Moderate evidenceImmunity

Thyme Extract

Thyme is the best-studied cough herb in Europe, with several placebo-controlled trials in acute bronchitis. The catch is that every positive trial used thyme combined with ivy leaf or primrose root, never thyme on its own.

Where to buy

View on iHerb

Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

Referral link — this site may earn a commission on purchases.

What the science says

Faster resolution of acute bronchitis Moderate evidence
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults with acute bronchitis and productive cough found that a thyme herb and ivy leaf fluid extract reduced coughing fits substantially more than placebo over the treatment period. Two further placebo-controlled trials of thyme with primrose root reported the same direction of effect.
Thyme alone has not been tested Limited evidence
The trials evaluated fixed combinations, so the contribution of thyme by itself is unknown. A single-ingredient thyme extract cannot be assumed to reproduce those results.
Antimicrobial claims are laboratory-level Limited evidence
Thymol and carvacrol kill bacteria in culture, but the bronchitis trials measured cough and symptom scores, not infection clearance. There is no clinical evidence that thyme acts as an antibiotic in humans.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe trials used fluid or dry extract combinations dosed three times daily per product label. As a standalone, 1–2 g of dried thyme as an infusion up to three times daily is the traditional amount.

SafetyWell tolerated; the commonest complaints in the trials were mild gastrointestinal upset. Avoid if allergic to mint-family plants. Thyme essential oil is not interchangeable with the extract and should not be swallowed undiluted. Limited data in pregnancy and in children under one year.

How to take it

TimingSpread across the day, three times daily, which is how the cough trials dosed it.

With food?Either way; with food if it upsets your stomach.

Worth knowingThe trials tested thyme combined with ivy leaf or primrose root, not thyme alone — buy the combination that was actually studied.

Frequently asked questions

Does thyme extract work for bronchitis cough?

Thyme has moderate evidence for acute bronchitis, but only in combination: placebo-controlled trials of thyme with ivy leaf or primrose root reduced coughing fits. Thyme extract on its own has never been tested, so its solo effect is unknown.

Is thyme a natural antibiotic?

Not in any proven sense. Thymol and carvacrol from thyme kill bacteria in culture, but there is no clinical evidence that thyme extract acts as an antibiotic in humans; the trials measured cough, not infection clearance.

How much thyme should I take for a cough?

The trials dosed thyme combination products three times daily per the product label. As a standalone, the traditional amount is 1–2 g of dried thyme as an infusion up to three times a day.

Does thyme extract have side effects?

Thyme extract is well tolerated, with mild stomach upset the most common complaint in trials. Avoid it if you are allergic to mint-family plants, and never swallow undiluted thyme essential oil, which is not the same as the extract.

Scientific references

Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Kemmerich B, Eberhardt R, Stammer H — Arzneimittelforschung, 2006
Evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of dry extracts of thyme herb and primrose root in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial
Kemmerich B — Arzneimittelforschung, 2007
Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of thyme and primrose root in patients with acute bronchitis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Gruenwald J, Graubaum HJ, Busch R — Arzneimittelforschung, 2005

Related in Immunity

Vitamin C Limited evidence
Zinc Moderate evidence
Elderberry Limited evidence
L-Lysine Limited evidence
Echinacea Limited evidence
Andrographis Moderate evidence

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)