Hyssopus, Hyssop

Zoofa (Unani)

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1800

Botanical name:

Hyssopus officinalis
Five other European species have been used similarly: H. ambiguus, H. cuspidatus, H. latilabiatus, H. macranthus, and H. seravschanicus
Garden and Wild types were traditionally differentiated.

Parts used:

Herb, flower

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter
“Hot and Dry in the Third degree” (Avicenna)

Classifications:

2A APERIENT MEDICINES.    2B ATTENUATERS.    2F. PURIFYING.    2J. RAREFYING
3F. LITHONTRIPTIC.    3K. EXPECTORANT.    3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE.    3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES.
3Q. ANTHELMINTIC
4a. CEPHALIC.    4d. PECTORAL.    4j. NERVINE

Uses:

1. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cleanses the Lungs of thick and cold Phlegm
-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, shortness of Breath, Pleurisy

2. Clears Phlegm, Resolves Swellings:
–‘It ripens and breaks tumors and impostumes [abscesses] in the mouth, throat, and breast’. (Salmon)
–Swellings, Abscesses and Tumors, especially of the Mouth, Throat, Chest and Lungs

3. Settles Wind, Calms the Nerves, Stops Spasms:
–Epilepsy, Convulsions, Tinnitus
–Anxiety, Depression, Hysteria
-Hypertension
-regarded as strengthening to the Brain and Memory (Haller, various)

4. Clears Wind and Cold, Promotes Sweat:
-Cold, Flu, Intermittent Fever, Allergic Rhinitis, acute Sore Throat
-helps to express rashes in Measles and other Spotted Fevers

5. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-internal Blood Stagnation; Bruising
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-congealed Blood or Bruising of the Eye (Unani)
-classically to promote Abortion
-“If taken with wine, it dissolves the hard swellings”. (Avicenna)
-“Its oral intake improves the Complexion” (Avicenna)

6. Clears Damp, Opens Obstructions:
-Jaundice
-swelling or pain of the Liver or Spleen
-Stomach pain
–difficult Urination, Edema, Gravel and Stones
-Eczema, Psoriasis

7. Kills Worms:
-‘expels intestinal Parasites’. (Galen)
-especially Round Worm (flower, Unani)

8. Externally:
-the Oil is used to anoint the temples for Headaches, especially in Fevers; also good for shortness of breath, cough, and to procure sweat.
-the herb boiled in wine is used externally as a wash for inflammations, bruises, and muscular rheumatism etc.
-boiled in Vinegar to be used as a wash for Toothache.
-also for used as a gargle or mouth wash for mouth Sores or Abscesses.
-the vapors of the boiling decoction or the Oil was put into the ears for pain, inflammation and ringing of them.
-‘Being bruised, and Salt, Honey and Cumin seed put to it, helps those that are stung by Serpents’. (Culpeper)
-Also applied to Herpes sores.
-the Oil was applied to the scalp for Lice. (Dioscorides)
-in baths for Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous complaints.
-as a wash for catarrhal Opthalmia
-for Black Eyes and Bruises
-hard swellings, boil in wine and apply (Pliny)
-to cleanse the Womb (in Douches)
–Tinnitus (the fumes taken into the Ear)
-Decoction as a Mouthwash for putrid or sore gums

Dose:

Decoction: 3–6 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Correctives:

1. Gum Arabic
2. Tragacanth
3. Pomegranate

Substitute:

1. Sage is similar to Hyssop, especially for conditions of the Lungs and Throat
2. Thyme, Licorice, Adhadota vasica (Unani)
3. “It is tenuous like common Thyme” (Avicenna)

Main Combinations:

Betony & Hyssop

Cough & Lungs
1. Cough:
i. Hyssop with Thyme
ii. Hyssop with Licorice, Maidenhair (as in Syrup of Licorice of Mesue)
2. Cough, shortness of Breath, Wheezing:
i. Hyssop with Figs and Rue (Dioscorides)
ii. Hyssop with Basil, Maidenhair, Horehound, Licorice (as in Decoction for Cough and Asthma of Galen)
3. Chronic and Persistent Cough:
i. Hyssop with Rue and Fig
ii. Hyssop with Licorice, Currants, Fenugreek and Linseed (Wirtzung)
iii. Hyssop with Maidenhair, Vervain and Poppy capsules (or seed)
4. Cold Cough:
i. Hyssop with Thyme, Celery root, Fennel root, Aniseed, Raisin, Licorice (as in Decoction of Thyme of Andernacus)
ii. Hyssop with Orris, Thyme, Black Pepper, Pennyroyal, Rue, Cumin, Licorice, Raisins, Ginger, Aniseed (as in Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopus) of Nicholas)
5. Lung catarrh, Hyssop, Ivy leaf, Elecampane (Sobernheim, 1840)
6. For Cough from weakness, to strengthen the Lungs and enhance respiration:
i. Hyssop with Celery root, Fennel root, Licorice, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Maidenhair, Tragacanth (as in Syrup of Hyssop of Mesue)
ii. Hyssop with Coltsfoot, Fig, Raisin, Licorice (as in Decoction of Hyssop and Coltsfoot of Wirtzung)
iii. Hyssop with Sage, Elecampane, Licorice, Aniseed, Fennel seed, Rose (as in Decoction for Cough of Gabelhover)
iv. Hyssop with Maidenhair, Elecampane, Celery root (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
7. Chronic Bronchitis, Hyssop with Ground Ivy and Senega
8. Asthma, Shortness of Breath:
i. Hyssop with Agaric, Orris, Licorice, Peony (as in Decoction of Hyssop of Andrezeos)
ii. Hyssop with Gentian, Agaric, Mastic (as in Electuary for Asthma of Andrezeos)
iii. Hyssop with Squill, Orris, Horehound, Myrrh, Saffron (as in Lohoch Effective for Asthma of Serapion)
iv. Hyssop with Licorice juice, Maidenhair, Black Pepper, Bitter Almond, Orris, Radish seed (as in Electuary for Asthma)
v. Hyssop with Licorice and Adhatoda vasica (Unani, proven efficacy in Bronchial Asthma in clinical trials)
9. To clear Phlegm, Hyssop, Caraway, Orris (Avicenna)
10. Chronic Cough and Breathlessness with hard swellings, decoction of Hyssop and Figs with Honey (Avicenna)
11. Pneumonia, Hyssop, Thyme, Marshmallow root, Slippery Elm bark, Cayenne

Head, Brain and Nerves
12. Convulsions, Hyssop with Rue, Sage, Betony, Rosemary, Calamus, Peony, Asparagus root, Fennel seed, Nutmeg, Cinnamon (as in Tincture Against Convulsions)
13. Paralysis:
i. Hyssop with Sage and Rosemary
ii. Hyssop with Sage, Lavender, Mint, Clove, Nutmeg, Zedoary, Galangal, Calamus, Juniper berry, Peony (as in Powder for Paralysis and Vertigo of Nicholas)
iii. Hyssop with Asparagus root, Peony root, Betony, Cowslip, Four Cold Seeds, Calendula, Rosemary (as in Tincture for Paralysis)
14. To Improve Memory, Hyssop with Calamus

Other:
15. Measles, Hyssop, Sage, Calendula
16. Gall Bladder, Cholecystitis, Hyssop with Wormwood, Celandine, Ginger, Senna
17. Scrofula, Hyssop with Self Heal, Peppermint
18. To promote Menstruation, Hyssop with Mugwort, Betony, Elecampane (as in Decoction to Promote Menstruation of Turner)
19. To stop sweating, Hyssop with Sage and Walnut shells (Meyer)

Externally:
20. As a Gargle for Sore Throat and Tonsillitis, Hyssop with Sage and Alum
21. Tinnitus: “Vapours from a decoction using the drug along with its stalks specially with fig prove to be beneficial in tinnitus aurian. A funnel is used to enable the vapours reach the ear.” (Avicenna)

Major Formulas

Decoction of Hyssop (Zacharia)
Decoction of Hyssop (Andrezeos)
Decoction of Hyssop and Coltsfoot (Wirtzung)
Decoction of Thyme (Mesue)
Decoction for Cough (Gabelhover)
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Galen)
Syrup of Hyssop Compound (Mesue)
Syrup of Hyssop of Amaran
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Tincture Against Schirrus of the Spleen
Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopus) (Nicholas)
Electuary for Asthma of Andrezeos
Antidote for Wind and Cold (Nicholas)

Cautions:

Avoid During Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:

Distilled Water, Distilled Oil, Conserve of the Flowers, Syrup of the Juice, Compound Syrup, Species Diahyssopi

1. Conserve of Hyssop:
i. Fresh Hyssop leaves, bruised (1 part), Powdered Sugar (2 parts). Mix well and keep.

2. Syrup of Hyssop:
i. Hyssop dried (2 oz.), Water (2 pounds); Infuse, add to the strained liquor White Sugar (4 pounds). Strain. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
ii. Hyssop tops dried (1 oz.), Distilled Water of Hyssop (2 pounds); digest in a water bath for 2 hours in a covered vessel; strain, filter and add White Sugar (double the quantity). Melt in a water bath. (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)

3. Oil of Hyssop:
i. Hyssop (25 parts), Water (75 parts), Salt (3 parts). Digest for 3 days, then distil. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)

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