MOTHER OF THYME THYMUS SERPYLLUM

MOTHER OF THYME (Thymus serpyllum L.) +++

Foster and Duke (1985) treat mother of thyme as T. pulegioides (FAD), Tucker and Debaggio (TAD) add that most so-called wild thyme or mother of thyme on sale or escaped in the U.S. is T. pulegioides or T. praecox var. arcticus (“distinguishing characteristics are tiny” (TAD)). USDA recognizes both T. pulegioides and T. serpyllum as wild thyme. It is highly likely that most chemical and medicinal studies are unvouchered so we’ll never really know which species was intended. I suspect that Americans had best consult data on T. pulegioides and Europeans this entry, T. serpyllum. There are few major differences in the chemical and medical, as with the morphological characteristics.

Activities (Mother of Thyme) :
Analgesic (1; FAD; PH2); Antihormonal (1; HH2; PH2); Antiseptic (2; KOM; PIP; TAD); Antispasmodic (1; FAD; PIP); Antithyroid (1; AKT); Antitussive (1; PH2); Cardiotonic (1; FAD); Carminative (f; MAD; PHR); Depurative (f; FAD); Diuretic (f; MAD); Emmenagogue (f; FEL; MAD); Expectorant (1; FAD; MAD; PH2); Fungicide (1; TAD); Hemostat (f; MAD); Hypotensive (1; FAD); Respiratonic (1; FAD); Secretomotor (1; PHR); Stomachic (f; MAD; PHR); Thyrotropic (1; HH2; PH2); Tonic (f; MAD); Vulnerary (f; MAD).

Indications (Mother of Thyme) :
Abscess (f; HH2); Adenopathy (f; JLH; MAD); Angina (f; FAD); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Asthma (f; MAD); Bleeding (f; MAD); Bronchosis (2; MAD; PHR; PH2); Cancer (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, pituitary (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; COX; JLH); Catarrh (2; HH2; KOM; MAD; PIP); Chill (f; MAD); Chlorosis (f; MAD); Cholecystosis (f; PHR); Cholera (f; MAD); Cold (f; MAD); Colic (f; MAD; PH2); Cough (2; FAD; HH2; MAD; PHR); Cramp (1; FAD; HAD; HH2; PIP); Dermatosis (f; PH2); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dislocation (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; FEL; MAD); Enterosis (f; JLH; MAD); Epigastrosis (f; MAD); Epilepsy (f; MAD); Flu (f; FAD); Fracture (f; MAD); Fungus (1; TAD); Gas (f; MAD; PHR; PH2); Gastrosis (f; MAD); Hangover (f; MAD); Headache (f; MAD); Hemicrania (f; MAD); High Blood Pressure (1; FAD); Hysteria (f; MAD); Infection (1; HH2; TAD); Ischiosis (f; HH2); Itch (f; PH2); Leukorrhea (f; MAD); Mycosis (1; TAD); Nephrosis (f; PHR); Neurosis (f; FAD; MAD); Pain (1; FAD; HH2; PH2); Pertussis (f; MAD; PH2); Phrenosis (f; MAD); Respirosis (2; KOM; HH2; MAD; PH2; PIP); Rheumatism (f; HH2; PHR; PH2); Scrofula (f; MAD); Sore (f; HH2); Sore Throat (f; FEL); Splenosis (f; JLH; MAD); Sprain (f; PHR; PH2); Stomachache (f; FAD; MAD); Swelling (f; MAD); Toothache (1; FAD; PH2; WOI); Ulcer (f; MAD); Uterosis (f; JLH; MAD); Vertigo (f; MAD); Vomiting (f; PH2); Water Retention (f; MAD); Wound (f; HH2)

Dosages (Mother of Thyme) :
4–6 g/day herb (KOM; PH2; PIP); 2 tsp (~3.8 g) herb in hot tea (MAD); 1.5–2 g drug/cup water (PHR); 1 g herb/liter filtered water, or 4 mg EO to bath (PH2); 5–15 g liquid extract (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mother of Thyme) :
None reported (PIP). Oil is toxic and very irritant to the skin (FAD).