BROAD LEAF THYME RECIPES HOW TO

Brandy is not only a good preservative, but it also serves as an antispasmodic and will help relax the throat muscles, which is helpful in treating a cough. Variation: For a longer shelf life, add 1/4 cup of brandy to each cup of syrup. Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon every couple of hours until the cold or cough subsides. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator, where the honey will keep for 3 to 4 weeks. Add the honey to the warm liquid and stir, just until the honey is melted. Simmer lightly, with the lid ajar to allow the steam to escape, until the liquid is reduced by half, giving you about 2 cups of strong thyme tea. It’s very effective medicine, but also delicious enough to add to sparkling water and serve as a sparkling thyme tisane.Ģ to 4 ounces thyme leaf and flower (fresh is best but dried will do) 1 quart water 1 cup honeyĬombine the thyme and water in a pan over very low heat. I bought my first bottle of thyme syrup in a small market in the south of France, and I’ve been hooked ever since. This is one of my favorite syrups for treating coughs, colds and chest complaints.

Safety factor: Thyme is completely safe and nontoxic.

Key constituents: Essential oil with variable constituents (thymol, cineole, borneol), flavonoids, tannins.

It seems to have a positive effect on the glandular system as a whole, and especially the thymus gland. A recent study shows that it’s rich in antioxidants (most plants are) and has a markedly tonic effect, supporting normal body functions. It also makes a fine tea for treating coughs and chest complaints and is used in many antifungal remedies. One of the best herbal cold remedies, it’s often used to help ward off colds and as a rinse to treat sore throat and oral infections.

Thyme is a powerful and effective disinfectant and can be used both externally (as a wash) and internally to help fight off infection. Just talking about more thyme makes me happy. As the plant matures, it becomes woody and benefits from heavy trimming in the early spring, before new growth commences.

There are many varieties of thyme, some that grow upright and others that are creepers.įor medicinal purposes, choose common garden thyme ( Thymus vulgaris) and/or lemon thyme ( T. Seeds can be sown directly in the soil in the late spring or indoors in flats for an earlier start. Thyme is a hardy perennial that seems to thrive in most climates, though it prefers well-drained, alkaline soil and a sunny location. As bizarre as this may sound, the “thymus thump” has been proved to stimulate thymus gland activity, perhaps much in the same way that knowledgeable gardeners know to stimulate plant growth by shaking their pots or brushing the tops of their plants to simulate stress. Lee became widely known for his thyme salve and his famous “thymus thump”: he’d apply generous amounts of his homemade salve over his thymus gland and then, Tarzan fashion, thump his upper chest, where the thymus gland is located. Paul Lee, a professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz, did a number of studies on thyme and found that it has a major strengthening effect on the thymus gland, thereby enhancing immune function. It’s one of my favorite herbal cold remedies I’ve often used it to make a delicious and effective cough syrup.ĭr. Oddly, diminutive, fragrant thyme is beloved by gardeners and bees alike and has a long and respected medicinal past but is neglected by many contemporary herbalists. You can purchase this book from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store: Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs. In this excerpt from chapter 3, Gladstar gives tips for growing and using thyme - a powerful disinfectant - to make thyme syrup and thyme honey to fight colds and coughs.

BROAD LEAF THYME RECIPES HOW TO

In Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs (Storey Publishing, 2012), Gladstar explains how to grow and use 33 of her favorite herbs to make 124 medicinal recipes, including restorative teas, salves, syrups, and pills. Homemade Cheese Recipes: Cheese Making ArticlesĮffective, safe, and inexpensive, medicinal herbs are simple to grow, and they can be used to naturally fortify your body against common upsets and ailments.Sustainable Farming & Agriculture Articles.Power Equipment Articles - Lawn and Garden Equipment.Raising Ducks and Geese: Articles & Ideas.

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Broad leaf thyme recipes