Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.)

July 26th, 2007

Plant family: Lamiaceae (mint family).
Etymology:
The Greek plant name hyssopos [?ss?p??] is probably derived from Old Hebrew esob [????] (mentioned in the Bible, see pomegranate), although esob most probably referred to a local variety of marjoram, not the plant called hyssop today. Another explanation gives an obscure Arabic word azzof â€œholy herbâ€ as the source of the name; this is probably related to Kurdisch zufa [?????] â€œhyssopâ€. Cf. also French herbe sacrÃ©e.

Origin: Mediterranean.

Description:
Hyssop, an attractive garden plant with dark blue flowers, has only small value as a spice, because the aroma is weak (and reduced to nil after drying), and its taste is rather bitter. It can, however, be used for robust, rustic dishes like potato or bean soup, and it goes well with fat meat; others suggest it to spice up calf and chicken, where it may be an interesting alternative to sage, whom hyssop resembles in its slight bitterness, but not in fragrance. Sometimes, hyssop is added to bouquet garni .

Hyssop reportedly originated in the area around the Black Sea in central Asia and today is widely cultivated in other arid regions, partly because it thrives even in the most desolate soils. Hyssopâ€™s fragrant flowers and leaves are used as medicine.

Cultivation and uses:
The name ‘hyssop’ can be traced back almost unchanged through the Greek hyssopos. In the New Testament, a sponge soaked in sour wine or vinegar was stuck on a branch of hyssop and offered to Jesus of Nazareth on the cross just before he died (John 19:29). Both Matthew and Mark mention the occasion but refer to the plant using the general term “kalamos”, which is translated as “reed” or “stick”. Traditionally, hyssop has been used as a strewing herb, and many of its historical healing properties that had been previously dismissed as are once again being acknowledged.

The seeds are sown in spring and the seedlings planted out 40-50 cm apart. Hyssop can also be propagated from heel cuttings or root division in spring or autumn. Hyssop should be grown in full sun on well drained soil, and will benefit from occasional clipping. It is short-lived, and the plants will need to be replaced every few years. Ideal for use as a low hedge or border within the herb garden.

Hyssop is used a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth.

Hyssop leaves have a slightly bitter minty flavour and can be added to soups, salads or meats, although should be used sparingly as the flavour is very strong. Hyssop also has medicinal properties which are listed as including expectorant, carminative, relaxes peripheral blood vessels, promotes sweating, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal, antispasmodic. Its active constituents are volatile oil, flavonoids, tannins and bitter substance (marrubin). A strong tea made from the leaves and flowering tops is used in lung, nose and throat congestion and catarrhal complaints, and externally it can be applied to bruises, to reduce the swelling and discolouration. An old English country remedy for cuts and wounds suffered while working in the fields was to apply a poultice of bruised hyssop leaves and sugar in order to reduce the risk of tetanus infection. An essential oil made from hyssop increases alertness and is a gently relaxing nerve tonic suitable for treating nervous exhaustion, overwork, anxiety and depression. The Herb Society’s “Complete Medicinal Herbal” cautions however that “the essential oil contains the ketone pino-camphone which in high doses can cause convulsions. Do not take more than the recommended dose.”

Hyssop also has uses in the garden, it is said to be a good companion plant to cabbage, partly because it will lure away the Cabbage White butterfly, and according to Dorothy Hall (The Book Of Herbs, Pan 1972) has also “been found to improve the yield from grapevines if planted along the rows, particularly if the terrain is rocky or sandy, and the soil is not as easy to work as it might be”. However hyssop is said to be antagonistic to radishes, and they should not be grown nearby. Hyssop also attracts bees, hoverflies and butterflies, thus has a place in the wild garden as well as being useful in controlling pests and encouraging pollination without the use of unnatural methods. Hyssop is also used as an ingredient in eau de Cologne, and in the liqueur Chartreuse.

Hyssop leaves can be preserved by drying. They should be harvested on a dry day at the peak of their maturity and the concentration of active ingredients is highest. They should be dried quickly, away from bright sunlight in order to preserve their aromatic ingredients and prevent oxidation of other chemicals. Good air circulation is required, such as an airing cupboard with the door left open, or a sunny room, aiming for a temperature of 20-32Â°C. Hyssop leaves should dry out in about six days, any longer and they will begin to discolour and lose their flavour. The dried leaves are stored in clean, dry, labelled airtight containers, and will keep for 12-18 months.

Main constituents
The content of essential oil is rather low (0.3 to 0.9%); it is mostly composed of cineol, ÃŸ-pinene and a variety of bicyclic monoterpene derivatives (L-pinocamphene, isopinocamphone, pinocarvone).
As many other plant of the mint family, hyssop contains rather large amounts of bitter and antioxidative tannines: Phenols with a diterpenoid skeleton (carnosol, carnosolic acid), depsides of coffeic acid (= 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) and several triterpenoid acids (ursolic and oleanolic acid). Very similar or the same compounds have also been found in sage and rosemary.

Medicinal Uses:

Mainly used in the treatment of Asthma ,Colic ,Common cold/pharyngitis and Cough
Hyssop is extensively used in the treatment of chest congestion and coughs, to soothe sore throats, and to act as a mild sedative. Topical applications of hyssop include use as a gargle for sore throat, as a poultice or compress for bruises, sprains, wounds, & insect bites, as a bath herb for rheumatism, and as a salve or chest rub for congestion.

Hyssop is natural miracle

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Hyss_off.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyssop
http://www.piam.com/mms_garden/plants.html