Thyme oil is one of the commonly used oils, and despite its popularity, many may not know the benefits it provides, so we will learn next about the components of thyme oil, its health benefits, methods of using it, some of its potential harms, and other interesting information, so be sure to follow up.

How is thyme oil made?

Thyme oil is made or obtained from the leaves and flowers of the thyme plant, Thymus vulgaris, through a process known as steam distillation. The red oil by a second distillation results in an oil that ranges in color from golden to pale yellow, and this yellow oil is the common one.

Ingredients of thyme oil

The benefits of thyme oil are due to the ingredients in it, as it contains several elements that can provide therapeutic properties to the body, and the components of thyme oil include the following:

• carvacrol.
• Thymol.
• Linalool.
• Cineole Cineole.
• camphor
• Borneol.

Benefits of thyme oil

Here are the most important potential thyme oil benefits:

1- The benefits of thyme oil for the skin

There is some evidence indicating that thyme oil may be effective in reducing acne-causing bacteria on the skin, and an animal study compared thyme oil and oregano oil, and it was found that both have a potential ability to eliminate bacteria, but oregano oil is more effective.

2- Thyme oil for hair

When thyme oil is combined with other essential oils, the mixture can be used to prevent hair loss. Despite the lack of proven scientific evidence indicating that thyme oil may be effective in treating alopecia areata, some personal experiences indicate that it can help in this condition.

3- Fighting breast cancer

There is only one preliminary study indicating that the use of liquid extract of wild thyme can somehow help fight breast cancer, but more studies are still lacking.

4- The benefits of thyme oil for the chest

The thymol component in thyme oil is believed to have certain healing properties. When combined with some other ingredients, thyme oil can help reduce cough and shorten the duration of respiratory infections such as a cold.

5- Preserving food

Another potential benefit of thyme oil is its ability to kill bacteria and fungi associated with food. The oil and thymol in it contain antibacterial properties such as salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.

6- Promoting heart health

A scientific study found that the carvacrol present in thyme oil was an anti-inflammatory ingredient that has the ability to protect the heart, which increases the possibility of its use in promoting heart health, especially in people with heart disease.

6- The benefits of thyme oil for teeth and mouth

As mentioned earlier, the thymol component of thyme oil contains anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it effective in reducing inflammation and infection, and according to some recent studies, the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties in the components of thyme oil are effective in maintaining oral health. These components are also used in Many dental care products.

It is worth noting that many of the aforementioned benefits of thyme oil still need more experiments to prove it, and it is not recommended to use this oil for any therapeutic purpose except after consulting a doctor. There are also some other potential benefits gathered according to personal or non-scientific experiences, including:

• Reducing joint pain.
• Reduce skin inflammation.
• Insect bite treatment.
• Reduce laryngitis.
• Reducing or treating lice.
• Treating muscle pain.
• Improve poor circulation.
• Good for oily skin.
• Scabies treatment.
• Sore throat treatment.

How to use thyme oil

After learning about the potential and different benefits of thyme oil, here are some ways to use it:

• Oil inhalation: Fill a pot of water and boil it, then transfer it to a container that keeps the heat and add 6 drops of thyme oil, some drops of eucalyptus oil and lemon oil, then hold a towel on the head, with the eyes closed, then lean over the pot and inhale deeply and forcefully.
• Oil massage: Lie down on a smooth surface or bed and put some oil in the hand and warm it, massage the abdominal area, this can help reduce stomach and intestinal disorders and bloating.
• Add it to hair products: A few drops of the oil can be added to shampoos, conditioners, or hair mask ingredients to reap its hair and scalp health benefits.
• Add it to food: This oil can help improve the taste and flavor of some meals. Dry thyme can be replaced with a few drops of thyme oil while cooking food.
• perfuming: Thyme oil can be sprayed in the air, just put a few drops of oil into the diffuser, it can help purify the air and add a fresh scent.

Harmful effects of thyme oil

It should be noted that if you are allergic to mint, it is likely that you are also allergic to thyme and thyme oil, and the damage and side effects that can occur when using thyme oil include:

Allergic reactions ranging from dermatitis to hay fever-like symptoms.

• Vertigo.
• Inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye.
• Headache.
• asthma.
• muscle weakness
• Irritation and tension in the digestive system.

Thyme oil should not be swallowed or used undiluted on the skin. It is preferable to speak with a doctor and consult him before using thyme oil, especially in the case of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Thyme oil should not be given to children.