Lemon Thyme: What Are Its Effects?

Thymus citriodorus: Lemon Thyme or Lemongrass Thyme

Lemon thyme, also known as lemon-scented thyme and lemongrass thyme, is a common aromatic plant belonging to the large Lamiaceae family, known in particular for its aromatic and medicinal herbs such as Rosemary or Mint. Lemon thyme is known by the Latin names Thymus citriodorus or Thymus ×citriodorus. It is native to the Mediterranean basin, although it has become naturalised across temperate Europe. It is thought to have arisen from a natural hybridisation between Common Thyme, Thymus vulgaris and False Pennyroyal, Thymus pulegioides.

Lemon thyme is a compact, evergreen, perennial subshrub, generally reaching 15 to 30 cm tall and about as wide. It is therefore stockier and has a more spreading habit than common thyme. Its leaves are also wider than those of its cousin. Small in size, they are oval to lanceolate and often edged with yellow or white, depending on the variety. Leaf colour also varies by cultivar. When crushed, the leaves give off a characteristic lemony scent. For this reason, lemon thyme is mainly used in cooking.

Lemon thyme contains the same compounds as common thyme, so it shares the same digestive and anti-infective properties. However, lemon thyme is milder because of geraniol, an aromatic antiseptic compound. Geranial and neral are also present in significant quantities; they create this intense lemony note and provide antispasmodic properties, which are very useful for treating coughs. Unlike its cousins, lemon thyme contains far fewer phenols – an interesting biochemical group, as they are very powerful antiseptics, but whose use is more delicate due to their contraindications. Consequently, lemon thyme is a good alternative for more regular use and for children.

Protective Properties Against Winter Ailments

Thanks to the geraniol it contains, lemon thyme is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, making it particularly effective at warding off common respiratory tract infections in winter. It also has antispasmodic properties due to geranial and nerol, helping to alleviate symptoms such as cough. Lemon thyme also has expectorant properties. By thinning bronchial secretions, it helps expel phlegm and relieve a productive cough.

Digestive Properties

Lemon thyme stimulates bile secretion and thus promotes good digestion. It is often used to relieve bloating, digestive spasms and stomach ache. Its antispasmodic action helps to relieve digestive spasms.

Cosmetic Properties

Antiseptic and Purifying: Lemon thyme helps to deeply cleanse the skin, removing impurities and bacteria responsible for skin blemishes. This action is particularly beneficial for preventing and reducing skin blemishes such as acne. 

Sebum Regulation: Particularly effective for oily skin, lemon thyme helps regulate sebum production. This balancing action can help improve the skin’s overall appearance by making it less oily and more matte. By regulating sebum production, lemon thyme can help prevent pores from becoming blocked, thereby reducing the risk of blackheads and acne. 

Antioxidant Effect: The antioxidants found in lemon thyme help to neutralise free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage skin cells and accelerate the ageing process. Its antioxidant properties therefore make it a valuable ingredient in anti-ageing products, helping to prevent premature ageing of the skin 

Anti-Inflammatory Action: This property helps to soothe irritated or redness-prone skin, providing relief for sensitive or reactive skin.

• Relieves winter ailments, such as a cough or a cold

• Promotes healthy digestion

• Helps maintain healthy skin; improves acne, the appearance of oily skin and irritation, and helps protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals.

1. Herbal Teas and Infusions: Lemon thyme, with its fresh, lemony notes, is well suited to herbal teas. We recommend using 10 to 15 g of the herb per litre of water, 3 cups a day. Lemon thyme tea is commonly used to relieve sore throats, coughs, bronchitis and digestive problems. The vapours released by a lemon thyme infusion also help to clear the airways in cases of the common cold or sinusitis. You can also use it as a gargle to disinfect the mouth and throat.

2. Cookery: Let your imagination run wild, as lemon thyme pairs well with: fish, shellfish, pan-fried vegetables, potatoes, fresh cheese, desserts, etc. Use it to flavour or prepare marinades and sauces.

3. Cosmetics: Cooled lemon thyme infusion can be used as a make-up remover or toner for the skin and/or scalp, thanks to its balancing and purifying effects. Its antioxidant properties make it a key ingredient in anti-ageing products, helping to protect the skin against environmental damage.

Made with 100% natural ingredients, these organic essential oil lozenges help clear the nose and support respiratory wellbeing. They combine essential oils of Scots pine, peppermint, Eucalyptus globulus and ravintsara, traditionally used for their purifying and respiratory qualities, with a thyme extract, traditionally used to support the body’s natural defences.

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A powerful blend of lemon and peppermint essential oils, soothing marshmallow extract, honey, and propolis, these organic throat lozenges soothe the throat and promote comfort in the pharynx. Made in France, these 100% natural honey-based throat lozenges melt in the mouth for an intense, refreshing effect and a feeling of well-being.

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Deliciously refreshing, minty and lightly spicy, the Organic Mint Digestion herbal tea is especially pleasant after a meal. Its original blend combines seven plants traditionally used to support digestion and promote post-meal wellbeing. A delicious herbal tea to help soothe digestive discomfort.

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For oily or blemish-prone skin, this food supplement combines burdock, nettle, wild pansy, zinc, grape polyphenols, melon SOD and vitamin C, ingredients traditionally used to support skin balance and the look of acne-prone skin.

Discover the Clear Skin Complex – 60 capsules – Dietary supplement

This purifying, non-drying lotion perfectly complements your cleansing and makeup removal routine. With a 5% concentration of niacinamide, zinc, and hyaluronic acid, it visibly reduces blemishes and blackheads while tightening pores. Pores are visibly unclogged. It evens out the complexion and reduces redness.

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A comprehensive anti-blemish treatment, this serum—concentrated at 10 per cent azelaic acid—is designed for combination, oily, blemish-prone and acne-prone skin types seeking to restore a clear, refined complexion. 100 per cent naturally derived, azelaic acid – known for its keratolytic, anti-comedogenic and antibacterial effects – acts simultaneously on several factors responsible for acne.

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Lemon thyme taken as a course is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for young children.

What’s the secret to giving grilled fish an exceptional flavour? Simply slip a sprig of lemon thyme under the fish on the barbecue. “Lemon thyme is the sea in herb form,” as an old fisherman I know used to say.

Catherine is passionate about plants and their properties. She studied natural cosmetics at the École Lyonnaise des Plantes Médicinales in the early 2000s. Driven by curiosity, she has continued to explore the richness and potential of plants. This led her to train in aromatherapy at the École Française d’Aromathérapie Intégrative. She discovered an almost unexplored world in olfactotherapy, and valuable tools for getting to know herself better and practising what she calls inner ecology.