Thyme Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

An ancient Greek incense. An ingredient in Egyptian embalming practices. A medieval symbol of courage for knights. An herb you probably have in your kitchen.

You’ve probably heard of thyme before (and suffered the puns — don’t worry, I won’t waste too much of your thyme today). But did you know it offers a host of purifying and balancing benefits to your body? Thyme essential oil harnesses the power of this herb to offer you respiratory, immune, skin, hormonal, and brain benefits that you aren’t going to want to miss!

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL BACKGROUND

Steam-distilled from the leaf of Thymus vulgaris, Thyme essential oil contains many powerhouse constituents to help boost your health. Thyme is a member of the mint family and a native to the southern European and Mediterranean regions. It is also a common ingredient in savory dishes!

What’s fantastic about Thyme essential oil is that it takes the benefits of the herb and concentrates it down so it is accessible to your body. Thymol, the main constituent, is a powerful immune-booster and anti-microbial agent that lends this oil to a variety of uses.

Because of the strength of thymol, just be sure you always dilute Thyme essential oil with a carrier oil before you apply it topically.

THYME OFFERS IMMUNE SUPPORT

The antibacterial and antifungal properties of Thyme essential oil can help keep you and your family healthy. Research shows that it is extremely effective against 120 strains of bacteria, some of which were even antibiotic-resistant. It is also a powerful respiratory support oil to help keep your lungs and respiratory passages healthy. You can even use it as a natural cough remedy!

Its pungent, herby aroma pairs well with citrus oils like Lemon and Wild Orange. Try blending these oils in your diffuser to purify the air and support easy breathing.

Thyme essential oil is safe to take internally (as long as you have a bottle that is marked as being safe for consumption). You can also add a couple of drops to a veggie capsule and take daily during the winter to support your body in warding off the cold bugs.

THYME OIL FOR HEALTHY SKIN

Thyme’s cleansing and purifying properties can do wonders to help your skin. Always remember to dilute it before applying, but just adding a drop to a small amount of fractionated coconut or jojoba oil will help it be gentle enough to use!

Its antibacterial properties make Thyme essential oil a good one to reach for in the event of acne breakouts. It can also help soothe eczema flare-ups and keep your skin looking smooth and clear.

SOOTHE THE STRESS WITH THYME

Thyme essential oil’s makeup makes it a great one to have on hand to soothe your tension and to help your stress melt away. Try diffusing Thyme with Wintergreen essential oil to promote feelings of mental clarity. This will soothe the tension you may be holding onto.

Stress is not just emotional. It is a very physical reality for most of us. When we are stressed, our hormones get out of balance and we are more prone to inflammation. This powerful oil can help regulate your body’s inflammatory responses to lessen the physical stress impacting your body!

THYME OIL AND HORMONE BALANCE

Thyme essential oil makes the cut as one of my Top 5 Essential Oils for Hormonal Balance! This is because of the powerful impact it can have in helping you reach homeostasis. It will help balance your progesterone and estrogen levels which can improve your symptoms of infertility, PMS, PCOS, depression, and other imbalances.

The hormone stimulation from Thyme essential oil may even delay the onset of menopause and help relieve your symptoms once it does start!

My favorite way to use Thyme essential oil for hormone support is to dilute it with some coconut oil and apply to my inner ankle and feet. Or get a partner involved for a lovely foot massage that may even prevent snoring!

Here is a great blend to help boost your body’s progesterone production. This is particularly helpful if you have PCOS!

CELL PROTECTION WITH THYME

Thyme essential oil’s anti-inflammatory properties help keep your cells healthy. It penetrates all the way to the genes in your cells to protect your tissues from breaking down. When your body is dealing with inflammation, the stress on your cells can lead to significant problems.

One of the places that is most affected by this inflammation is your brain, which can leave you feeling foggy and fatigued. Thyme essential oil is a great addition to your brain-boosting blends to keep you alert and focused! Carvacrol, one of Thyme’s constituents, helps support your brain health by deactivating damaged cells and protecting the healthy ones.

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL FOR COOKING AND CLEANING

From cleaning to cooking to protecting your family from pests, Thyme essential oil has many different applications for around your home.

In cooking, you can simply replace fresh Thyme in your recipes with the essential oil to give your body a boost. Because the flavor is so concentrated and pungent, start with a toothpick swirl of oil and go up from there until you reach the desired flavor!

In your homemade cleaning products, use Thyme oil paired with citrus essential oils to give them an extra boost during winter months. It is effective at disinfecting bacterial and even mild mold growth. This makes it a great choice to add to your kitchen and bathroom cleaning routines.

THYME AS BUG REPELLENT

Pesky bugs keeping you inside during the warmer months? Thyme is a natural insect repellent, specifically against mosquitoes. Boosting your homemade Bug Off Spray with Thyme essential oil will add some extra protection for you and your family to keep you outside all summer long!

Getting Started with Essential Oils? Let me help!