What is hyssop?
Second cousin to the mint plant, hyssop is a small aromatic herb shrub that is often used in alternative and herbal medicine. Its wood stems sport dark green leaves that are best cultivated twice a year (end of Spring and beginning of Fall) and dried, though if you don’t happen to have a hyssop plant in your garden, you can find the cultivated variety in many ethnic grocery stores.
Why I use hyssop
I have struggled with asthma for as long as I can remember. With the wheeze and constriction comes a persistent cough that I’ve had for so long, I can no longer remember when it started. So it came as a shock to me when I stumbled across a herb that has effectively reduced my cough and asthma.
I was just recovering from a lingering cold, where the cough stuck around for six weeks; that kind of duration makes you desperate for relief, but I was adamant about not taking man made drugs. This determination stems from long experience in trying to manage my asthma: I used to use inhalers, but the side effects—including thrush and interference with my sleep patterns—were horrendous!
Benefits and history of hyssop
Then one day, at a Middle Eastern grocery store, I saw some dried herbs and one in particular caught my attention. It was Hyssop. I’d heard of it, but never tried it. So, I bought some and began my research.
Hyssop has been used for centuries for its antiseptic, cleansing qualities. In Roman times, it gained a reputation as being effective protection against the plague, and though not technically verifiable, this speaks to the powerful qualities it possesses.
Native to the Middle East and parts of Europe, hyssop is used today for gastrointestinal complaints, including liver and gallbladder conditions, and respiratory illnesses. The latter includes getting rid of coughs, preventing colds, and other respiratory infections and conditions, including easing the effects of asthma. Hyssop is an antispasmodic, which is how it provides cough relief, and an expectorant, so it loosens accumulated phlegm in the lungs.
Even more benefits:
- The oil form is ideal to fight intestinal parasites such as hookworm and tapeworm;
- It helps prevent and fight infection with its antiseptic properties, on open cuts. It can also help with acne and insect bites.
- It increases blood circulation, which helps with issues like gout, rheumatism and arthritis, and even hemorrhoids.
- It soothes cramped or aching muscles.
How to use hyssop
Luckily, the plague is no longer something we have to worry about but modern day illnesses can be very debilitating in their own right, so finding a natural solution is always my first priority!
I simply bring water to a boil, turn off the stove, add 2-3 twigs of hyssop and cover for 15 minutes.
I sweeten it with a teaspoon of honey and will typically drink it twice a day—morning and evening—when I’m sick.