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Thyme is in the Mint family and is probably best known as dried leaves used in seasoning, most commonly in bouquet garni or fines herbes. Thymus is derived from a Greek word meaning "to fumigate." Like other members of the Mint family, thyme is rich in oils that are extracted for culinary as well as medicinal purposes.
The warm, breezy Mediterranean region is the ancestral home of thyme. To cultivate this lovely herb in your own climate, try to replicate that sunny, sandy, well-drained habitat. A low, vinelike creeper, rarely growing more than twelve inches tall, thyme is easily propagated by layering, dividing, or from seed. One of the many charms of thyme is that there are so many varieties of color, leaf and scent. Harvest fresh leaves throughout the summer. For best flavor, pick right before the first flowers open. Thyme's antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a popular ingredient in mouthwash and cough and cold remedies. A cup of hot thyme tea is good for treating congestion in the chest and stubborn coughs or difficult breathing. It can also be used as remedy for athelete's foot. Thyme is a safe herb for anyone to use but too much of it can cause intestinal problems. Use in moderation, especially if pregnant. Sources: Handbook on Herbs - Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, 1978 http://www.gardenguides.com |
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Lavender Ladybugs Mint Answers to Spring Equinox Quix Dandelion for Spring Tonic Fiddleheads Nettles for Spring Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: FLAX BLOSSOMS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: BOX SPRIGS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE Holly Crocus Brighid's Imbolc Garden Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Hawthorn Cure for Fairy Stroke Cure for ElfShot Cure for Flea Infestation Cure for Giggling Fits Hemorrhoid Remedy Flatulence Itching Love Spell Cure Warts & Carbuncles |
