Lemon thyme is another member of the Thyme family, sometimes known as Citrus Thyme. It’s often found in gardens, but frequently overlooked as a medicinal herb. If you are looking for it in a catalogue or garden centre, the label should say Thymus x citriodorus, though it might have the older names Thymus serpyllum citratus or Thymus serpyllum citriodorum. It is not related to Basil Thyme. Like garden thyme, it prefers a sunny position.

Lemon thyme is a low growing bush, like common thyme, and comes in green and variegated varieties. If you are growing variegated lemon thyme, watch out for plain green stems and remove them, as if they are left on the plant, they will take over, and you will end up with no variegation at all – unless you would prefer a plain green plant. (Of course, having removed them, you can strip off the leaves and make yourself a nice cup of tea, or use them in the kitchen.)

If you crush the leaves and take a whiff, the fragrance of lemon will come to you. This lemony smell matches the taste, which goes well with fish and can also be added to salad or stuffing. You can also make a refreshing lemony tea with the leaves. Use 1 teaspoon of fresh leaves or half a teaspoonful of dried, add to a pot and pour over a cup of boiling water. Leave to stand for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink either alone or with a little honey for sweetening.

Make a standard infusion using 1 teaspoon fresh or half teaspoon dried leaves to 250ml (1 US cup, 8 fl oz) boiling water. This may be sweetened with honey if preferred.

Lemon thyme contains high quantities of anti-oxidants, so the fresh leaves can give you a quick health boost. The standard infusion is relaxing and a good decongestant, which along with the anti-oxidants, makes it a helpful tonic for when you’re feeling a bit under the weather or feel a cold coming on.

One of the best uses for lemon thyme is to make a herb pillow. This is much smaller than a normal bed pillow, of course, and would be placed under your pillow at night to help you sleep, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory problems.

Herb pillows are usually made out of a double layer of loose-weave material. This helps prevent the herb from escaping from the pillow, while allowing the scent to escape freely. To make a herb pillow, you first need to dry the leaves. This is best achieved by hanging up bunches of the herb somewhere nice and airy and not too humid (steamy kitchens or laundry rooms are best avoided). After the leaves have dried they can be stripped off the branches and used to stuff your pillow, or as part of a mixture of other herbs. (You can also use them in the kitchen as a flavoring, of course.)

Aromatherapy

Lemon thyme essential oil is used to treat asthma, respiratory complaints and breathing disorders and as a post-sports rub.

Remember that, if you want to use lemon thyme medicinally, it’s important that it is grown organically so that its properties are not masked and you don’t end up ingesting toxic ingredients (such as pesticides), by accident. Visit the Gardenzone for more information about growing organic lemon thyme and other uses for it and Guide to Aromatherapy for more information on essential oils.

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1. Lemon Balm
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3. Thyme

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