Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

The Biblical Antiseptic

Family: Labiatae; (includes Mint)

Genus and Species: Hyssopus officina/is

Also known as: No other names, however, many other plants are called hyssop

Parts used: Leaves and flowers

The Book of Psalms (51:9) says, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean.” But the biblical cleanser does more than clean. It may work as an antiseptic for infections like cold sores and genital herpes.

Temple Cleaner

Jewish priests used strong-smelling hyssop 2,500 years ago to clean the temple in Jerusalem and other places of worship. The Greeks adopted it, and the physician Dioscorides prescribed the herb in tea for cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath, in plasters and chest rubs, and as an aromatic nasal and chest decongestant.

The German abbess/herbalist Hildegard of Bingen wrote hyssop “cleanses the lungs.” She also recommended a meal of chicken cooked in hyssop and wine as a treatment for “sadness” (depression).

In 17th-century Europe, hyssop was a popular air freshener or “strewing herb.” Crushed leaves and flower tops were scattered around homes to mask odors at a time when people rarely bathed and when farm animals often shared human living quarters.

When bathing became popular and strewing ceased, hyssop was placed in scent baskets in sickrooms.

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper echoed Dioscorides’ endorsement of hyssop for chest ailments: “It expelleth tough phlegm and is effectual for all griefs of the chest and lungs.” He also claimed: “It killeth worms in the belly …. Boiled with figs it makes an excellent gargle for quinsey [tonsillitts] … Boiled in wine, it is good to wash inflammations … the head being anointed with the oil, it killeth lice.”

New World Treatments

Colonists introduced hyssop into North America and continued using it to treat chest congestions. Hyssop also developed a reputation as a menstruation promoter and as a means to induce abortions. (It won’t do either.)

But as time passed, hyssop’s popularity waned. America’s 19th-century Eclectics prescribed it externally to relieve the pain of bruises, and internally as a gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis and as a treatment for asthma and coughing.

Contemporary herbalists recommend hyssop compresses and poultices for bruises, burns, and wounds, and an infusion for colds, coughs, bronchitis, flatulence, indigestion, menstruation promotion, and even epileptic seizures. Some herbalists point to the fact that the microorganism that produces penicillin (Penicillium) grows on hyssop leaves as proof of its effectiveness for wounds and chest infections.

The biblical cleanser won’t whiten and brighten your bathroom bowl as modern cleansers do, but the herb’s main traditional uses have some scientific support.

Herpes - Hyssop inhibits the growth of herpes simplex virus, which causes genital herpes and cold sores. Try the infusion in a compress if you have this chronic, recurring infection.

Cough - Hyssop oil contains several soothing camphorlike constituents and one expectorant chemical (marrubiin), which loosens phlegm so it can be coughed up more easily. Scientific sources agree it’s a “reasonably effective” treatment for the cough and respiratory irritation of colds and flu.

Myth - Penicillium does indeed grow on hyssop. It also grows just about everywhere else on earth. The assertion that hyssop heals because it carries penicillin is nonsense.

Rx for Hyssop

To make a compress, use I ounce of dried herb per pint of boiling water. Steep 15 minutes and cool. Soak a clean cloth in the infusion and apply to cold sores and genital herpes as needed.

For an infusion, use 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day to treat cough. Hyssop has a strong, camphorlike smell and tastes bitter. Add sugar, honey, or lemon, or mix it with an herbal beverage blend to improve flavor.

If you prefer a tincture, use I teaspoon up to three times a day.

Hyssop should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

Hyssop has not been shown to stimulate the uterus, but its traditional use to stimulate abortion should discourage pregnant women from using it. No reports of harm from hyssop appear in world medical literature.

Just make sure the “hyssop” you use is H. Officinalis.

Several other North American plants are also called hyssop: hedge hyssop (Gratiola officinalis), the giant hyssops (several species of the genus Agastache), and the water hyssops (several species of Bacopa). These plants should not be ingested.

Other Cautions

Hyssop is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, hyssop is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.

Hyssop should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If hyssop causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Magnet for Bees

If you want bees in your garden, plant this pretty, hardy, shrubby perennial. Hyssop also has a reputation for enhancing the flavor of grapes and increasing the yield of cabbages planted nearby.

Hyssop has small. lance-shaped leaves, and the mints’ characteristic square stems. The plant reaches 2 feet and has a medicinal odor, which becomes more mintlike when the leaves are crushed. Dense clusters of blue or violet flowers form on c-inch spikes atop the stems in summer and early fall.

Hyssop enjoys dry, sunny locations and tolerates most soils. In partial shade, it tends to become leggy. Hyssop may be propagated from seeds, cuttings, or root divisions. Seeds should be sown 1/4 inch deep after danger of frost has passed. Cuttings and divisions may be rooted either indoors or outdoors in a cool, shady place.

Thin established plants to 12-inch spacing. Add compost each spring. Water seedlings every few days. Mature plants prefer a drier environment and require little care.

Once the plant reaches about 18 inches and exudes its characteristic aroma, cut back the tops to stimulate leaf growth. Leaves may be harvested at any time. Cut back the entire plant to 4 inches above ground just before it flowers. Dry and store in airtight containers.