Essential Oil Tip: Thyme Oil to Support your Liver

"Not long ago, I was up at around 2 AM with what promised to be a raging urinary tract infection. Anyone who has ever had one of these infections knows that they are not fun. The symptom are frequency of urination, accompanied by a burning sensation. After getting up every few minutes, I finally gathered up my blanket and pillow and perched myself on the throne. In a few minutes, my husband came into the bathroom with the thyme and lavender oils and told me to rub them in on my abdomen. Ten minutes later I was able to go back to bed and sleep the rest of the night. Now that's powerful!" Karen C. Surprise, AZ

Thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris L.) is not only good for battling infectious diseases, but it is very supportive to your liver, and it can help to strengthen your body's ability to produce glutathione levels that decrease with age.

Dr. Ray Sahelian states that glutathione deficiency contributes to oxidative stress, which may play a key role in aging and the worsening of many diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, HIV, AIDS, cancer, heart attack, and diabetes.

He also says that glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found within every cell. Glutathione plays a role in nutrient metabolism, and regulation of cellular events (including gene expression, DNA and protein synthesis, cell growth, and immune response).

Many "anti-aging" professionals work on getting glutathione levels up, including D. Gary Young; the founder of Young Living.

Young Living offers an excellent product named Longevity™ softgels, that includes the essential oil of Thyme and other essential oils that rank among the most powerful antioxidants known. Antioxidants are elements that help to neutralize free radicals and lessen the day-to-day oxidative damage we are all subject to. Antioxidants are thought to protect the skin by attaching themselves to free radicals, which minimizes the harm they do.

An additional, amazing tip for your liver: Avocado
Avocados are another great food for your liver (read why below). They were once a luxury food reserved for the tables of royalty, but now California avocados are enjoyed around the world by people from all walks of life.

Here are some avocado facts:

• They are a fruit not a vegetable



• Sodium and cholesterol free



• Have 5 grams of good fat



• California produces about 90% of the nation's avocado crop



• San Diego County is the Avocado Capital of the U.S., producing 60% of all the avocados grown in California.



• California avocados rank among the lowest of all fruits and vegetables for pesticide use

Why they are good for your liver?

Avocados are a good source of glutathione. Glutathione is made up of amino acids that function as antioxidants and are very supportive to the liver. Glutathione levels decrease with age therefore it is beneficial to get natural sources of glutathione when possible. (See Essential Oil Tip above for other ways to increase glutathione)

There are currently 62 published articles on Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) at PubMed; a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. To learn more about research on the effects of thyme oil, click here