Hyssopus officinalis

Hyssopus officinalis                              Common name:  Hyssop

Family: Lamiaceae

Parts used:  Aerial

Constituents: Volatile oil (pinocamphone, alpha & beta-pinene, linalool, cineole, limonene), Terpenoids (marrubiin, olanolic acid, ursolic acid), Flavonoids (glycosides of hesperidin & diosmetin), hyssopin glycoside, tannins, resin

Medicinal actions:  Stimulant, Antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, sedative

Medicinal use: Promotes expectoration, relieves asthmatic cough, reduces the inflammation associated with respiratory infections.  Hyssop is a diffusive aromatic, stimulating and relaxing with mild tonic properties and an effective carminative for spasmodic GIT disorders. May be used topically as an anti-fungal and to speed the healing of bruises.

Pharmacology: 

• VO has non-specific spasmolytic action (primarily to linalool) acting on both receptor-stimulated and on ion-stimulated contractions.
• The terpenoid marrubiin is an expectorant.
• Ursolic acid is anti-inflammatory.

Pharmacy: Infusion: 1-2 tsp/cup water, 1 cup TID. Tincture (1:5, 45%), 2-4 ml TID.

Contraindication: Pregnancy.

Toxicity: None known.

Interactions: None known.