In recent times, essential oils have gained immense popularity due to their remarkable health advantages. Essential oils are a safe, all-natural method of reducing inflammation, controlling pain, enhancing mood, and managing stress. Essential oils of therapeutic quality are extracted from a plant's bark, flowers, or leaves and have both physiological and mental advantages. Hippocrates, regarded as "the father of Western medicine" (c. 460–370 BC), discussed the therapeutic applications of thyme in the treatment of respiratory ailments.
Thyme essential oil is one of the strongest antioxidants known to man. Thyme supports the immune, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and other body systems. Thyme essential oils contains large amounts of thymol. Thymol is one of the naturally occurring compounds known as “biocides”. Biocides are substances that can destroy harmful organisms.
But did you know that essential oils can also be an effective anti-cancer remedy?
Thyme essential oil shown to kill up to 97 percent of breast cancer cells
Thyme is native to the Mediterranean and was widely used by the ancient Greeks. Thyme is a very large part in Mediterranean cooking. This might be the reason why Greek women have less than half the incidence of breast cancer compared to American women).
Oncologist researchers at Celal Bayar University in Turkey performed a study to determine what effect Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) might have on breast cancer activity.
They reported in the journal Nutrition and Cancer9 that Wild Thyme induced cell death in the breast cancer cells.
Thyme essential oil was found to kill 98% of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in vitro after 72 hours of treatment. This was at a concentration of just 0.05% (at 0.01%, thyme essential oil still killed >40% of the cells). Thyme essential oil was proven to be the most powerful at killing cancer cells. In other studies, thyme has also shown activity against oral and ovarian cancer. Thyme, or its essential oil, has also been used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine owing to its strong antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal (potently killing yeast such as Candida) properties. It makes a great addition to a healthy diet focused on organic fruits, vegetables and whole foods and can be used as a flavorful herb in cooking or simply prepared as a tea.
Other health benefits of thyme oil include:
- Helps reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
- Helps regulate menstrual flow
- Helps to increase circulation and elevates low blood pressure
- Helps prevent cellulite
- Help ease nervousness and anxiety
- Helps fight insomnia
- Help to eliminate bad breath and body odor
Reference:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20657472
http://cdn.naturalsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/molecules-17-02704.pdf