the inflamed mouth and throat. Baths with this herb soothe nerves, relax, help relieve stress and headaches, normalize sleep disturbances, treat purulent wounds. On the thyme broth, knead the clay dough for compresses with arthritis.

Useful properties of thyme in cooking

Thanks to a pleasant smell and a spicy-bitter taste, thyme leaves( fresh or dry, ground before use) are used in cooking as a spice and flavor - they give many dishes an exquisite aroma and piquant bitterness, while improvingtaste. Thyme is added to the biscuits, sprinkled with fatty and fried dishes of potatoes with pork, lamb, season fish, game, offal. With thyme, the dishes are digested better. Surprisingly, this spice is combined with cheeses and eggs, enriches the taste of soup from legumes. It gives the smell of smoked products and canned vegetables.

Useful properties of thyme in cosmetology

For the unclean and oily skin is useful herbal compress of this plant. At 2 tablespoons.dry leaves and thyme flowers will require 0.5 liters of mineral water without gas, heated to the state of boiling water. Brew the herb, insist 10 minutes in a sealed container. Strain, wringing out the mass in the infusion. Dampen the linen napkin in a lightly cooled infusion and apply it for 10 minutes to a cleaned face. Change the napkin to soaked in cold water and squeeze the towel. Then after 3 minutes, dry the skin and lubricate with a nutritious cream.

Protection against moths

In the wardrobe thyme will serve as a pleasant fragrance for clothes, and also will discourage moth from things.

Growing in the garden

Thyme, whose photo is given in the article, can be easily grown at home. The plant likes soft calcareous soil, windless and sunny places. Grow it can be from seeds or by dividing a bush, planting according to the scheme of 40x40 cm. Cut flowering twigs over the summer 2-3 times at a height of 10 cm above the ground. The last cutting is not later than the second half of August, so that the plant is strengthened until winter. A fragrant and healthy thyme will not only decorate the garden area, but must be present in the home medicine cabinet and in the kitchen.