Wild Thyme
(Thymus serpyllum L., Labiatae)
Also called: Brotherwort, Creeping thyme, Mother of Thyme, Mother thyme, Serpyllum.
Description: Perennial plant,
very variable in form.
This plant has a small stringy, central root producing numerous, very slender,
creeping woody stalks that are reddish or green, 1-2mm (0.03-0.07in) thick
and up to 30cm (12 in) long, they may form a complete sward.
Having two small, roundish, green leaves, set at a joint on short footstalks.
The stems bear flowering shoots 2--15 cm (0 8-6in) high.
Leaves are ovate or lanceolate, 5-16mm (0.2-0.6in) long, 2-8mm (0-07 0-31n)
broad, more or less hairy.
The flowers grow on the top of the stalks among the leaves, in small loose
spikes of a reddish purple colour.
Flowers pink, arranged in more or less crowded heads at the apices of the
shoots.
The appearance of this herb varies slightly in different soils - some leaves
may be dark green and others more hairy.
All parts of the plant are very aromatic with an odour resembling thyme or
lemon, the leaves and flowers have a very sweet scent.
Flowering: May-September.
Part Used: Dried flowering plant.
Plants with an odour of thyme are preferred medicinally.
Habitat and Collection: A creeping evergreen it grows on
banks, roadsides, hills, heaths, meadows, in dry stony places and hilly pastures
throughout Europe.
Common in Britain.
The plant is collected when in flower and dried in thr' shade at less than
35'C (95 F).
Constituents and Action: Volatile oil is the principal constituent,
also a little tannin.
The drug is resolutive for bronchitis and is a suppressant for whooping cough;
it is also used for digestive disorders.
An excellent tonic and an infusion is good if applied for the healing of various
skin eruptions.
Usage: As an infusion (1-2 table-spoonfuls of chopped drug
in 0.5 litre (1 pt) of water and allow to stand, do not heat) for bronchitis,
mainly for whooping cough, also as an anti-diarroeal.
The infusion is also used as an application to wounds and applied to the skin
freely when cold.
It should be taken as a tea and made by pouring 1½ pints of boiling water
on to a teaspoonful of the dried
herb and allowed to stand for five minutes before drinking. It may be sweetened
with a little honey if desired.
Thyme is derived from the greek word thumos - meaning smoke - as it was used in sacrifices because of its fragrant odour. The Greeks name thyme as their emblem of bravery and activity.
Francis Bacon said that the plants 'which do perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but trodden upon and crushed are three, burnet, wild thyme and water mint'.
He also wrote of his garden 'I like also little heaps, in the nature of mole-hills to be set, some with wild thyme, some with pinks and some with germander'.
The delicious flavour of the honey of Hymettus was said to be derived from the wild thyme there, visited by the bees.
