Tomillo Health Dictionary

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, branches.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves: infusion, orally, for digestive and gastro-intestinal disorders, cough, upper-respiratory tract infection; bath, externally, for skin conditions.

Safety: Widely consumed as a culinary seasoning; generally considered safe; potential for allergic reaction.

Contraindications: Acute urinary tract or gastro-intestinal inflammation: avoid internal use of herb. Severe skin conditions or injuries, high fevers and heart conditions: avoid whole-body baths.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antioxidant (essential oil), liver enzyme activity (leaf constituents).

In vitro: antibacterial (essential oil, plant extracts), antifungal (essential oil), anti-inflammatory (plant extracts), antioxidant (leaf extract), anti-platelet aggregant (leaf constituents), antiprotozoal (essential oil), antispasmodic (plant and ethanol extract), spasmolytic (flavonoids).

* See entry for Tomillo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.