Thyme, is native herb to southern Europe and Mediterranean regions. The word (Thyme), stems from the Greek verb “thyo” meaning to offer incense or sacrifice. This herb is symbolic of courage and activity and was used widely by the ancients to treat hookworm.In ancient Greek times, thyme was a symbol of graceful elegance. Thyme has been used in Greece in both food and medicine since ancient times. Thyme has a specific action on the respiratory system and is commonly used for complaints such as coughs and asthma. It can also help relieve congestion and is used for sinus congestion and pain.

It can be really helpful with gastrointestinal complaints as well, such as stomachaches, diarrhea, and flatulence. Some find it helpful against skin disorders, such as acne. Thyme contains 1-2% essential oil. The main component of thyme essential oil at 20-54% is thymol (or otherwise thyme camphor), it has uses in perfumery and dentistry. Thymol has an antiseptic effect and is the main ingredient in many commercial mouthwashes, such as Listerine. Before the advent of modern antibiotics, thyme essential oil was used to apply gauze. Thymol has also been shown to be effective in fighting the fungus that often infects toenails and it is also an active ingredient in some alcohol-free herbal hand sanitizers.

It is also a popular herb that is used in Greek cooking. Its taste is very strong, slightly pungent and rich. Compined with the dried flowers, they are used as a spice to flavor various foods in fish, meat, in various sauces and soups.
It is one of the main ingredients of Benedictine liqueur. Many households grow their own in pots and in their gardens, and both the fresh and dried versions of this herb can be purchased in the markets.
Thyme is especially loved by bees and thyme honey is of excellent quality. Those Greek cooks who use thyme regularly say that it gives the dishes a special “touch” that can’t be achieved with any other herb and it’s most often used as a way to complement other herbs in the dish. However, the Ancient Greeks also used it in unexpected ways. For instance, they were fond of using thyme leaves and flowers to perfume their bathwater. In their society, if someone were to smell like thyme, it meant that they were elegant, refined, and of the upper class. The Greeks also commonly burned thyme in sacred temples. The Thyme of Rhodes Island in particular, thanks to the morphology of the ground and the microclimate conditions, is of top quality.