Thyme Benefits, Side Effects, and Preparations Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Nutrition Facts Condiments, Pantry Staples, and More The Health Benefits of Thyme Using thyme might boost hair growth and relieve coughing By Malia Frey Malia Frey Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer​, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 05, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN Medically reviewed by Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Benefits Nutrition Select, Prep, and Store Side Effects Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a savory herb that is often used to flavor meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes. It is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae/Labiatae) family and has been used for centuries dating back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. While you might use this easy-to-find herb in your cooking, many people also enjoy the health benefits of thyme. Health Benefits Thyme was used by ancient cultures in temples and during funeral rituals. It also gained popularity as a medicinal aid. The herb is still used by people around the world to treat conditions including: Bad breathSore throatColic in infantsArthritisIndigestionDiarrheaBed wettingSkin disordersParasitesLaryngitisTonsillitis Thyme is also used to stimulate the appetite and to boost water loss. You should note, however, that to date, there is not enough evidence to support the use of thyme for any of these conditions. There is some preliminary evidence that using thyme along with other herbs may help relieve coughing in patients with upper respiratory infections or common colds. Some studies also indicate that herbal combinations that include thyme may help relieve symptoms of bronchitis. Lastly, thyme may help stimulate hair growth. A clinical study found that lavender oil applied topically with essential oils from thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood was able to increase hair growth. Nutrition There are almost no calories in thyme. A single serving of thyme is about 2 tablespoons of the fresh herb or about 1 teaspoon of the dried herb. There is less than 1 calorie in a single serving. The calories in thyme come from carbohydrate, primarily fiber. You won't significantly boost your vitamin or mineral intake by consuming thyme. However, you'll get a small dose of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. Selection Preparation and Storage When you purchase fresh thyme, you'll find it in the produce section of your market. Select thyme that has woody tall stalks with vibrant green or greyish green leaves. You want to select thyme that does not have visible flowers. When you bring fresh thyme home, do not wash it until you are ready to use it. You can wrap the thyme in a paper towel and place the bundle in a plastic bag. Store thyme in the refrigerator where it should stay fresh for about a week or more. When using thyme, separate the leaves from the stems by running your finger down the stem. Thyme has a flavor that is often described as piney. Some people also taste bitter, floral, herbaceous flavors. It is often included in seasoning blends such as bouquet garni and herbes de Provence. Use it to flavor fish and poultry dishes, pasta meals, or try it in one of the following recipes. Some Recipes That Use Thyme Flavorful Dijon-Thyme Roasted Salmon Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin Recipe Cod Parchment Packs: An Easy Weeknight Dinner Rosemary and Olive Oil Roasted Cashews Recipe Easy Oven-Baked Salmon With Herbs Possible Side Effects Thyme is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) according to the U.S government when used in amounts commonly found in food. According to the Natural Medicines database, thyme is likely safe for adults, children, and pregnant and lactating women when used to flavor food and possibly safe when used for medicinal purposes. Thyme applied topically may cause skin irritation. People taking certain medications including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, anticholinergic drugs, anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, cholinergic drugs, or estrogens should speak to their healthcare provider before using thyme. Scientists have theorized that thyme can make hormone-sensitive conditions worse. For that reason, women with breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids should be cautious about using thyme. In addition, thyme may cause excessive bleeding or bruising if used in high amounts by people with bleeding disorders. You may also want to avoid thyme for two weeks prior to surgery. Allergic reactions to thyme are rare but are more likely to occur in people who are allergic to oregano and other Lamiaceae species. Common Questions Can you freeze thyme Yes. Freeze thyme with the leaves still on the stems. Place the stems in a plastic bag and freeze until you are ready to use them. Are there different varieties of thyme There are many different varieties of thyme including lemon thyme, narrow-leaf French thyme, and broadleaf English thyme. The variety that you most commonly see in the market is Thymus vulgaris or common thyme. 6 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lorenzo JM, Mousavi khaneghah A, Gavahian M, et al. Understanding the potential benefits of thyme and its derived products for food industry and consumer health: From extraction of value-added compounds to the evaluation of bioaccessibility, bioavailability, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;:1-17. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1477730 Büechi S, Vögelin R, Von eiff MM, Ramos M, Melzer J. Open trial to assess aspects of safety and efficacy of a combined herbal cough syrup with ivy and thyme. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2005;12(6):328-32. Ernst E, März R, Sieder C. A controlled multi-centre study of herbal versus synthetic secretolytic drugs for acute bronchitis. Phytomedicine. 1997;4(4):287-93. Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134(11):1349-52. doi: 10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349 Basch E, Ulbricht C, Hammerness P, Bevins A, Sollars D. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), thymol. J Herb Pharmacother. 2004;4(1):49-67. doi: 10.1080/J157v04n01_07 Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998;217(3):369-78. doi: 10.3181/00379727-217-44247 Additional Reading Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Thyme Full Monograph. 08/15/2018. By Malia Frey Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer​, and fitness nutrition specialist. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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