Breckland Thyme is a perennial, creeping plant with a strong, pleasant aroma. Stems thin, woody in the lower part, red-brown, creeping. With raised branches, up to 10-15cm in height. Stems also often root themselves with lateral roots. The leaves are small, elongated, elliptical, covered with glands, the edges are covered with long hairs. The flowers are small, pink or pink-purple, collected in a bulbous inflorescence. Fruits, ellipsoidal dark brown nuts, up to 6 mm long. The plant blooms in June-July, the fruits ripen in August-September.

For medicinal purposes, the above-ground part of the plant is used, which is collected during the flowering phase by cutting the leafy upper parts of the plant with secateurs, without collecting the woody parts. The plant is dried in well-ventilated rooms or in a forced dryer not exceeding 35-40C. After drying, the stems are separated from the leaves and flowers, the stems are not placed in the pot.

Breckland Thyme contains essential oils up to 1.7% with a proportion of phenols - thymol and liquid carvacrol. Cymol, borneol, terpinene, terpineol are found in insignificant amounts in the essential oil. The plant also contains tannins, ursulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and oleic acid, flavonoids, gums, bitter substances, macro and micro elements.

Medicinal significance

Preparations of breckland Thyme have many medicinal properties. A decoction of the plant promotes expectoration and acts as an antimicrobial agent.

Breckland Thyme enhances the secretion of the bronchial glands, stimulates the activity of the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, liquefies the mucus in the respiratory tract and accelerates the evacuation of inflammatory materials from the respiratory tract.

Breckland Thyme preparations contribute to the dissolution of deposits. In case of dry injuries of the neck and throat, the plant creates a protective layer for the mucous membrane. Thanks to the flavonoids present in the plant, it produces an antispasmodic effect, which is not insignificant in the expectoration process.

Under the influence of thymol and carvacrol, breckland Thyme is effective in the case of inflammatory processes, resistance of pathogenic microflora to antibiotics. Even if the preparation contains small amounts of these phenolic compounds, it will produce a pronounced antimicrobial effect. Thymol has a destructive effect on the pathogenic flora of trees and gram-negative microorganisms. The effectiveness of thymol against pathogenic fungi has also been determined. It can also be used against tapeworms and some roundworms.

Preparations of breckland Thyme are also successfully used for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are associated with reduced secretion of gastric juice, atony and intestinal spasms. Plant-based preparations reduce stomach pain, normalize digestion, improve gas output, promote the secretion of gastric juice, relieve spasms of the stomach and intestinal tract. Due to the disinfecting properties of the plant, it normalizes the intestinal microflora.

The effect of breckland Thyme on the human body is quite wide and versatile. In folk medicine, it is used in the form of infusion and decoction for internal and external use. They are used orally in case of infestation of respiratory organs, stomach, intestines, urinary bladder, worms, and they are also useful as a blood purifier, diaphoretic and diuretic.

The plant is used to treat febrile cough, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, headache, insomnia, gastritis, gastric ulcer, dyspepsia, gastric atony, colic, flatulence, kidney function disorders, dysmenorrhea, alcoholism psychoses.

The thymol present in the essential oil can be used to treat diarrhea, flatulence, to reduce fermentation processes in the intestines, to treat actinomycosis of the lungs and skin.

In the form of compresses and applications, decoctions can be used to treat radiculitis, sacral neuralgia, arthritis, muscle inflammation and neuritis.

A decoction of fresh or dried herb is used for anemia, catarrh, stomach and intestinal cancer, some nervous system diseases, liver diseases, scurvy. As well as a blood-purifying and body-strengthening agent.

A concentrated plant extract is recommended as a mouthwash to relieve toothaches, as well as to treat sore throats; as applications to treat conjunctivitis and blepharitis; as compresses in case of skin hernias.

Decoctions of breckland Thyme are used to prepare aromatic baths, especially if it is necessary to treat rickets and scrofula. Breckland Thyme is a good helper to clean the skin from acne and clean up oily skin.

The breckland Thyme for women

The plant contains many vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the female body. Decoctions are valuable during the first days of menstruation to relieve pain, spasms and discomfort, especially if the decoction is taken half an hour before meals.

To normalize the flora of the intimate area, it is possible to use a rinse with a decoction of breckland Thyme . Decoctions are used in courses for 5-7 days. It is not recommended to use it for a longer time, it can cause dryness and itching of the mucous membranes.

A decoction of breckland Thyme will also help to lose weight if it is used before eating - it will reduce the feeling of hunger, contributing to the reduction of the portion eaten. In addition, it normalizes the digestive process and intestinal microflora, which is no less important for slimming.

The breckland Thyme for men

Often this plant is also used to improve men's health. The plant has expectorant properties, it helps to heal the mucous membrane, normalize the function of the bronchi, which is especially important for men who smoke, especially those who suffer from chronic bronchitis.

Marjoram also has anti-inflammatory properties that will help eliminate inflammation in the urinary tract, including urethritis, prostatitis, and cystitis.

In addition, in case of prostatitis, the breckland Thyme prevents tissue swelling, which inhibits urine output. It is used as a course of tea for 7-10 days with a break of 2-3 months.

Breckland Thyme contains selenium and molybdenum, which help correct erectile dysfunction. It normalizes testosterone levels, which decrease with age.

Breckland Thyme is useful if you are planning a family increase - it improves the composition of the seminal fluid and normalizes the ejaculation process. Breckland Thyme oil helps to increase sexual energy and prolong intercourse.

The plant also has anti-stress properties. And it can be safely used even at the time of treatment for alcohol addiction. The plant stimulates aversion to alcoholic beverages.

Not recommended for use

Breckland Thyme is not recommended for kidney, liver, stomach and duodenal ulcers. It should not be used by pregnant and lactating mothers. It is recommended not to give Breckland Thyme in large doses to children under 12 years of age.

Food recipes

It is good to know that there are endless variations of Breckland Thyme and hybrids also appear one after the other. Therefore, the plant can be very variable in its smell, but all of them can be used in food, as a spice. Marjoram is a close relative of thyme, so it is used equally.

The above-ground part of the plant is collected for food, without injuring the "bush" as much as possible. It is a spice that helps to process fatty and hard-to-digest foods (eg corn, beans). It is often used as an additive for smoking meat, added to fish dishes, potatoes, game meat, sometimes also to cheese. Breckland Thyme can be used for salting cucumbers, mushrooms, especially red meat.

The plant is stored in airtight containers, so it does not lose its smell for a long time.

Diet recipes

Breckland Thyme Powder

Dry the leaves of breckland Thyme and grind into powder, store in tightly closed containers. Used to flavor dough (1 teaspoon of powder per 1 kg of dough), soup (1 teaspoon per 3-4 servings), fried meat (pour over before finishing cooking).

Kvass of breckland Thyme

20 gr. breckland Thyme , 1L bread kvass, 50 gr. sugar.

Boil dried leaves of breckland Thyme in a small amount of kvass (1 cup), cool, add the rest of the kvass, sugar and leave for 10-12 hours. Separate the layers, pour into bottles and cool.

Breckland Thyme drink

20 gr. breckland Thyme , 25 gr. St. John's wort, 50 gr. honey, 1L water.

Pour water over the breckland Thyme and St. John's wort and boil for 10 minutes, let it sit for 2-3 hours. For the decoction, the thickness is separated, honey is added and it is cooled.

Breckland Thyme and burdock drink with honey

50 gr. dried breckland Thyme , 3 cups of burdock juice, 1 cup of honey, 3L of water.

Pour boiling water over the breckland Thyme , boil for 5 minutes, separate the thickets, add burdock juice, honey and pour into bottles.

Cosmetic significance

The extract of breckland Thyme is a very valuable cosmetic product, which contains organic acids, vitamins and minerals. The variations in the use of breckland Thyme are very wide - powders, infusions, extracts, decoctions, essential oil, etc.

Breckland Thyme extract has tonic, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Breckland Thyme contains thymol, essential oil, tannins, gums, flavonoids and mineral salts. The surface part of the plant contains B group vitamins, vitamin C, carotene, tannin, thiamin, mannolic acid, malic acid and acetic acid, micro and macro elements - magnesium, calcium, chromium, iron, silicon, etc.

With breckland Thyme extract you can:

• Any type of skin can be cared for, but it can be especially successfully used for oily and porous skin;
• Tones and stimulates cell metabolism in the epidermis, saturates the skin with oxygen;
• Cleanse the skin and hair, giving them strength and shine;
• Care for problematic skin, due to its antiseptic properties;
• To care for young facial skin, for the elimination of pimples and acne;
• Renew and heal the skin using the regenerating properties of the plant;
• Disinfect, cleanse and tighten pores.