Thyme vs. White Thyme Essential Oil?
Thyme oil and white thyme oil are steam distilled from the same herb, Thymus vulgaris. The first collection of concentrated oil is sometimes called red thyme and is a much more potent form of the phenols that give thyme its medicinal properties. This oil is generally used for topical applications, in very small amounts.
White thyme is a further distillation of red thyme oil and is lighter in color. Both oils contain the same properties and constituents, but white thyme is a little weaker. It has a milder fragrance and a lighter color as well.

1. Treat Infections
   Minor cuts and abrasions are just a part of life, whether you are preparing dinner or just happen to take a fall. However, breaks in the skin are opportunities for germs to enter your body. This can cause redness and swelling, along with further pain from the injury. It can also slow healing time if allowed to fester untreated. Thyme oil has been shown to be effective against many common types of bacteria, from those which are commonly found on the skin to those caused by food.
   Add 1-2 drops of thyme oil to a carrier oil to apply directly to a cut or to drop onto a sterile bandage. This will help prevent infection and aid in healing time.
2. Oral Care
   Before the advent of modern dentistry, people relied on natural treatments to keep their teeth and mouth healthy. Essential oils have even been used to prevent infections after a tooth is removed. Thyme is used in many oral care products such as mouthwashes and kinds of toothpaste due to its proven ability to prevent infections and impede the growth of fungus like yeast and prevent conditions like oral thrush. It also has painkilling properties that can help manage overall oral or facial pain that originates in the mouth or jaw.
   Add thyme oil to warm water and swish daily to prevent the growth of bacteria on your teeth. Remember to spit out the mixture rather than swallow.
3. Anti-Parasitic
   Parasites are organisms that live inside another organism, often causing a decline in health by using needed nutrients or spreading infectious diseases. Thousands of people and animals around the world are affected by parasitic infections like malaria and hookworm. Thyme essential oil has been proven to impede the growth of the parasite, which causes malaria as well as the hookworm in cattle that causes a high mortality rate. This is especially important in countries without access to most modern medicines and prevents the spread of infected meat.
4. Ease Respiratory Distress
   There are many different types of respiratory conditions, from bacterial infections such as pneumonia to chronic ailments like asthma and even cough caused by the common cold. These conditions are accompanied by bouts of coughing, sneezing, and overproduction of mucus that can make it hard to breathe. Thyme essential oil is a proven antispasmodic, which means that it can soothe coughing and even loosen phlegm to produce more productive coughs. Being antimicrobial, it may even help prescription medicines clear infections faster, allowing you to heal sooner.
   Diffuse thyme oil throughout the house while you have a cough to help it enter your lungs and ease the symptoms of respiratory distress. It may also kill any molds or bacteria in the air, preventing further complications.
5. Protect Brain Function
   As we age, our brain function begins to be affected, resulting in poor memory or even behavioral changes. This has led to an increase of diagnoses of dementia or other diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Though there is no one single cause for these conditions, there is research on how to prevent them from occurring. Thyme oil has been part of this research and has been shown to prevent the decline of important hormones and chemicals in the brain that are required for healthy functioning. This is likely due to a high concentration of antioxidant chemicals that prevent cell damage from free oxygen radicals in the environment. This helps cells repair themselves as well as preventing further damage.
   Diffuse thyme throughout the house allow your body to absorb the antioxidant benefits.
6. Treat Vaginal Infections
   Every woman suffers from a vaginal infection at least once in her lifetime. Unfortunately, it may be several times, which means several courses of different types of medicine to try and control either bacteria or fungi like candida. This can lead to the development of resistant types, especially if you suffer from chronic conditions. Research shows that a combination of garlic and thyme essential oil is just as effective as a commonly used over the counter treatment for yeast infections. This may mean relief without medication and even prevention of further infections