Thymus serpyllum, also known as Breckland thyme, wild thyme or creeping thyme, grows naturally in very sunny areas at the edge of woods or meadows. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has very similar properties to those of the thymus but it differs for a more delicate aroma due to the fact that it contains less essential oils than the true thyme, the one used in the kitchen. Wild thyme acts as a stimulant and tonic, has digestive and carminative, antispasmodic, diuretic, antiseptic, expectorant and balsamic properties, it can give relief in case of facial neuralgia. Let’s see the main uses.
Brew
To take advantage of the digestive, diuretic and soothing properties and of the important healthful effects in case of cough, pains and spasms due to facial neuralgia, you can prepare a brew as follows: bring to boil a little more than a cup of water, remove it from the heat and add a teaspoon of thyme, let stand for ten minutes, filter and drink up to 3 or 4 cups daily.
Strong herbal tea for external use
In case of pimples, wounds, sores, sprains and rheumatism, you can make wraps with a string herbal tea of wild thyme. Leave to brew a tablespoon of wild thyme in a cup of boiling water for about ten minutes, filter and once lukewarm apply to the part.
Thymus serpyllum oil
In case of sprain or rheumatism it may be useful to use oil thyme, as proposed by the well-known herbalist Maria Treben. You can prepare it in this way: harvest the flowers of wild thyme in the midday sun, fill a bottle with the flowers and pour extra virgin olive oil, let it stand for 15 days in the sun or near a heat source. You can then apply the oil on the affected part.
