Monograph: Thyme - Oral

Date: 2019-07-01

NHPID name

Thymus vulgaris ( Germplasm Resources Information Network Taxonomy )

Proper name(s)

Thymus vulgaris ( USDA 2008 )

Common name(s)

• Common thyme ( McGuffin et al. 2000 , Wiersema and León 1999 )
• Conehead thyme ( Unavailable )
• English thyme ( Unavailable )
• French thyme ( Unavailable )
• Garden thyme ( McGuffin et al. 2000 , Wiersema and León 1999 )
• Thyme ( Unavailable )

Source material

• Herb top flowering (Hoffmann 2003, Blumenthal et al. 2000, WHO 1999)
• Leaf (Hoffmann 2003, Blumenthal et al. 2000, WHO 1999)

Route Of administration

Oral ( Mills and Bone 2005 , Blumenthal et al. 2000 )

Dosage form(s)

Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration. This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an expectorant to help relieve the symptoms of bronchitis and catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract (anti-catarrh).  (EMEA 2007, Bradley 2006, Mills and Bone 2005, ESCOP 2003, Hoffmann 2003)
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve coughs (spasmolytic), the symptoms of bronchitis and mucus buildup of the (upper) respiratory tract (anti-catarrh).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve indigestion/flatulent dyspepsia and colic (carminative).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve coughs (spasmolytic).  (EMEA 2007, Bradley 2006, Mills and Bone 2005, Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Dose(s)

Adults:

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations and frequencies of use, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use

No statement is required

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s):

• Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional / doctor/ physician prior to use if you are pregnant.

Contraindication(s): No statement is required Known Adverse Reaction(s): No statement is required

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NHPD Quality of natural health products guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural health products ingredient database (NHPID).
• The medicinal ingredient may comply with the specifications outlined in the Thyme Monographs published in the European or British Pharmacopoeias.

References cited

• Berardi RR, DeSimone EM, Newton GD, Oszko MA, Popovich NG, Rollins CJ, Shimp LA, Tietze KJ, editors. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care, 13th edition. Washington (DC): American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002.
• Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.
• Bove M. An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. New Canaan (CT): Keats Publishing, Incorporated; 1996
• Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.
• EMEA 2007: European Medicines Agency. London (UK): European Medicines Agency; 2007. [Accessed 2007-07-31]. Available from: http://www.emea.europa.eu.
• ESCOP 2003: ESCOP Monographs: The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2nd edition. Exeter (UK): European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy and Thieme; 2003.
• Hoffmann D. 2003. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press.
• McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. 2000. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition. Austin(TX): American Herbal Products Association.
• McIntyre A. Herbal Treatment of Children - Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives. Toronto (ON): Elsevier Limited; 2005.
• Mills S, Bone K. 2005. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
• USDA 2008: ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-01-21]. Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl
• WHO 1999: World Health Organization. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Volume 1. Geneva (CH): World Health Organization; 1999.
• Wiersema J, León B. 1999. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press LLC.

References reviewed

• Basch E, Ulbricht C, Hammerness P, Bevins A, Sollars D. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), thymol. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy 2004;4(1):49-67.
• BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (GB): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.
• Brinker F. 2001. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications.
• Brinker F. The Toxicity of Botanical Medicines. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2000.
• Gruenwald J, Graubaum HJ, Busch R. Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of thyme and primrose root in patients with acute bronchitis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2005;55(11):669-676.
• Gruenwald J, Graubaum HJ, Busch R. Evaluation of the non-inferiority of a fixed combination of thyme fluid- and primrose root extract in comparison to a fixed combination of thyme fluid extract and primrose root tincture in patients with acute bronchitis. A single-blind, randomized, bi-centric clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2006;56(8):574-581.
• Kemmerich B, Eberhardt R, Stammer H. Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2006;56(9):652-660.
• McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. 1997. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press.
• Mills S, Bone K. 2000. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Toronto (ON): Churchill Livingstone.
• Schilcher H. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics: Handbook for Physicians and Pharmacists. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm Scientific Publishers; 1997.
• Wichtl M, editor. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, 3rd edition. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2004.

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use

ORAL

Adults, adolescents and children 1 year and older:

Infusion:

1 - 2 g dried leaf and flowering top, several times per day (ESCOP 2003)

Fluid extract:

1 - 2 g dried equivalent, several times per day (ESCOP 2003)

Adolescents and children 4-12 years:

Tincture:

1 - 2 g dried equivalent per day, divided into 3-5 single doses (1:2-2.5, 90% ethanol, 2.5-4 ml) (EMEA2007)

Adults:

Dried leaf and flowering top:

1 - 2 g , 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)

Infusion:

• 1 - 2 g dried leaf and flowering top, 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)
• 2.8 g dried leaf and flowering top, 3 times per day (Hoffmann 2003)
• 1 - 2 g of dried leaf, as needed (Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use:

Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water on dried leaf and flowering top and steep for 10 minutes (Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000). 1.4 g = 1 tsp (Hoffmann 2003)

Fluid extract:

• 1 - 2 g dried equivalent, several times per day (1:1, 1-2 ml) (ESCOP 2003)
• 1 - 2 g dried equivalent, 1-3 times per day (1:1, 1-2 ml) (Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Tincture:

• 1 - 2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)
• 1.2 - 3.6 g dried equivalent, per day (1:5, 6-18 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 1 - 3 g dried equivalent, per day (1:2, 2-6 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 0.4 - 1.2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day (1:5, 45% alcohol, 2-4 ml) (Hoffmann 2003)