Thyme Thymus vulgaris, zattar There are many species of this herb, giving quite a wide variety of slightly different options for flavouring purposes. Two explanations have been put forward for the derivation of its name; one being that it is from the Greek word for courage - thyme motifs were often embroidered onto a knight’s vestments to inspire courage before a joust; alternatively, that it is derived from a Latin term which meant to fumigate, cleanse in a sacrificial fire. In fact, all through the Middle Ages, sprigs of the herb were burned in houses as a kind of air freshener and to protect the occupants from plague. In Ancient Greeks and Romans used thyme as a temple herb and to bathe in it for vigour and grace. Some parts of the ancient world, however, associated the herb with death; the Egyptians used it in their embalming processes and the Welsh traditionally planted it upon the graves of their dead. In country magic, thyme is ruled by Venus, imparting courage, love, psychic gifts, health and sleep, and it was believed that placing thyme under the pillow would prevent nightmares. It was also thought that planting thyme in the garden would attract fairies and that wearing a sprig would enable you to see them. All plants have been used as a medicine at one time or another as a natural extension of the experimentation necessary before a plant could be ‘cleared’ for use and thyme has been found to be very useful indeed in this capacity. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian study of life, lists thyme under its pungent section: strengthening and cleansing. It recommends its use externally as a disinfectant, mirroring the cleansing uses in Europe and, internally prescribes the herb as an expectorant and to expel worms. European herbalists, too, use thyme quite a lot. Thymol, its essential oil, is a strong antibacterial agent, and is active against salmonella and staphylococcus bacteria, hence the reputation as a cleanser and disinfectant; thyme tea is a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal complaints and the oil was taken to expel hookworm. Thyme is also an antispasmodic, making it effective in combating sore throats, irritable coughs and bronchitis. Thyme is also good for settling the stomach and 2-3 teaspoons taken three times a day will settle diarrhoea. In addition, a thyme mouthwash will help mouth infections and thyme oil was used during World War I as an antiseptic and is still used today in some proprietary preparations for fungal diseases of the skin. Its culinary uses are quite extensive too. Sausages, meatloaf, terrines and stuffings have all benefitted from the addition of thyme, both for its preservative and taste properties. It is an important herb in Mediterranean cooking, especially southern France and Greece and Cajuns and Creoles in the States use it as one of their key notes, and thyme is an important flavouring in Benedictine liqueur Persian thyme, or zattar to give it its Arabic name, is also known as wild thyme, which not only contains thymol, but also carvacrol, essential oils which give the oregano flavouring favoured in Mediterranean and North American foods.