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Common Garden Thyme

Description. The root is composed of innumerable fibres, and the stalks are numerous, hard, woody, brown, very much branched, and ten inches high. The leaves are short, broad, pointed, and of a dusky green. The flowers are small, very numerous, and of a pale red; the seeds are roundish, small, brown, and glossy.

Place. It is originally a native of Italy, but we have it for the service of the kitchen in every garden.

Time. It flowers in June.

Government and virtues. It is a noble strengthener of the lungs, as notable a one as grows; neither is there scarce a better remedy growing for that disease in children which they commonly called the chin-cough, than it is. It purges the body of phlegm, and is an excellent remedy for shortness of breath. It kills worms in the belly, and being a notable herb of Venus,. provokes the terms, gives safe and speedy delivery to women in travail, and brings away the after-birth. It is so harmless you need not fear the use of it. An ointment made of it takes away hot swellings and warts, helps the sciatica and dulness of sight, and takes away pains and hardness of the spleen: it is excellent for those that are troubled with the gout; as also, to anoint the testicles that are swelled. It eases pains in the loins and hips. The herb taken any way inwardly, comforts the stomach much, and expels wind.