Red thyme essential oil is an extract of the common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a low, creeping aromatic herb of the mint family more commonly used for culinary purposes. Red thyme oil has a sweet leaf-like smell and is amber to reddish in color. It can be applied externally or consumed for a variety of complementary medicinal applications.
Head Lice Treatment
Head lice (Pediculis humanus capitis) are the bane of many parents, who typically face the dilemma of whether to apply potentially dangerous potent chemical insecticides to their child's head to kill the lice. In 1996, the journal Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery reported that the essential oils of several non-toxic culinary and medicinal herbs, including red thyme, were effective in killing head lice. The herbs were tested individually, applied in an alcohol solution. Researchers attributed red thyme's effectiveness against head lice to the phenols and ketone components of the extract. Add red thyme oil extract to common rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol and douse the head lice-infested hair with it, taking care to avoid the eyes. Wrap the hair in a towel for a few hours then rinse thoroughly and repeat as necessary until the infestation is eliminated.
Combatting E. Coli 0157:H7
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 is the strain of E. coli responsible for causing potentially fatal hemorrhagic colitis when consumed in contaminated food products. In 2003, researchers from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, published a report in the journal Letters of Applied Microbiology documenting their success in using red thyme oil, as well as oregano oil and light thyme oil, against E. coli 0157:H7. These essential oils have significant antibacterial properties. Added to foods in processing or in cooking, they may reduce or eliminate the presence of E. coli 0157:H7.
Preventing Listeriosis
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes the rare, but frequently fatal, food-borne disease listeriosis. In 2009, researchers from the Food Sciences Department of the University of Jaen, Spain, published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology the findings of their use of essential herb oils to enhance the effectiveness of an antibacterial food additive Enterocin AS-48 in killing the Listeria bacteria. They found that the antibacterial effect was greatly enhanced by using red thyme essential oil, among others, applied to fresh salad ingredients in storage. The powerful antibacterial action of red thyme oil was effective in fighting the bacterial cells that cause potentially deadly listeriosis. Use red thyme oil in salad dressing or toss it with salad ingredients before refrigerating.
References
- "Letters in Applied Microbiology"; Antibacterial Activity of Selected Plant Essential Oils Against Escherichia coli 0157:H7; Burt, SA and Reinders, RD; Vol. 36(3), 2003
- "Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery"; The Potential Effectiveness of Essential Oils as a Treatment for Headlice, Pediculus humanis capitis; Veal, L.; August 1996
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Enhanced bactericidal activity of enterocin AS-48 in combination with essential oils, natural bioactive compounds and chemical preservatives against Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat salad.; Antonio CM et. al; September 2009
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