Various forms of Thyme are available year round but many people prefer to grow their own. Nothing beats the smell and taste of fresh Thyme as long as you know to pick it just as the flowers appear. Once fresh Thyme is harvested it should be stored in either a plastic bag in the crisper or stood straight up in a glass of water on the shelf in the refrigerator for easy access.
The bad news, fresh Thyme does not have a very long shelf life, you will be lucky if it last a week. If you have selected fresh Thyme and decide to dry it then simply hang it upside down in a warm and dry atmosphere for about a week to ten days. Then you can crumble it into a powdery form and stored in a sealed dark container for no more than six months. You want to eliminate the stems as they have a tendency to have a woody taste to them.
Thyme has some medicinal purposes as well as an antiseptic, an expectorant, and deodorant properties as well. When combined with fatty meats Thyme has been known to aid in digestion too, especially with lamb and duck. Herbal medicine has used Thyme for various things such as extracts, teas, compresses, for baths, and for gargles. More modern medicine has chimed in and verified that Thyme just might strengthen the immune system.
Distilled Thyme oils have been used for the commercial use of antiseptics, toothpaste, mouthwash, gargle, hair conditioner, dandruff shampoo, potpourri, and insect repellant. It is also used in the production of certain expectorants that are prescribed for whooping cough and bronchitis. Thyme has also been used in part as an aphrodisiac and in aromatherapy oils as well.
If by some chance you are in the middle of cooking recipes that calls for Thyme and you find that you are out do not fret, it is said that you can use a pinch of oregano as a substitute if you have to. Thyme is very often used when cooking European cuisine but is essential for the correct preparation of French foods as it has that faint lemony taste to it. It has also been said that Thyme is one of the only herbs that a cook can not over season with because the flavor is so mild. Thyme is a primary spice that everyone should have stocked in their pantry.
10 Health Benefits of Thyme
1. Thyme helps lower high blood pressure, and the best way to use it is to replace salt in your food with thyme.
2. Did you know that thyme can cure bad coughs and some cases of lung infections? Thyme is considered a natural antibiotic, that helps your body recover from bad flues and colds. So, drink some thyme water and you’ll get better soon.
3. Thyme contains vitamins C and A, which are very crucial for the immunity of the human body.
4. Thyme also fights Osteoporosis, where your bones become fragile and easy to break. Thyme contains vitamin K, iron, calcium and magnesium.
5. If you suffer from a hair loss condition, use thyme oil to strengthen your hair folliciles and roots.
6. Another great benefit of thyme, is that it fights acne because it is a normal anti-bacterial agent.
7. Thyme protects you from severe digestive problems and prevents constipation. It also protects you from cancer and arteriosclerosis, because it contains high levels of anti-oxidants.
8. The greatest benefit of thyme is that it keeps your digestive system working normally.
9. Thyme is very good for blood circulation; it also protects memory, and memory recall.
10. Last but not least, thyme helps cure urinary tract infections and renal colic - a pain caused by kidney stones, and eventually it dilutes the kidney stones.
Benefits of Thyme
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