- Latin name
- Thymus vulgaris
- Element
- water
- Planet
- Venus
- Safe to eat?
- Yes, in normal kitchen amounts
How to use it
- Burn a little as a cleansing incense
- Add a sachet to a bath before ritual
- Brew a warming tea
- Tuck a sprig under the pillow against bad dreams
- Lay fresh sprigs on the altar as an offering
Lore
The Greeks burned thyme in their temples, and Roman soldiers are said to have bathed in it for courage. In the Middle Ages ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on the scarves they gave to knights.
Safety
Safe in cooking and as a tea. Avoid large medicinal doses in pregnancy. Thyme essential oil is a strong skin irritant and must be well diluted and never swallowed. People allergic to other mint-family plants may react.