The benefits of thyme essential oil have been recognized for thousands of years in Mediterranean countries.
Thyme oil is an effective natural agent against nasty bacterial strains. A study presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s spring conference in Edinburgh pointed out that essential oils may be efficient and affordable alternatives to antibiotics in the battle against resistant bacteria.
Other reports also show that oil of thyme has anti-inflammatory properties. In a research published in the Journal of Lipid Research, six essential oils including thyme oil showed the ability to suppress the inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme in the same manner as the antioxidant resveratrol does. It was noted that the chemical constituent carvacrol was responsible for this effect.
Researchers tested its antibacterial effect in vitro toxicology on three human cancers. The results showed that thyme can kill lung, oral and ovarian cancer cells.
Thyme oil can kill up to 97% of the lung cancer cells. A recent study showed that the combination of thyme and olive oil increases the power of hydroxytyrosol, the most potent anti-cancer compound found in olive oil.
Oncologists at Celar Bayar University in Turkey conducted a study to discover the possible effect of wild thyme on breast cancer cells and concluded that wild thyme “may be a promising candidate in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for breast cancer treatment.”
How to Make Thyme Oil
You need:
- ½ cup fresh thyme
- 8 ounces olive oil
Preparation:
Wash the herbs and dry it by patting it with a clean cloth. Crush the herbs using the mortar and pestle to release their natural oils.
Place the crushed thyme and its oil into the saucepan, and place the carrier oil. Simmer this mixture over medium heat for at least five minutes or until it produces bubbles.
Turn the heat off and allow the mixture to cool. Pour the mixture into the glass container then store in a cool place.
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