Syrupus de Hyssopo
Compound Syrup of Hyssop

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Barley Hyssop Celery root Parsley root Fennel root Licorice Maidenhair Jujube Sebesten Raisins Fig Date Mallow seeds Quince seeds Tragacanth (tied in a rag)

Latin Hordeum vulgare Hyssopus officinale Apium graveolens Petroselinum crispum Foeniculum vulgare Glycyrrhiza glabra Adiantum capillus-veneris Ziziphus jujuba Cordia spp Vitis vinifera Ficus carica Diospyros lotus Malva sylvestris Cydonia oblonga Astragalus tragacanth Amount 1⁄2 oz. 10 drams ea. 6 drams 15 of ea. 1 1⁄2 oz. ea. 10 of each 3 drams ea.

Preparation:

Boil the Barley in 8 lbs. of spring water for half an hour. Then add the roots and boil in Balneo Marie for 15 minutes; then the fruits, seeds, and herbs, with about 15 minutes cooking between each addition. Boil until 5 lbs. have evaporated, then strain and clarify, and make into a syrup with 2 1⁄2 lbs. of Sugar (or Honey).

Function:

Clears Tough Phlegm, Stops Cough, strengthens the Lungs

Use:

1. Helps prepare the Phlegm Humor
2. Hoarseness
3. Cough with tough Phlegm
4. Asthma
5. Wheezing
6. Breathlessness
7. Pleurisy
8. Also to cleanse the Kidneys and prevent Stones
9. Hypochondriac pain

Dose:

1–2 oz; it may be taken throughout the day with a Licorice stick

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. The original version used pure Spring Water instead of Barley Water
2. Another version out of The Medical Formulary of al Samarqandi:
    Celery root-bark
    Fennel root-bark
    Marshmallow root
    Caper root-bark
    Celery seed
    Fennel seed
    Hyssop                        5 drams ea.
    Figs
    Raisins stoned.          10 drams ea.
Used to “ripen thick Phlegm” in the Lungs, and for Asthma.
  The source text notes that if necessary to increase the strength, add Maidenhair and Orris root.
  If it is a Heat disorder, some of the hot drugs are replaced with Violet, Marshmallow seed, Quince seed, Jujube, Sebestens and Poppy are added.

Mesue had several versions of this Syrup, the above version being most used.

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