​It's Tea Thyme!

Winter sure has arrived here in Cape Town bringing with it a host of new bugs and illness (we won’t even mention the ongoing pandemic!)

One little herb proving to be a superstar in the fight against pathogens is that of the humble thyme! A rich source of many essential vitamins and minerals and containing antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, carminative, diaphoretic as well as expectorant properties, thyme is a great purifying herb for the entire body. This powerful herb helps to clear mucus from your lungs, alleviates coughs, calms the nervous system (thanks to the compound it contains called carvacrol), it helps to reduce a fever and can even balance sleeping patterns and provide mood & stress support as it’s a good source of pyridoxine - a required coenzyme for the synthesis of dopamine, epinephrine, GABA, melatonin, norepinephrine, and serotonin!
Readily available in the produce section of our local food stores, thyme is also quite easy to grow at home. I’ve no doubt that you already know that it’s delicious added to vegetables, salads, soups, and many pasta dishes but did you know that fresh thyme can be used to make a potent, healing tea?
To further boost my immune system in these colder months I like to regularly incorporate thyme tea into my daily regime. It’s so simple...I merely steep a handful of fresh sprigs of thyme in a cup of hot water for approximately 15 minutes, strain the tea and drink it as is. If you prefer it sweet, adding a little raw honey or organic maple syrup would be great options that won’t detract from the tea’s healing benefits.

While we’re talking about this therapeutic herb, it’s worth noting that thyme essential oil (also featured here) works great topically as a local antiseptic and antimicrobial and it’s been said that this precious oil can even help to stop hair loss by improving blood flow to the scalp and feeding the roots of the hair!

Don’t you think it’s thyme to add a little more of this purifying herb to your life?