Thyme.
Botanical name:
Thymus.
A common plant in our kitchen gardens, with hard and woody stalks, small leaves, and pale red flowers. The height is eight or ten inches; the branches are numerous. The leaves stand two at each joint, and are of a dusky green; the flowers are disposed in a kind of short spikes at the tops of the stalks; the whole plant has a strong smell, and an aromatic taste.
A tea made of the fresh tops of thyme, is good in asthmas, and stuffings of the lungs; it is recommended against nervous complaints; but for this purpose the wild thyme, called mother of thyme, is preferable. There is an oil made from thyme that cures the tooth-ach, a drop or two of it being put upon lint and applied to the tooth: this is commonly called oil of origanum.
