Thyme (thyme, Bogorodskaya herb)

People often ask, are thyme and thyme the same thing? Yes, these are the names of the same plant.

Other popular names: creeping thyme, Bogorodskaya grass, muhopal, greed, pine pepper. Belongs to the family of yasnotkovye.

Thyme is a perennial plant. Above 15 cm does not grow. It is not by chance that it is called "creeping". Thyme really spreads in different directions, its thin shoots practically lie on the ground, and the stems with flowers are raised.

The branches are covered with small leaves, the length of which is 0.5 - 1 cm. Their shape resembles an ellipse with a pointed end. The petiole is short. From the upper side, the leaf is smooth, its lower part is light, one might say grayish, and slightly pubescent.

Small flowers are painted in a delicate pinkish-lilac color. They are located closer to the ends of the stems and are collected in small bunches. The calyx is a two-lipped bell with four stamens and a long pistil. Pulling out the plant with a root, you will see that it is pivotal. Thyme blooms in June-July. It is very fragrant. Therefore, bees and butterflies circle around him.

By autumn, at the locations of the flowers, fruits in the form of an oval nutlet appear, which are enclosed in a box.

The thyme genus includes 214 plant species. Of these, about 170 are found on the territory of the Russian Federation and the states bordering it:

• Common thyme. This type of thyme reaches a height of 15 cm. Its leaves are rather small and have a margin on the inside. Flowers may be white or lavender. Subspecies of common thyme are stunted plants.
• Lemon thyme. This is a hybrid based on the plant described above. Named lemon because of the characteristic citrus aroma. Young leaves have a light yellow color, which changes with the age of the plant to light green. It does not tolerate frost well, so it should be covered for the winter. If such a plant is cut, it will become thick.
• Creeping thyme. Its shoots really seem to be spreading in different directions from the central part. The color of the flowers of this type of thyme can be white, raspberry or pink. The flowering period lasts from July to August.

Thyme is native to the Mediterranean. In the countries of southern Europe, thyme occurs naturally as an evergreen small shrub. Cultivated in the south of Europe and America, the north of the African continent. The temperate zone is where it grows. Prefers steppe regions. You can meet thyme on rocky and rocky areas. He also loves the outskirts of the forest. In forest areas, thyme prefers open areas.

The raw material is the entire ground part. When harvesting the plant, do not damage the root system. The plant takes a very long time to recover. Thyme is harvested in June-July. The most ideal moment is the beginning of flowering. It is during this period that thyme is especially fragrant. Drying in the shade. The plant is laid out on fabric or paper. The layer should be no more than 7 cm. During the drying process, it is mixed. The stems can be removed by threshing the dried plant.

The finished raw material is placed in a tightly closed container and stored for 2 years.

Thyme is an excellent honey plant. Bees make honey from it, which has a unique saturation of aroma.

• The plant has a very strong fragrance.
• When dried, it has a bitter-spicy and pungent taste.

100 g thyme herb contains:

• Water - 7.79 g;
• Carbohydrates - 63.94 g;
• Dietary fiber - 37 g;
• Fats - 7.43 g;
• Proteins - 9.11 g;
• Ash - 11.74 g.

The energy value of 100 grams of raw materials is 101 kcal, dry - 273 kcal, and in tea - 5 kcal (in 200 ml).

• essential oil - 1% (thymol, carvacrol, cymol, terpenoids);
• flavonoids;
• tannins;
• gum;
• acids (oleanolic, ursolic);
• vitamins (A, E, C, K, B1, B2, B6, B9, PP);
• minerals (K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Mn, Cu, Se, Zn).

You can learn about the unique properties of thyme from an excerpt from the program "Live great!":

Useful properties of thyme are due to the presence in its composition of the main component - thymol. In this regard, thyme has the following properties:

• antiseptic;
• disinfectants;
• bactericidal;
• antifungal;
• expectorant;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antispasmodic and analgesic;
• anthelmintic;
• diuretics.

• The plant can be harmful if abused. An overdose threatens with insomnia, and in large quantities - poisoning.
• Some drugs are incompatible with the simultaneous use of thyme. Therefore, do not forget to consult a specialist before use.
• Bogorodskaya grass, like a sponge, absorbs toxins. Therefore, it must be collected away from highways and industrial enterprises.

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• stomach ulcer;
• pregnancy;
• cardiosclerosis;
• decompensation of cardiac activity;
• ciliary arrhythmia;
• atherosclerosis;
• children's age - up to 3 years.

Thyme is a wonderful spice. It is added:

• in sauces, for example, in lemon-garlic;
• in meat dishes (lamb, pork) and fish;
• to vegetable and egg dishes;
• in marinades used in the preservation of tomatoes, cucumbers, apples;
• to smoked meats, whether it be fish or meat;
• in baking, flavoring baguettes, various cookies and pies;
• in marinades, which are used in the preparation of meat dishes. Thyme, rosemary and grated lemon zest are its ideal ingredients. Thyme will not only give the dish an amazing aroma, but also positively affect the digestion process. Thus, this application of it is both tasty and healthy at the same time.

The beneficial properties of thyme have been known for a long time. Its medicinal properties are officially recognized by medicine:

• With the help of lotions from a decoction of thyme, you can relieve swelling and pain after insect bites.
• The sedative properties of thyme are used for depression and disorders of the nervous system. It remarkably calms the upset psyche and is used as a remedy for chronic fatigue syndrome.
• A restless and hard-to-sleep baby will be helped by a bath with thyme.
• You can rinse your mouth with a decoction of thyme. This will get rid of the bad smell.
• Thyme treats colds: cough, bronchitis, sore throat. It is prescribed for pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Thyme is a remedy for flatulence.
• Thyme treats rheumatoid diseases, arthritis.
• Thyme is a plant for men. It can be used as a prophylactic against prostatitis. In addition, thyme has a positive effect on male potency.
• Traditional medicine recommends decoctions based on thyme in the fight against alcoholism. Thymol, which is part of thyme, is incompatible with alcohol and, as a result, nausea and vomiting occur. A decoction of thyme causes a strong aversion to alcohol. It is used for 2 weeks. To prepare it, a glass of boiling water (250 ml) is poured into 15 g of a dry plant. The broth is placed in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. The resulting infusion is filtered and diluted with another glass of boiling water. You need to drink it 4 times a day, 50 g each. Watch for the freshness of the medicine. It should not be used if stored for three days.
• With inflammation in the mouth, pharynx, infusion is used for rinsing.
• Since thyme has antiseptic properties, its decoction is used to treat skin covered with a rash.

It is not difficult to prepare a medicinal decoction or infusion. As a result, you will receive an excellent remedy that will speed up the healing process. The most positive thing about this is that this medicine is very pleasant to the taste. To make such a life-giving elixir, you need to take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry raw materials and a glass of boiling water. This remedy is infused for about an hour. Strained infusion is taken one to two tablespoons, three times a day.

Particular attention should be paid to the use of thyme by women during pregnancy.If a woman carrying a baby has high blood pressure, then thyme should be excluded from the diet. The most unpleasant moment is that thyme increases blood pressure and this effect persists for a long time. Therefore, even after stopping its use, you will not immediately feel a decrease in pressure. Atrial fibrillation, thyroid disease, kidney disease are also the reason why the use of thyme is categorically contraindicated.

The first three months of pregnancy are very important for the birth and formation of a new life. Any infection can adversely affect this process. Thyme, as a powerful remedy that strengthens the immune system, will have a positive effect on the mother's body during this period. But in the second trimester, you need to keep blood pressure under control. And in case of its increase, immediately stop using Bogorodsk grass.

Bogorodskaya grass helps the body to quickly absorb food. In this regard, it is an ideal component in the process of losing weight. Moreover, being in good shape while dieting is difficult. And thyme will help maintain strength and energy for the whole day. An ideal elixir would be tea with thyme and berries.

Thyme strengthens hair, nails:

• A few drops of thyme oil are added to the water that is used to rinse the hair. This makes them strong and shiny.
• To eliminate dandruff, after washing your hair with a regular shampoo, you should rinse your hair with a cooled decoction. A liter of boiling water is poured into the third part of a glass of dry thyme. An hour later, the decoction is ready for use.

Treats acne:

• The same water enriched with essential oil can be washed.The skin will get rid of acne and rashes.
• Wiping with ice cubes from a frozen decoction of Bogorodsk grass will help to tone the skin.

• Bogorodskaya grass is used in fragrant sachet pads.
• Dried twigs are placed in a closet with woolen products so that moths do not start up in them.
• It is grown as an ornamental plant used in landscape design to create alpine slides.

Thyme oil is obtained by steam distillation. The raw material is the aerial part of the plant with leaves and flowers. Thyme oil has a strong aroma with hints of spice and warmth. It is used in the treatment of many diseases: arthritis, diseases of the urinary system, colds, premenstrual syndrome, low blood pressure, depression, skin diseases, insect bites.

The perfume industry uses thyme oil as an aromatic additive to perfumery waters, in the production of soap, lotion, etc.

Thyme loves unshaded places, so take him a place well lit by the sun.

Start preparing for planting in the fall. Dig well the area where you plan to plant Bogorodsk grass. Remove everything unnecessary: ​​the roots of other plants, weeds. The next step is to fertilize the soil. For this, ordinary manure and fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus are suitable.

With the onset of spring (mid-April), dig the site again and add 20 g of urea to the soil. Landing is made the next day after preparation. The seeds are scattered over the surface and sand is poured on top of them, the layer of which is 1 cm. Next, cover the planting with a film. Seedlings should appear in 2 weeks. The ideal temperature is 20°C. There should be a distance of about 40 cm between rows.And then, if you want to plant thyme, then place the plants 30 cm apart.

Please note that thyme grows very slowly and for a long time. Therefore, if you want the plant to bloom faster, plant seedlings on your windowsill in early spring. Seeds are also sprinkled on top with sand. Young shoots need moisture, they can be sprayed with a spray bottle. Thyme can be planted in open ground after 2.5 months. In one place, thyme can grow for 5 years.

Care for thyme is the same as for any other plant, i.e. weeding, watering, loosening the soil. It is impossible to pour thyme. Just make sure it doesn't get too dry. Thyme tolerates frost well, but before the onset of winter it can be covered with straw. You can feed thyme with urea and manure. Remember: fresh manure is contraindicated for thyme!

Thyme is propagated by seeds or vegetatively. If you decide to plant a large bush of thyme, then divide it carefully so as not to damage the roots. You can propagate thyme using a plant that is 1 year old. The shoot is cut into pieces, the size of which is approximately 5 cm. These petioles are stuck into the soil and covered with a glass jar, which provides such a “blank” with a greenhouse effect. Make sure there is not too much moisture. Otherwise, the petiole will simply rot. It takes 2 weeks for it to take root. An overgrown plant can be pruned. This will in no way negatively affect the "state of health" of the plant.

When harvesting greenery, carefully cut it without damaging the root system. Otherwise, your plant will die.

• Elfin. This is a dwarf thyme. His height is only 5 cm.An overgrown bush in diameter reaches 15 cm. The shoots are tightly intertwined and form a dense carpet.
• Alba. The flowers of this variety are white.
• Splendens. Inflorescences are very bright, carmine-red hue.
• Variety flowers Cossineus scarlet.
• Thyme Bogorodsky Semko. This variety can grow without transplants for 4 years. Its shoots are thin, spreading in different directions. They can give roots and form a new bush. The flowers are pink, sometimes with a purple tint. The taste of the leaves is pungent and bitter.
• Rainbow. Pretty high grade. Its height is about 25 cm. At the same time, the branches of the rainbow thyme slightly rise above the ground. Leaves and shoots of a young plant can be eaten.

• "Bogorodskaya grass" is the most common name for thyme. The name is associated with the traditional summer holiday of the Trinity. The icons of the Mother of God were decorated with thyme grass.
• In ancient Egypt, thyme was an herb used in mummification.
• Translated from Greek, "thyme" means strength. The Greeks considered thyme the personification of strength, fertility. During the rituals of sacrifice to the gods, thyme was thrown into sacrificial fires. Baths with thyme were popular in those days. It was believed that they maintain cheerfulness.
• In Slavic culture, thyme was used in magical rituals and ceremonies to protect against evil spirits, in love spells.