Thyme time

Words by Jo Elwin

It’s time to head for the Central Otago hills where, in November, they are blanketed in flowering wild-alpine thyme and the heady purple haze is spectacular. For Sandra Clair, the founder of Dunedin-based plant medicine company Artemis, it means more than just a beautifully fragrant walk. She will be out there with her team hand-harvesting for the Artemis range of medicinal cough, cold and immunity products. They work in long shifts to ensure the plants are at their most potent and the plants are processed immediately using a combination of traditional methods from European medicine and modern science.

“Timing is everything,” says Sandra. “We follow the bees’ lead. When they are active, that’s our sign that it is the right time to harvest this very special plant with world-class therapeutic qualities. We have a very short and weather dependent window of usually a couple of weeks and that is getting shorter thanks to global warming. We have agreements with landowners who allow us to harvest on their private land and over many years we have built valued partnerships with them, the Central Otago District Council and the Department of Conservation. Artemis is a guardian, or kaitiaki, of the land and we are passionate about ensuring we protect the land and plants for the generations to come.”

Sandra stresses that wild-grown thyme and the Central Otago thyme specifically, contains very special medicinal properties not found in most thyme grown in your back garden or used for cooking. Its hardiness from the extreme temperatures of the area produce very potent active constituents and it does have to be expertly harvested, processed and formulated to ensure the medicinal qualities. “Thyme has scientifically proven antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties,” says Sandra. “It is medicinally used to treat sore throats, dry and wet coughs, bronchitis, colds and respiratory infections. It cleanses, protects and heals the respiratory tract in both children and adults. The early mining settlers searching for gold in Central Otago brought the thyme with them, and it had been used for centuries as a medicinal plant.”

Central Otago Thyme is used as a therapeutic ingredient across the Artemis immunity and winter ranges, including ViroGone and Chest Relief. It is also used in their Thyme Lemon Tonic, which is popular in New Zealand and is a rapidly growing export product. “Artemis is proud to be harnessing the unique properties of Central Otago thyme to support the health of people in New Zealand, and to also take it to a global audience,” says Sandra. “We also harvest St John’s Wort from the Central Otago region. This species is one of the most studied medicinal plants in the world. It has shown to be as effective as synthetic anti-depressants but with less side-effects. It is also excellent for topical treatments of shingles, nerve pain and neuralgia.”

Sandra grew up in Switzerland where she says “Natural plant medicine is a living tradition and a normal part of modern medicine. My own path to becoming a Medical Herbalist is unique in that it combined a traditional apprenticeship with scientific study. For three years I studied under a renowned Swiss herbalist, midwife and nun who passed down to me the ancient art of collecting, harvesting and preparing plant medicines. I learned clinical skills in the community practice where we administered the medicines prepared from locally harvested plants we gathered in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, as well as undertaking formal training in health sciences and herbal medicine from universities in both Australia and New Zealand. In 1995 I started my clinic in Dunedin, practicing as a medical herbalist but the traditional plant medicines I was used to prescribing in Switzerland weren’t available. I discovered the amazing quality of medicinal plants growing wild in Central Otago and I was astounded at their potency. Through necessity, I created my own traditional remedies – medicinal teas, tinctures and remedial creams and so, Artemis was born. 

This year I completed my PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury, looking at how the long-standing empirical evidence for plant medicines can facilitate the integration of these medicines into the modern scientific healthcare system. Plant-based medicines are mainstream around the world. It is all about consumer choice and providing natural options to New Zealand people alongside access to more technical and synthetic medical interventions.”

Artemis founder Sandra Clair in the hills above Bannockburn

Getting to know you: Sandra Clair

Home is … Although I grew up in Switzerland, which will always have a special place in my heart, I now call the Otago Peninsula home. I live there with my husband on an eco-sanctuary, surrounded by thousands of native trees that provide shelter for rare native species of plants and animals.

To keep well I … use the range of Artemis products to nourish my body every day. I bookend my day with a cup of Liver Detox Tea in the morning and Deep Sleep Tea at night and ensure I eat balanced meals, exercise and rest regularly. Self-care is non-negotiable for me.

When I do get downtime … I like to spend it with family and friends, reading rare medicinal books and keeping up with research into medicinal properties of plants.

I Enjoy dining at … Francesca’s Italian Kitchen and The White House in Wanaka.

You will find me walking … along the Clutha river with stops for swimming and tramping in the Matukituki valley for spectacular alpine views.

I love Central Otago because … the alpine landscape and climate has similarities with Switzerland and this unpolluted wilderness is perfect for growing medicinal plants. Since I arrived in New Zealand almost 25 years ago, I have spent every summer in Central Otago, I love it that much. I always feel refreshed and ready to take on the new year.  

Artemis products are available through pharmacies, health stores and online at artemis.co.nz

Gather and cook

It won’t supply the health benefits that Artemis’ specially formulated products will but, if you’re lucky enough to have thyme going wild in your backyard, here’s how you can use a sprig or two in the kitchen:
+ Make wild thyme and olive oil bread.
+ Roast nuts with a good drizzle of honey, thyme leaves and salt.
+ Throw a few sprigs in with potatoes or any other vegetables to roast.
+Make a thyme syrup to mix with soda or tonic. Add gin or vodka and a sprig of thyme for a seasonal cocktail. To make the syrup, bring 1 cup water and a handful of thyme to the boil, boil for 5-10 minutes then stir in one cup of sugar. Strain and cool.
+ Decorate gifts and bottles of thyme syrup with a sprig of flowering thyme.
+ Use the flowers to garnish salads, vegetables and meat dishes. They will also bring a savoury note to sweet cakes and desserts.