Thyme

Traditional respiratory herb with powerful antimicrobial and expectorant properties, supporting bronchial health and cough relief

Scientific nameThymus vulgaris FormulaC10H14O (thymol) Molecular weight150.22 g/mol CAS89-83-8

75 absorption score

9 safety / 10

22 USD per month

4 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level C

Thyme with:

80 out of 100

Works better together Compatible. Timing differs, so follow each supplement's own window.

Check it against your whole stack →

What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Antimicrobial respiratory protection

Powerful natural antimicrobial support against respiratory tract infections

Thymol and carvacrol provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects Evidence A-grade 2-7 days

Expectorant and cough relief

Effective expectorant for productive coughs and bronchial congestion

Antispasmodic and mucolytic effects help clear respiratory secretions Evidence B-grade 30 minutes to 6 hours

Bronchial and lung support

Supports healthy bronchial function and respiratory tract health

Anti-inflammatory effects reduce bronchial inflammation and irritation Evidence B-grade 1-4 weeks

Antispasmodic respiratory relief

Reduces bronchial spasms and supports smooth breathing

Antispasmodic compounds relax bronchial smooth muscle Evidence C-grade 30 minutes to 4 hours

Immune system respiratory support

Supports immune function specifically for respiratory health

Antimicrobial and immune-modulating compounds enhance respiratory immunity Evidence C-grade 1-6 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Probiotics for Autoimmune Disease Support Gut health & immune modulation 10-100 billion CFU daily B 60% Vitamin D3 Bone health & immune support 1000-2000 IU A 85% Zinc Picolinate Superior immune & healing support 15-30 mg A 95% L-Lysine Immune support & collagen synthesis 1-3g A 90% Oregano Oil Powerful respiratory antimicrobial 100-300mg B 85% Oregano Oil for Antimicrobial Protection Antimicrobial & pathogen defense 1-3 drops diluted daily B 75%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Thyme + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Vitamin D3 No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Calcium Carbonate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Lactase No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Bovine Collagen No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + DHA No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Turmeric No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Thyme + Eucalyptus Enhanced antimicrobial and decongestant effects Works better together 80

Thyme + Oregano Oil Synergistic antimicrobial and expectorant support Works better together 80

Thyme + Ivy Leaf Enhanced expectorant and bronchial support Works better together 80

Dosage

With meals or as needed

Daily200-600mg

Antimicrobial support300-600mg daily during infection

Expectorant cough300-500mg daily or as tea

Chronic respiratory200-400mg daily long-term

Bronchial spasms200-400mg daily

Before you take it

VeganYes

When to expect it

First Effects30 minutes to 6 hours for cough relief and expectorant effects

Peak Benefits2-7 days for antimicrobial support, 1-4 weeks for lung health

Deficiency DevelopmentNot applicable - herbal supplement

Toxicity OnsetVery rare, excellent safety profile

How to measure it

Not typically necessary

MarkerGenerally not needed - assess through symptom improvement

OptimalImproved respiratory function and reduced infections

Deficient belowNot applicable for herbal supplement

FrequencyMonitor through respiratory symptom improvement

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 0 reports naming it as the suspect

Named as the suspect 0 reports of 31 that mention it at all

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

What actually reaches you

The label counts the carrier, your body does not

Absorption High 75 of 100 · absorbs well relative to other forms

Delivered daily 300 mg

Cost per 100 mg delivered $0.24 comparative — uses the absorption score, not a measured percentage

Works better with

3 documented

Eucalyptus

Enhanced antimicrobial and decongestant effects

Both provide complementary respiratory antimicrobial support · level C

Oregano Oil

Synergistic antimicrobial and expectorant support

Both provide powerful antimicrobial effects for respiratory infections · level C

Ivy Leaf

Enhanced expectorant and bronchial support

Both provide expectorant and bronchial soothing effects · level C

What not to take with Thyme

1 documented

Immunosuppressive Drugs

May interfere with immunosuppressive therapy

Immune-enhancing effects may oppose immunosuppression · mild significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

blood-thinners Minor

May have mild effects on blood clotting

What to do: Monitor bleeding parameters if concerned

diabetes-medications Minor

May affect blood sugar levels

What to do: Monitor blood glucose levels

no-major-interactions None

Generally safe with most medications

What to do: Safe concurrent use

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Thyme Leaf Extract (Standardized Thymol) 75

Thyme Leaf Extract (Standardized Thymol): Powerful antimicrobial, Excellent expectorant, Good safety profile, Strong traditional use

Food sources

before you supplement

Fresh thyme leaves High essential oil content · 65

Dried thyme herb Concentrated compounds · 60

Thyme tea Moderate active compound content · 55

Standardized extracts Concentrated thymol and compounds · 75

Too little

deficiency signs

Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):
General symptoms addressed by thyme:
Frequent respiratory infections and poor immunity
Persistent productive cough and chest congestion
Chronic bronchial inflammation and irritation
Poor mucus clearance and respiratory stagnation
Bronchial spasms and breathing difficulties

Too much

toxicity signs

Extremely safe with minimal side effects:
Mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Occasional digestive upset with high doses
Rare skin irritation with topical use
Very mild blood clotting effects

Who benefits most

respiratory-infections-bronchitis

Excellent antimicrobial support for respiratory tract infections

300-600mg daily during infection

productive-cough-chest-congestion

Powerful expectorant for clearing bronchial congestion and productive coughs

300-500mg daily or as tea

chronic-bronchitis-copd

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial support for chronic respiratory conditions

200-400mg daily long-term

asthma-bronchial-spasms

Antispasmodic support for bronchial spasms and breathing difficulties

200-400mg daily

respiratory-immunity

Immune support specifically targeted for respiratory tract health

200-400mg daily

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Thyme at 200-600mg per serving. The form that matters here is Thyme Leaf Extract (Standardized Thymol).

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How it works

Thymol and carvacrol provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects against respiratory pathogens
Antispasmodic compounds relax bronchial smooth muscle reducing spasms
Mucolytic effects help break down and clear respiratory secretions
Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce bronchial inflammation and irritation
Expectorant properties promote productive cough and mucus clearance
Immune-modulating effects enhance respiratory tract immunity

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Strong evidence for antimicrobial effects against respiratory pathogens
Good traditional use evidence for expectorant and cough relief
Promising anti-inflammatory effects for respiratory conditions
Excellent safety profile with minimal side effects

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Thyme?

Documented effects: Antimicrobial respiratory protection; Expectorant and cough relief; Bronchial and lung support; Antispasmodic respiratory relief. Powerful natural antimicrobial support against respiratory tract infections

How much Thyme should you take per day?

The common daily range is 200-600mg. By goal — antimicrobial support: 300-600mg daily during infection; expectorant cough: 300-500mg daily or as tea; chronic respiratory: 200-400mg daily long-term; bronchial spasms: 200-400mg daily.

When is the best time to take Thyme?

With meals or as needed. First effects are typically reported within 30 minutes to 6 hours for cough relief and expectorant effects.

What are the side effects of Thyme?

At excessive doses: Extremely safe with minimal side effects:, Mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, Occasional digestive upset with high doses, Rare skin irritation with topical use, Very mild blood clotting effects. Safety rating at normal doses is 9 out of 10.

What should you not take with Thyme?

Separate it from Immunosuppressive Drugs by two to four hours. May interfere with immunosuppressive therapy

Does Thyme interact with medications?

Documented interactions with blood-thinners, diabetes-medications, no-major-interactions. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How do you know if you need Thyme?

The marker is Generally not needed - assess through symptom improvement, optimal range Improved respiratory function and reduced infections. Common deficiency signs: Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):, General symptoms addressed by thyme:, Frequent respiratory infections and poor immunity, Persistent productive cough and chest congestion.

Taken for

59 Immunity

Vitamin D3 · Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) · Comprehensive Immune Support Complex