Thymol is a phytochemical that is commonly found in plant extracts. In particular, thymol is often found in essential oils from plants. Thymol is a monoterpenoid and it belongs to the terpene group of phytochemicals. This group contains a number of chemicals that have been shown to possess therapeutic effects against mood disorders including anxiety and depression. Where thymol is present in plants it usually provides a characteristic odour, as is the case in the herb thyme. Thymol has been shown to reduce the stress associated with irritable bowel syndrome when given orally. It is unclear how this may occur, but one suggestion is that stress is involved in the production of the hypermobility of the bowel that is a main symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, and the thymol is able to reduce this stress thus relieving the symptoms. Another possibility is that thymnol interacts directly with the gut, and may antagonise the serotonin receptors within the gut that activate bowl hypermobility.
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