What does it help with?

Colds & coughs

Thyme tea and thyme syrups are an old tradition for a chesty cough with a cold.

🔵 Grandma's wisdom

What do the colored dots mean?

🟢 Scientists are sure Strong evidence (several good human trials)
🟡 Scientists think so Some evidence (small human studies)
🟠 Still being studied Early evidence (lab or animal studies only)
🔵 Grandma's wisdom Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed)

Careful if…

For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first

Thyme in soups, sauces and on bread is fine for kids. A mild thyme tea is a common family drink. Cough medicines: a grown-up checks the age on the box.

Allergies

⛔ Avoid

If mint, oregano or other herbs of the mint family make you itchy, avoid thyme medicines.
Babies & young kids

⚠️ Ask a doctor first

Thyme in food is fine for kids. Thyme cough medicines need a grown-up to check the age on the box.

If you have too much…

A sore tummy in some people.

Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →

What is it?

Thyme is a small bushy herb with tiny grey-green leaves and pink or white flowers. It grows well on dry, sunny hills.

Thyme gives a warm, savoury taste to soups, meat and tomato sauce. Many families also make thyme tea when someone has a cough.

How people use it

In the kitchen

In soups, tomato sauce, grilled meat and fish.
Sprinkled on bread with olive oil.

Traditional uses

🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science

Thyme tea with honey for coughs (honey never for babies under 1 year).

Home & garden

A tough little plant for rock gardens and balconies.

Fun facts

In Arabic, zaatar is the name for thyme and similar herbs, and also for a tasty spice mix with sesame.
Each thyme leaf is smaller than a grain of rice!
Bees make a delicious honey from thyme flowers.

Grow it yourself

Easy
Lots of sun
A little water
Grows in a pot
About 2 to 3 months from a young plant

Plant a small thyme plant in a pot with sandy soil.
Put it in full sun.
Water a little, only when the soil is dry.
Snip little sprigs to use in the kitchen.

Quiz time!

Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!

Thyme leaves are…
People often use thyme tea when they have…
Which insects make honey from thyme flowers?

Your plant card

Print it, cut it out and collect them all!

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Superpowers: Colds & coughs
Careful: Allergies, Babies & young kids
Growing: ⭐

🤩 In Arabic, zaatar is the name for thyme and similar herbs, and also for a tasty spice mix with sesame.

For grown-ups: science, amounts & safety

Tap to open

General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer

What the research says

Use	Evidence	Details
Colds & coughs	🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed)	The EU herbal committee recognises thyme for productive (chesty) coughs with colds as a traditional use. One small study found thyme similar to bromhexine, but it had shortcomings, so firm conclusions could not be drawn^[1].

Who should be careful & interactions

⛔ Avoid Allergies: Thyme medicines must not be used by people allergic to thyme or other plants of the mint family (Lamiaceae)^[1].
⚠️ Ask a doctor first Babies & young kids: Most thyme medicines are for people over 12; only a few can be used in children over 4^[1].

Possible side effects

Mild Stomach problems may occur with thyme medicines^[1].

Names & identifiers

Scientific name: Thymus vulgaris
Also called: Common thyme, Garden thyme
Wikidata: Q148668

Sources

Thymi herba – herbal medicinal product (thyme) European Medicines Agency, HMPC · Official monograph

✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.

Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages

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