Hyssop Leaf C/S

Promotes expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract, relieves congestion, regulates blood pressure, and dispels gas. Used externally, helpful for wound healing. Good for circulatory problems, epilepsy, fever, gout, and weight problems. Poultices made from fresh green hyssop help heal cuts.

Habitat & Cultivation : Indigenous to southern Europe, hyssop thrives abundantly in Mediterranean regions, particularly in the Balkans and Turkey. Flourishing in sunny and arid locations, it is a frequently cultivated herb in gardens. The harvesting of its flowering tops takes place during the summer when the plant is in full bloom.

Parts Used : Flowering tops, essential oil.

Constituents : Hyssop contains terpenes (including marubiin, a diterpene), a volatile oil (consisting mainly of camphor, pinocamphone and beta-pinene), flavonoids, tannins and resin. Marubiin is a strong expectorant. Pinocamphone is toxic, and the volatile oil can sometimes cause epileptic seizures.

History & Folklore : Historically, hyssop held such a revered status that it was considered almost a panacea. A proverbial expression conveyed, “Whoever rivals hyssop’s virtues, knows too much.” In the 1st century CE, Dioscorides advocated a remedy incorporating a blend of hyssop, figs (Ficus carica), rue (Ruta graveolens), honey, and water for addressing various conditions, including pleurisy, asthma, chest tightness, respiratory catarrh, and chronic coughs.

Medicinal Actions & Uses : Presently overlooked as a medicinal herb, hyssop holds significant potential as both a calming and tonic agent. It exhibits positive effects in addressing bronchitis and respiratory infections, particularly in cases involving excessive mucus production. Hyssop seems to promote the generation of more liquid mucus while gently stimulating expectoration, aiding in the clearance of thick and congested phlegm. To avoid irritation to mucous membranes, it is advisable to administer hyssop after the infection has peaked, leveraging its tonic properties for overall recovery. As a sedative, hyssop proves beneficial in managing asthma, particularly in individuals, including children, where the condition is aggravated by mucus congestion. Similar to many herbs rich in volatile oil, hyssop provides soothing relief to the digestive tract, offering an effective remedy for indigestion, wind, bloating, and colic.