Plant of the Week: Hyssopus Officinalis

Hyssop


This week I chose to work with Hyssop. Long known as a purifying herb, hyssop is mentioned in the bible. It's unfortunate that hyssop, such a well loved and useful herb has lost it's beloved place at the hand of many modern herbalists. It wasn't even a plant I'd learned in years. I dont remember where I got the idea to learn more about it, but the idea struck, and insisted. I contacted another herbalist whom I know had some growing this summer, and requested some fresh tincture and dried herb for tea.
When that bag arrived I opened it up for a quick smell, and YUM! Hyssop, unique unto itself, does remind me a little of catnip, in smell and taste. Some of it's actions are similar as well, but it has a stronger action on the respiratory system than catnip.

Diffusive

Diaphoretic

Aromatic

Carminative

antispasmodic

Stimulant

Relaxant

Nervine

Stimulant Expectorant

Pectoral

Tonic

Hyssop acts on the mucus membranes, cappillaries and nervous tissue. When I took hyssop, tincture or tea, what I thought of was a "breath of fresh air." It was a like a fragrant spring breeze in my lungs. It's aromatics were relaxing and open up the respiratory passages, while also stimulating circulation and expectoration. Hyssop, when used as a hot tea is a wonderful relaxing diaphoretic and stimulating expectorant combined with antiseptic aromatics. That's the breath of fresh spring air I experienced from it. Likewise, it would be soothing to an infected sore throat when combined with gentle astringent sage leaves, and/or marshmallow. Hyssop is also a very gentle sedative that I found to work very well taken just before bed. I don't usually experience severe insomnia, but hyssop relaxed me just enough, and possibly lowered my body temperature through opening up capillary beds to ease me gently into slumber, and awaken refreshed.

A cup of hyssop tea is also a nice carminative with warming, stimulating properties to give the digestion a gentle boost and relieve gas or colic. Also a mild antispasmodic, hyssop can be used for menstrual cramps associated with cold and sluggish conditions of the uterus.

Hyssop is also known as a strewing herb, and makes a lovely smudge for purifying the air of contamination from illness or emotional tension.