Hyssop Medicinal.

Hyssop officinalis: properties and applications

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a subshrub of the Yamnotaceae family that grows in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Siberia and Central Asia. This plant species has a height of up to 80 cm and a tap root.

The stem of hyssop is tetrahedral, branched, and at the base it becomes woody. The leaves are opposite, entire, with slightly curled edges. In July-August, hyssop blooms with blue flowers, mostly one-sided, located in the axils of the upper leaves and collected in whorls. The fruit consists of four nuts and ripens in August-September.

Fresh and dried hyssop herb is used as a spice for soups, sauces, meat dishes and salads. The medicinal raw materials are leafy shoots collected at the beginning of flowering, and only the upper parts of the plant are cut off. The raw materials are dried in bunches in the shade or in a dryer at a temperature of no more than 40°C. The smell of the raw materials is spicy, the taste is bitter. Store it in wooden containers or glass jars for no more than 2 years.

Hyssop contains essential oil, tannins, glycosides (diosmin and hyssopine), oleonolic and ursolic acids, bitter substances and pigments. It has antiseptic, antidiaphoretic and antitussive effects. Hyssop also stimulates digestion and relieves spasm of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

Hyssop gained the greatest popularity in the treatment of lung diseases. An infusion of the herb is used for bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chest pain, tuberculosis, profuse sweating, menopause in women, as well as for chronic inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract and poor digestion.

To prepare an infusion of hyssop, pour 1 teaspoon of crushed herb into 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, filter and take 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day before meals. Externally, the infusion is used for washing wounds and ulcers, mucous membranes of the eyes, for conjunctivitis, for rinsing the mouth and pharynx, and also in the form of lotions for the purpose of resolving subcutaneous hemorrhages of traumatic origin.

Hyssop officinalis can be propagated by dividing the bush or sowing seeds, which are embedded in the soil to a depth of 0.3-0.5 cm. In addition, hyssop can be grown as a cultivated plant in a summer cottage or garden. It does not require special care and can be used not only as a medicinal plant, but also as an ornamental plant.

Thus, medicinal hyssop is a valuable plant with antiseptic, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects. An infusion of hyssop herb can be used to treat diseases of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, as well as for washing wounds and ulcers, mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth. Hyssop is also an excellent spice for various dishes and can be grown as an ornamental plant.