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There is some evidence that thyme’s anti-inflammatory properties may help, but more research is needed before this can be confirmed. Some individuals with rheumatoid arthritis use thyme, either as a tea or topically, to alleviate symptoms. Studies have found that thyme supplements offered pain relief from menstrual cramps similar to that provided by ibuprofen. Thyme’s anti-inflammatory properties may help provide pain relief. Thyme also can provide other health benefits like: Thyme oil is frequently used in mouthwashes to help with bad breath, prevent gingivitis, and help treat oral pathogens.įresh or dried thyme can be used as a substitute for salt when cooking to help decrease your salt intake or manage high blood pressure. However, thyme has been shown to have some health benefits. While there are various claims about the health benefits of thyme, scientific research is lacking in many areas or only based on animal research. Thyme can be added to your foods, used as a tea, applied to your skin as an essential oil, gargled as thyme oil, or even inhaled. Research also suggests that it may have analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help with skin conditions, pain from bug bites, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. That said, thyme does contain the compound thymol, which can help control or neutralize some bacterial, parasitic, fungal, or viral infections. While there are many claims about thyme’s health benefits, most of them have yet to be confirmed by scientific research. It can be used fresh, dried, or made into an essential oil. Thyme, which is from the mint family, has tiny, sage-green leaves and thin stalks. Today, it’s used in a wide variety of products ranging from mouthwashes to teas and even nasal sprays. While thyme is commonly used to flavor food, this herb has been used since ancient times for different health and medicinal benefits and as a preservative.
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