Ethnomedicinal application of species from genus Thymus in the Pirot County (Southeastern Serbia)

The species from genus Thymus are polymorphous plants from the family Lamiaceae, spread in Serbia in many species, subspecies, varieties, and forms. The aerial parts of species from genus Thymus have a long tradition of being used worldwide. The subject of this study was the research of ethnomedicinal application of thyme in Pirot County (Southeastern Serbia). Ethnomedicinal surveys were conducted among the population in four municipalities: Pirot, Babunica, Bela Palanka, and Dimitrovgrad. It was noticed that 56.9 % of interviewed persons use the species of genus Thymus in the Pirot County. They are usually used in the countys folk medicine in the form of herbal tea against colds to relieve dry and spastic cough, especially in bronchitis and asthma, and for sedation.