​

Welcome to Food Remedies, a weekly newsletter – your gateway to transforming eating habits for a healthier and more vibrant life! Thank you for being here. Today is the first Monday of the month, and we talk about a vegetable in season in the Washington, DC, area.

Hi Reader!

To welcome November and fall, I'd like to talk about thyme—an herb in season and a fantastic medicine for colds and other respiratory ailments.

Thyme originated in the Mediterranean region and is very popular in French cuisine. I fell in love with this herb and developed an appreciation for its medicinal powers through a personal story while I lived in France.

I had a terrible cough that wouldn't go away. On a Sunday morning, as most people do in France, I went to the market and, while picking my vegetables, had a bout of coughing. The farmer immediately offered me a big bunch of thyme and explained how to use it. I was a bit surprised to get medical advice from a farmer, but I thought it couldn't hurt, so I did what he recommended. The effectiveness of his remedy (see below) was unbelievable! The cough was gone after a single treatment.

Fun Facts About Thyme

• In ancient Egypt, people used thyme in ointments to embalm their dead, not only because of its strong smell but also because of its antimicrobial properties.
• Ancient Greeks used the herb as an incense in their temples for its incredible aroma. The plant's name comes from the Greek word thymos, which means "to fumigate."
• Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, recommended thyme for respiratory diseases like cough more than 2000 years ago.

Health Benefits of Thyme

For thousands of years, thyme has been used for cold and flu symptoms. It's excellent for congestion in the lungs and upper respiratory tract. It stops coughing spasms, thins out mucus, and helps expel it.

Thyme is a powerful disinfectant and can be used externally as a wash and internally to fight infections. It's effective at fighting bacterial infections and supporting the immune system.

This tiny but mighty plant can help with poor digestion and symptoms like bloating, gas, and belching. It can stimulate digestion and liver function, calm digestive spasms, and treat indigestion and poor appetite,

Buying and Cooking with Thyme

Unlike in France, I've never seen thyme at the farmers' markets or a grocery store in DC. And so, we are limited to dry thyme from the spice section in your grocery store. Although thyme dries well, who knows how old it is when it gets to your kitchen?

For culinary and especially medicinal uses, I highly recommend growing thyme in your garden or a pot on a balcony. It's a hardy perennial that thrives in most climates and almost any conditions, although it prefers well-drained soil and a sunny location. Many thyme varieties exist, but for medicinal purposes, go for common garden thyme (thymus vulgaris).

Cough remedy from a French farmer:

1. Boil about 3 cups of water.
2. Place a big handful of thyme (or half a spice jar of dry thyme) in a bowl and add boiling water. In the picture, you can see some sage together with thyme, optional.
3. Sit down and lean over the bowl. Cover yourself with a bath towel and breathe the hot steam with thyme aromatics rising from the bowl for 10-15 minutes.
4. Be careful not to get too close to the bowl, or you might get burned by the steam!

​

I'm putting together a booklet on how to use everyday kitchen ingredients and spices to help with cold and flu symptoms. Please click on the button, and I'll send you the booklet as soon as it's ready.

​

Take care,

Olga

PS I'm away this week and won't be sending a newsletter next Monday. I'll be in touch on November 18th.