Herb Profile
Thyme
Botanical profile with evidence, safety, and practical fit.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
C PreliminaryUse extra caution — Culinary use is generally low risk; concentrated oil/extracts can irritate mucosa and require dose caution. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Sleep, Cognitive function, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding For Medicinal Dose Essential Oil, Significant GI Irritation, Thyme/Lamiaceae Allergy.
Monograph visual
Thyme
The Hippie Scientist
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Safety & Cautions
Culinary use is generally low risk; concentrated oil/extracts can irritate mucosa and require dose caution.
60%
Moderate caution — review before use
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding For Medicinal Dose Essential Oil
- - Significant GI Irritation
- - Thyme/Lamiaceae Allergy.
- - Potential Additive Irritation With Other Essential Oils
- - Theoretical Caution With Anticoagulants For High Dose Extracts.
Safety classifications
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Culinary use is generally low risk; concentrated oil/extracts can irritate mucosa and require dose caution.
Safety labels
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
- aescin
- Aged Garlic Extract
- ajoene
- Ajwain
- Allicin
- Garlic
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Archangelica
- Angelica Dahurica
- Angelica Pubescens
- Angelica Root
- Angelica Sinensis
- Arjuna
- Artemisia Capillaris
- Artichoke
- Ashitaba
- Ashitaba Extract
- Astaxanthin
- Berberis
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Blueberry
- Boldo
- Boswellia
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Carnitine L Tartrate
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Chuanxiong
- Cissus
- Citicoline
- Clove
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Commiphora Mukul
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cordyceps
- Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- crocetin
- crocin
- cryptotanshinone
- Curcuma Wenyujin
- Curcumin
- Damiana
- Danshen
- Devils Claw Extract
- Dong Quai
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek Extract
- ferulic acid
- Feverfew
- Fisetin
- forskolin
- Fraxinus Rhynchophylla
- Fucoxanthin
- Galangal
- Reishi
- Garcinia Mangostana
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Garlic Aged Extract
- Garlic Extract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Ginkgo
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
- Ginkgo Extract EGb 761
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- ginsenoside rg3
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Lion's Mane
- Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- Horse Chestnut
- hydroxytyrosol
- Japanese Knotweed
- Kudzu
- L-Carnitine
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Magnolia
- Mangosteen
- Maral Root
- Chamomile
- Melatonin
- MSM
- Myrtle
- Nettle Root
- Nigella Sativa
- Noni
- Notoginseng
- Ocimum Basilicum
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Oregano
- Paeonia Lactiflora
- Asian Ginseng
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Papaya Leaf
- Pastinaca Sativa
- Pau D'arco
- Perilla
- Phosphatidylserine
- Piper Longum
- Bifidobacterium Probiotic
- Lactobacillus Probiotic
- Probiotics - Bifidobacterium spp.
- Probiotics - Lactobacillus spp.
- Psoralea Corylifolia
- Pycnogenol
- Quercetin
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Red Clover
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Resveratrol
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Rose Hips
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- Salvia miltiorrhiza
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- Saw Palmetto Extract
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Selaginella Tamariscina
- Soybean
- Syzygium Aromaticum
- Terminalia arjuna
- Thunder God Vine
- Tongkat Ali
- Trans-Resveratrol
- Fenugreek
- Tripterygium Wilfordii
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Turmeric Curcumin + Piperine
- Valerian
- Vitamin D3 + K2
- Grape
- White Peony
- Willow Bark Extract
- Yarrow
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Early signal that needs stronger human replication before practical claims.
PreliminaryLimited Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Neurotransmitter Modulation · Cellular Protection
Research maturity: Preliminary or mixed — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Culinary use is generally low risk; concentrated oil/extracts can irritate mucosa and require dose caution.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils Sakkas H et al. (2017) | — | — | PubMed → |
Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses Salehi B et al. (2018) | — | — | PubMed → |
Thymol and Thyme Essential Oil-New Insights into Selected Therapeutic Applications Kowalczyk A et al. (2020) | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Leaf is used as tea and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Thyme Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Thyme Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Inflammatory Signaling ModulationNeurotransmitter ModulationCellular ProtectionNF KB Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Thyme, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Thyme
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Thyme
Thyme dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for sleep. Limited Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Thyme, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.