Hyssop
Botanical Description & Habitat
Botanical
Hyssopus officinalis (LINN.)
Family
N.O. Labiatae
Hyssop is a name of Greek origin. The Hyssopos of Dioscorides was named from azob (a holy herb), because it was used for cleaning sacred places. It is alluded to in the Scriptures: 'Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean.'
Cultivation
It is an evergreen, bushy herb, growing 1 to 2 feet high, with square stem, linear leaves and flowers in whorls, six- to fifteen-flowered. Is a native of Southern Europe.
Hyssop is cultivated for the use of its flower-tops, which are steeped in water to make an infusion, which is sometimes employed as an expectorant. There are three varieties, known respectively by their blue, red and white flowers, which are in bloom from June to October, and are sometimes employed as edging plants.
For medicinal use the flower-tops should be cut in August.
Historical Properties & Uses
Hyssop contains a large concentration of essential oil, and like most aromatic herbs, it is used as a tonic, stomachic, carminative, external astringent, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, and anthelmintic. The herb is most often used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, including asthma, colds, bronchitis, and dyspepsia.
Leaf extracts have demonstrated strong antiviral activity aginst HIV.
This herb has not achieved approval status by the German Commission E. Either there was insufficient evidence in favor, or a contraindication.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Hyssop contains a large number and quantity of volatile oils: pinocamphone, isopinocamphone, pinenes, camphene, terpenes, cineol, linalool, etc.
Hyssop oil should therefore be a good expectorant, stimulant, carminative, stomachic, and should have some anti-inflammatory activity, but there has been little basic research done to validate the herb's properties.
One study has demonstrated hyssop's antiviral property, and another has shown it to be nonirritating and nonsensitizing to human skin, as well as nonphototoxic to mice and swine skin.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
Topical application of the astringent herb hyssop, in conjunction with the acne product Tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin A acid), may adversely affect the skin.
The tannin in hyssop may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in hyssop tea may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
Comments
There is evidence combined use of bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent. How this finding applies to herbal anti-infectives is still unknown.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
No toxicity data on the herb is available, but according to some herbalists, some individuals may be allergic to fresh hyssop.
The FDA classifies it as GRAS.
However, animal studies have shown some neurotoxicity. (Millet, 1980)
The German Commission E status is "null" or neutral i.e. while it is not approved, there is no documented risk. There may also be some concern over the claims made by manufacturers i.e. they are unproven.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried herb
2-4 grams
Tea
made from 1 tsp of dried herb
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-4 ml
Tincture
1:5 in 45% alcohol, 2-4 ml
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Facts and Comparisons. The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Sep, 1996.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. Macmillan, NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hermann, E.C., Jr. & L.S. Kucera. Antiviral substances in plants of the mint family (labiatae). III. Peppermint (mentha piperita) and other mint plants. Proceedings Of The Society For Experimental Biology And Medicine, 124, 874-878, 1967.
Hyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
Kreis, W et al., Inhibition of HIV replication by Hyssopus officinalis extracts. Antiviral Res. 1990, 14(6):323.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Opdyke, D.L.J. Food Cosmetics And Toxicology, 13(Supplement), 713,, 1975.
Vincent, D. & G. Segonzac. 1953. Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales, 147. pp. 1776-1779.
Essential Oil
See Hyssop Essence under Aromatherapy
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