香港佛教殯儀

百里草治暗瘡勝西藥

2012年英國研究發現常用草藥百里草具有治療暗瘡功效，其抗炎及抗菌功能比現時使用的西藥更有效。研究人員以百里香為主要成份，再加入萬壽菊等在酒精中泡浸，然後在實驗室測試其提取液能否有效殺死引致暗瘡的痤瘡桿菌。結果發現提取液的功效比單純使用酒精，或暗瘡藥常用成份過氧化苯甲酰更理想，提取液在五分鐘內已能殺死痤瘡桿菌。

研究人員強調仍需進行人體臨床測試，才能確定百里香提取液在皮膚上也能發揮相同效用。現時常用的暗瘡藥物，是會令使用者有燒灼感，具有刺激皮膚成份，但百里香對皮膚的刺激非常小，也有不錯的療效，相信尤其適合敏感肌膚人士使用。

Thyme

Medicinal useOil of thyme, the essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), contains 20-54% thymol.[6] Thyme essential oil also contains a range of additional compounds, such as p-Cymene, myrcene, borneol and linalool.[7] Thymol, an antiseptic, is the main active ingredient in various mouthwashes such as Listerine.[8] Before the advent of modern antibiotics, oil of thyme was used to medicate bandages.[1] Thymol has also been shown to be effective against various fungi that commonly infect toenails.[9] Thymol can also be found as the active ingredient in some all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizers.

A tea made by infusing the herb in water can be used for coughs and bronchitis.[6] Medicinally, thyme is used for respiratory infections in the form of a tincture, tisane, salve, syrup, or by steam inhalation.[citation needed] Because it is antiseptic, thyme boiled in water and cooled is very effective against inflammation of the throat when gargled three times a day, with the inflammation normally disappearing in two to five days.[citation needed] The thymol and other volatile components in the leaf glands are excreted via the lungs, being highly lipid-soluble, where they reduce the viscosity of the mucus and exert their antimicrobial action.[citation needed] Other infections and wounds can be dripped with thyme that has been boiled in water and cooled.[citation needed]

In traditional Jamaican childbirth practice, thyme tea is given to the mother after delivery of the baby.[citation needed] Its oxytocin-like effect causes uterine contractions and more rapid delivery of the placenta, but this was said by Sheila Kitzinger[citation needed] to cause an increased prevalence of retained placenta.

Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme,[16] or garden thyme)[17] is a commonly used culinary herb. It also has medicinal uses. Common thyme is a Mediterranean perennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and full sun.