Hyssop Drug Information
22 February 2008Taxonomic Class
Lamiaceae
Common Trade Names
Hyssop Herb, Hyssop Low Alcohol and Alcohol Free, Hyssop Organic, ViBlend (Echinacea/Hyssop for Kids) Liquid
Common Forms
Available as fluidextracts, oils, and tinctures. Fresh or dried flowering tops are used to prepare compresses or tea. Narcissus oil is used in fragrances. Narcissus pseudonarcissus lectin (also called narcissus pseudonarcissus agglutinin) is used in biochemistry.
Source
The plant belongs to Hyssopus officinalis of the Lamiaceae family.
Chemical components
Hyssop contains terpenoids (including marrubiin, oleanolic, and ursolic acids), a volatile oil (camphor, pinocamphone, thujone, isopinocampholle, with alpha- and beta-pinene, camphene, alphaÂterpinene, linalool, bornylacetate, and others), flavonoids (including diosmin and hesperidiin), hyssopin (a glucoside), tannins, and resin.
Actions
Hyssop is reported to have anti-inflammatory, antiflatulent, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, hepatic, sedative, and stimulant activities. It has been claimed to promote menstrual flow and to serve as a muscle relaxant. Crude extracts have been shown to inhibit HIV replication in vitro . A previously unidentified polysaccharide (MAR-10) isolated from aqueous extracts of H. officinalis has been shown to inhibit HIV-1 replication in vitro with no significant direct toxicity on lymphocyte functions or T-cell counts .
Reported Uses
Hyssop tea has been used for absence seizures, anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, colds, coughs, flatulence, hysteria, and indigestion. Hyssop preparations, especially the volatile oils, have been used externally for burns, cold sores, genital herpes sores, skin irritations, and wounds. Hyssop has been used with white horehound and colt’s foot for bronchitis and coughs; with boneset, elder flower, and peppermint for colds; and with sage as a gargle for sore throats.
Dosage
Tea: Infuse 1 to 2 tsp of dried hyssop in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink t.i.d. for cough; gargle t.i.d. for sore throat.Tincture: 1 to 4 ml P.O. t.i.d.
Adverse Reactions
CNS: seizures (hyssop’s essential oil is known to possess strong convulsant chemicals).
GI: diarrhea, indigestion.
Interactions
None reported.
Contraindications And Precautions
Hyssop is contraindicated in pregnant patients and in patients with seizure disorders until effects are known. Use low-strength preparations in elderly patients and in children aged 2 to 12. Avoid use in children under age 2.
Special Considerations
Do not confuse hyssop with giant hyssop, hedge hyssop, prairie hyssop, or wild hyssop.
Instruct the patient to keep hyssop out of the reach of children and pets.
Urge women to report planned or suspected pregnancy.
Advise patients with seizure disorders to reconsider using hyssop because it may adversely affect seizure control.
Advise the patient to use hyssop under medical supervision if he is taking it longer than 3 consecutive days.
Points of Interest
The volatile oil is an ingredient in many French liqueurs, specifically Chartreuse and Benedictine. Essential oil is also used in perfume.
Commercial hyssop is not identical to the hyssop mentioned in the Bible; the latter is more commonly identified as Marjoram species or the caper plant, Capparis spinosa.
Commentary
Little clinical trial information exists for this herb. Hyssop might be generally recognized as safe, but medical supervision is suggested when using it longer than 3 consecutive days. There is no documented evidence that hyssop is effective in its external use in treating burns, wounds, and other infections. Even though hyssop extracts have been shown to inhibit HIV in vitro, there is no evidence for the usefulness of hyssop in treating patients with AIDS.
Tagged under:chemical components, genital herpes, Herbal Medicines, skin irritations volatile oils
