Wild Thyme
OTHER NAME(S): Breckland Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Garden Thyme, Iper, Mother of Thyme, Serpolet, Serpyllum, Shepherd's Thyme, Thym des Jardins, Thym de Bergère, Thym à Feuilles Étroites, Thym Sauvage, Thym Serpolet, Thymus serpyllum, Tomillo Silvestre, Thym sauvage
Overview
Wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a shrub with long, trailing stems that is native to Europe. Its flowering parts have been used in traditional medicine.
Wild thyme contains an essential oil that might have antioxidant and antibacterial effects.
People use wild thyme for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse wild thyme with thyme, which is a similar species, or with Spanish origanum oil, which is sometimes called "Spanish thyme." These are not the same.
Uses
We currently have no information for Wild Thyme overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Wild thyme is commonly consumed in foods. It's flowering parts are possibly safe when used as medicine.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Wild thyme is commonly consumed in foods. It's flowering parts are possibly safe when used as medicine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if wild thyme is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Thyroid disorders: Wild thyme can affect hormones that control the thyroid gland. Talk with your healthcare provider before use if you have a thyroid disorder.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Wild Thyme overview.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of wild thyme might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
References
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Jarić S, Mitrović M, Pavlović P. Review of ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological study of Thymus serpyllum L. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:101978.
- Azhar J, John P, Bhatti A. Thymus serpyllum Exhibits Anti-Diabetic Potential in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Mice: A Combined Biochemical and In Vivo Study. Nutrients 2022;14(17):3561.
- Salaria D, Rolta R, Patel CN, Dev K, Sourirajan A, Kumar V. In vitro and in silico analysis of Thymus serpyllum essential oil as bioactivity enhancer of antibacterial and antifungal agents. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022;40(20):10383-10402.
- Ruiz-Malagón AJ, Rodríguez-Sanchez MJ, Rodríguez-Sojo MJ, et al. Intestinal anti-inflammatory and visceral analgesic effects of a Serpylli herba extract in an experimental model of irritable bowel syndrome in rats. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:967644.