Overview
A culinary herb whose antimicrobial and antispasmodic activity is well documented in laboratory studies. Germany's Commission E approved thyme as an expectorant for bronchitis, whooping cough, and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract — an approval based on long-standing traditional use rather than clinical trials. The placebo-controlled human trial evidence for cough is for thyme combined with ivy or primrose, not thyme on its own.
Proposed mechanism
Thymol and carvacrol are potent membrane disruptors for bacteria and fungi. Flavonoids relax bronchial smooth muscle. Rosmarinic acid inhibits inflammatory 5-LOX pathway.
Mechanisms describe how researchers think a compound may act, often from laboratory work — a proposed mechanism is not proof of a clinical effect in people.
Traditional & studied uses
Related pathways
Pathway tags are a research aid for browsing the glossary — they are not a claim that this ingredient treats any condition.