Thyme Thymus vulgaris(common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme, or garden thyme) was used in many ancient cultures, from the Egyptians to the Greeks. It had many uses, such as embalming the dead or being burnt for incense. Thyme is an evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Thyme is of the genus Thymus, most commonly Thymus Vulgaris. The ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming the dead. It was believed that if the dead were touched with this herb before being turned over to the grave, it would help them have courage and bravery in the next life. Thyme also kept the bodies from being overtaken by fungi due to its antifungal properties from…show more content… Thyme was a symbol of courage and activity with the Greeks. The ladies of noble days embroidered thyme on the scarves they presented to their knights, symbolizing the union of the agreeable and the active. According to legend, any place where wild thyme grows is a place touched by the fairies. The ancient Greeks burned thyme in their temples not only for blessing and purification, but also as an offering to the gods. It was especially special to Adephaghia, the Greek goddess of food and good eating. Modern pagans use thyme as a smudging herb to purify the space used for a magical ritual. Wearing a sprig of thyme in your hair makes you irresistible to everyone around you. A pillow stuffed with thyme blocks nightmares and gives you safe, positive dreams. This ritual was first started in the Middle Ages when the citizens used thyme to ward off nightmares and help them to fall…show more content… The essential oil contains 20-54% thymol, an antiseptic now found in various mouthwashes, including Listerine. Thymol can also be found in alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Thyme infused in water can be helpful in relieving a cough or bronchitis. Thyme was favored among royalty and nobility especially because they believed eating thyme before and after a meal would protect them from poison. It was even said that a bath in warm water liberally dosed with thyme could stop the effects of poison after it was unintentionally consumed. When the Black Death struck in the 1300’s, many people used thyme to keep away the disease; they wore it in posies around the neck and applied it straight to sores on the
