Thyme

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Note: The archived version of this monograph has been temporarily removed. For an electronic copy of this archived version, please contact the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) at NHPD_DPSN@hc-sc.gc.ca.

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Date: February 12, 2008

Proper name(s): Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) (USDA 2001)

Common name(s): Thyme, common thyme, garden thyme (McGuffin et al. 2000; Wiersma and León 1999)

Source material(s): Leaf and/or flowering top (Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000; WHO 1999)

Route(s) of administration: Oral, gargle, buccal, or topical (Mills and Bone 2005 ; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Dosage form(s): Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration.
This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or Purpose(s): Statement(s) to the effect of:

Oral:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an expectorant to help relieve the symptoms of bronchitis and catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract (anti-catarrh) (EMEA 2007; Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; ESCOP 2003; Hoffmann 2003).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve coughs (spasmolytic) (EMEA 2007; Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Blumenthal et al. 2000).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve flatulent dyspepsia and colic (carminative) (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003).

Gargle and/or buccal: Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve laryngitis, tonsillitis and mucous membrane inflammations of the mouth and/or throat (McIntyre 2005; Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; WHO 1999; Bove 1996).

Topical: Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an antiseptic and/or antimicrobial to help treat minor wounds and sores (Bradley 2006; McIntyre 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Bove 1996).

Dose(s):

Oral:

Subpopulation: Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 1 year (EMEA 2007; ESCOP 2003)

Quantity: Preparations equivalent to 1 -8.4 g dried leaf and flowering top, per day (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; ESCOP 2003; Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Gargle and/or buccal:

Subpopulation: Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 6 years (McIntyre 2005; Berardi et al. 2002; Bove 1996)

Quantity: Preparations equivalent to 11 g dried leaf and flowering top (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; ESCOP 2003)

Directions for use: Gargle and/or rinse as needed. Do not swallow. Instruct children under 12 years of age to avoid swallowing (Berardi et al. 2002).

Topical:

Subpopulation: Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 1 year (McIntyre 2005; Bove 1996)

Quantity: Preparations equivalent to 11 g dried leaf and flowering top (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use: Apply as a compress to affected area as needed.

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use: No statement required.

Risk information: Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and warning(s):

All routes of administration: Consult a healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.

Oral: Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant.

Contraindication(s): No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s): No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients: Must be chosen from the current NHPD List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients and must meet the limitations outlined in the list.

Specifications:

• The finished product must comply with the minimum specifications outlined in the current NHPD Compendium of Monographs.
• The medicinal ingredient may comply with the specifications outlined in the Thyme Monographs published in the European or British Pharmacopoeias.

References cited:

Berardi RR, DeSimone EM, Newton GD, Oszko MA, Popovich NG, Rollins CJ, Shimp LA, Tietze KJ, editors. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care, 13^th edition. Washington (DC): American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Bove, M. An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. 2^nd edition. New York (NY): McGraw-Hill Publishing, Incorporated; 2001.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.

EMEA 2007. European Medicines Agency. Community Monograph on Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L., Herba. London (UK): EMEA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), 31 October 2007. [Accessed 2008-01-08]. Available from: http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/hmpc/thymi_herba/23411306enfin.pdf

ESCOP 2003: ESCOP Monographs: The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2^nd edition. Exeter (UK): European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy and Thieme; 2003.

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2^nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

McIntyre A. Herbal Treatment of Children - Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives. Toronto (ON): Elsevier Limited; 2005.

Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

USDA 2001: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Thymus vulgaris L. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-01-11]. Available from: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

WHO 1999: World Health Organization. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Volume 1. Geneva (CHE): World Health Organization; 1999.

Wiersema J, Léon B. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. Boco Raton (FL): CRC Press LLC; 1999.

References reviewed:

Basch E, Ulbricht C, Hammerness P, Bevins A, Sollars D. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), thymol. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy 2004;4(1):49-67.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2001.

Brinker F. The Toxicity of Botanical Medicines. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2000.

BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (UK): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.

Gruenwald J, Graubaum HJ, Busch R. Evaluation of the non-inferiority of a fixed combination of thyme fluid- and primrose root extract in comparison to a fixed combination of thyme fluid extract and primrose root tincture in patients with acute bronchitis. A single-blind, randomized, bi-centric clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2006;56(8):574-581.

Gruenwald J, Graubaum HJ, Busch R. Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of thyme and primrose root in patients with acute bronchitis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2005;55(11):669-676.

Kemmerich B, Eberhardt R, Stammer H. Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2006;56(9):652-660.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1997.

Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Toronto (ON): Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

Schilcher, H. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics. Handbook for Physicians and Pharmacists. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm Scientific Publishers; 1997.

Wichtl M, editor. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, 3^rd edition. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2004.

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use

ORAL

Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 1 year:

Infusion: 1-2 g dried leaf and flowering top, several times per day (ESCOP 2003)

Fluidextract: 1-2 g dried equivalent, several times per day (ESCOP 2003)

Adolescents, and children 4-12 years:

Tincture: 1-2 g dried equivalent per day, divided into 3-5 single doses (1:2-2.5, 90% ethanol, 2.5-4 ml) (EMEA2007)

Adults:

Dried leaf and flowering top: 1 -2 g , 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)

Infusion:

• 1-2 g dried leaf and flowering top, 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)
• 2.8 g dried leaf and flowering top, 3 times per day (Hoffmann 2003)
• 1-2 g of dried leaf, as needed (Blumenthal et al. 2000)
  
  Directions for use: Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water on dried leaf and flowering top and steep for 10 minutes (Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000).
  1.4 g = 1 tsp (Hoffmann 2003)

Fluidextract:

• 1-2 g dried equivalent, several times per day
  (1:1, 1-2 ml) (ESCOP 2003)
• 1-2 g dried equivalent, 1-3 times per day
  (1:1, 1-2 ml) (Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Tincture:

• 1-2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)
• 1.2-3.6 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 6-18 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 1-3 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:2, 2-6 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 0.4-1.2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 45% alcohol, 2-4 ml) (Hoffmann 2003)
  

GARGLE AND/OR BUCCAL

Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 6 years

Infusion: 11 g dried leaf and flowering top (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005)

Directions for use: Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water on dried leaf and flowering top and steep for 10 minutes (Hoffmann 2003). Gargle and/or rinse as needed.

TOPICAL

Adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 1 year

Infusion: 11 g dried leaf and flowering top (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use: Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water on dried leaf and flowering top and steep for 10 minutes (Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000). Apply as a compress to affected area as needed.