Boost your Immunity: Lower Blood Pressure – 9 Known Health Benefits of Thyme

Boost your Immunity, Lower your Blood Pressure:
9 known Health Benefits of Thyme
The Healing Power of Herbs has never ceased to Amaze me throughout my 30 plus years of being a Naturopathic Practitioner. Thyme is yet another of the amazing Herbal plants that can be used as food and medicine. It is the naturally occurring chemicals found in plants and herbs, that make them so powerful and amazing when it comes to supporting the body’s healing process. These naturally occurring chemicals are called phytochemicals and they protect the plant from disease and cancer. So, when you eat these plants, you also become protected from disease and cancer.
Thyme’s flowers, leaves and oil make this herb beneficial in the treatment of many health conditions. Thyme contains vitamin C, copper, fiber, and manganese. Besides the common minerals and vitamins that thyme contains it also contains volatile oil components of borneol, carvacolo, geranio and thymol. Thyme and its components have been studied and have been considered great sources of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, that are great in supporting a healthy immune system in fighting viruses.
9 Health Benefits of this Awesome Herb
1: Boosts the Immune System: Thyme is packed with vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that has antioxidant properties that fights free radical damage in the body, that works to protect the body from disease, for example: Cancer. Assists in healthy recovery from illnesses, such as Bronchitis, Common cold, influenza and supports healthy skin.
2: Supports Healthy Blood Pressure: When combined with a healthy, plant-based diet, healthy lifestyle habits and exercise. Thyme has been found to be incremental in supporting Healthy Blood Pressure, Circulation and reducing inflammation that has been linked to the underlying cause of high blood pressure and heart conditions.
3: Protects Against Harmful Organisms: Certain Bacteria are commonly referred to as the most Dangerous Micro Organisms and are responsible for several infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, etc. Viruses are also responsible for certain fatal diseases such as AIDS, influenza, pneumonia. Fungi are also harmful and can lead to certain skin infections and allergies. Thyme has been found extremely beneficial in protecting the body against the harmful elements.
4: Provides Respiratory Support: Healthy lungs are essential for optimal health and respiration. Every cell in your body requires optimal respiratory support to optimal oxygen transportation. Thyme has been used traditionally as an aide to proper lung function, helping reduce symptoms of respiratory deficiency bronchitis.
Bronchitis is a condition resulting in inflammation of tiny structures within the lungs known as bronchioles, which makes breathing deep and laboured. Thyme exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs, helps thin mucus secretions and also fights microbes which may be the cause of an underlying infection. Thyme possesses anti-bacterial effect as well, so it should be used by anyone suffering from respiratory disorders
5: Supports Mental & Emotional Health: The essential oil carvacrol found in thyme. This compound was found to have positive effects on improving mood if consumed consistently for just 7 days. It does this by increasing levels of both serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters involved with regulating motivation, drive and overall mood. Though precise amounts that need to be consumed are not fully known, eating a little in food every day is likely to be very safe and smart if you wish to preserve your mental health. Steep in a cup or pot of boiling water and drink, one to two cups per day.
6: Supports Healthy Brain Function: You are led to believe that your brain is subject to degradation and breakdown like any other part of the body as you age. There are many factors that attribute to this and believe it or not, the brain if treated with respect with not engaging in negative lifestyle habits, processed, fast and packaged foods will not deteriorate to any significant notability when certain health measures are applied.
One of the main contributors to a healthy brain no matter what your age, is to eat foods that are high in antioxidant properties that include dark green leafy vegetables, berries, apples, pears, lemons, nuts and seeds. This is where thyme plays an important role. Thyme is packed with anti-oxidants. This is why thyme can help preserve brain health when included with a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle habits. Thyme also appears to have a protective effect of important fats such as omega-3, known to preserve mental wellbeing and your cognitive function well into old age.
7: Assists with Healthy Digestion: It is common that you may take your digestive system for granted. A Healthy Digestive system is of vital importance, as it is one of your body’s primary defense systems. Digestive issues range from diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, to bloating and vomiting.
These are all signs that your digestive system is struggling and if positive changes are made to your diet and lifestyle habits then these signs will not lead to chronic disease. Thyme assists support with your digestive system as it contains the essential oil, thymol. It is this compound in Thyme that assists with healthy digestion and peristaltic muscle movements. To move the foods through the digestive process, allowing distribution of essential nutrients and elimination of waste. It reduces bloating from malabsorption, and can relieve acute pain and uncomfortable stomach cramps. Easy to make a cup of tea from dried Thyme leaves, can be drunk after you have eaten a meal.
8: Thyme and its Function as a Diuretic: There are times when your body may have difficulty with fluid retention and needs healthy support with urination. This can be when someone is suffering from high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or kidney infection. Promoting regular diuresis is also essential to maintaining kidney function, as holding your bladder for long periods of time can increase your risk of developing kidney stones. Thyme is a mild natural diuretic that gently promotes the release of urine and can help balance your fluid and electrolyte levels when appropriate. Diuresis is also helpful for losing excess water retention.
9: Provides Pain Relief and Reduces Inflammation: When you suffer an injury, it may need you to take prescribed or over the counter pain relief. One of the main chemical mediators used in these medications, is an enzyme known as cyclooxygenase. Cyclooxygenase that facilitates localized inflammation in an attempt to quarantine the area of origin. However, this results in immense pain and is a popular mechanism by which pain medication work. Thyme is also able to suppress the level of this enzyme (abbreviated as COX) by as much as 80%, greatly reducing the pain and tenderness you feel without any side effects to your liver and kidneys as the chemical counterparts.
Thyme can either be consumed, as mentioned as a tea or made in a topical application and used on the area where you are feeling the pain. Thyme also be useful for everyday aches and pains, such as muscular and joint pain.