TIMYAN CREAR – Thymus serpyllium L.

Other Russian names: thyme creeping, Bogorodskaya grass, lemon douche, cap. From antiquity used as a medicinal and spicy-aromatic plant. In culture since the XVI century. A flower of thyme, surrounded by bees, was depicted on the knight’s clothing in the Middle Ages, because it was believed that he instilled in his heart courage and courage.

Thyme in cooking has a pleasant strong aroma and a sharp, strongly spicy, bitter taste. It is a popular spice, added to smoked products, pork and lamb, to pates, mushrooms, cottage cheese, game and cheeses. In a small amount, thyme is added to fried fish, to the liver, giblets and veal.

The aerial part of the plant before fruiting is used in the production of beverages. Leaves and young shoots of thyme are used as salad, for pickling cucumbers. They serve for the perfuming of sausages, vinegar, cocktails, tea. Fresh and dry leaves are used for this purpose.

In scientific medicine, herbal creeping herb (Herba Serpylli), collected during the flowering period, is used as a medicinal raw material. The application is the same as that of thyme grass. Infusions, decoctions and extract of thyme are prescribed for acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchial asthma. The liquid extract from the leaves is part of the preparation “Pertussin”, used for bronchitis and whooping cough. Thyme creeping has a bactericidal, soothing, analgesic, wound healing and anthelmintic effect.

Outer is used in the form of baths. Khakases use Bogorodskaya grass in the rite of alas – fumigation of premises, livestock and other property with smoke for disinfection and scaring off bad spirits.