Hyssop — the biblical herb for the bronchial tubes that we have forgotten?

Sources: 4 · Article: 6 689 characters

Henryk Różański — Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi w praktycznej fitoterapii
Henryk Różański — Wielosił – Polemonium w praktycznej fitoterapii.
Herbal Treatment of COPD and Asthma According to Persian Medicine: a Review of Current Evidence. · Tanaffos 2023
The impact of Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) extract on activation of endosomal toll like receptors and their downstream signaling pathways. · BMC Res Notes 2022

Henryk Różański reports that a recommendation from 1861 prescribed hyssop for asthma, whooping cough and chronic bronchitis.

The herb was also listed in old pharmacopoeias dating from 1813–1826.
Hyssop oil was said to have expectorant properties, while the extract and syrup were described as being used for coughs and bronchitis.
For respiratory conditions, drinking an infusion every 3–4 hours was recommended; hyssop was also one of five ingredients in a mixture for catarrh of the respiratory tract.

What the authors write

Henryk Różański

Hyssop herb was listed in several old pharmacopoeias, including editions from 1813–1826.

„Hyssop herb – Herba Hyssopi (hyssop) was included in the First Pharmacopoeia of the Kingdom of Poland (Pharmacopoeia Regni Poloniae) of 1817, the French Pharmacopoeia – Pharmacopoea Gallica of 1818, the Spanish Pharmacopoeia – Pharmacopoea Hispanica of 1826 (Summitates floridae = flowering shoots), the Prussian Pharmacopoeia – Pharmacopoea Borussica tertia of 1813, and the Swedish Pharmacopoeia – Pharmacopoea Svecica of 1826.”Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi (izopek) zamieszczono w I Farmakopei Królestwa Polskiego (Pharmacopoeia Regni Poloniae) z 1817 r., w Farmakopei Francuskiej – Pharmacopoea Gallica z 1818 r., w Farmakopei Hiszpańskiej – Pharmacopoea Hispanica 1826 r. (Summitates floridae = kwitnące pędy), w Farmakopei Pruskiej = Pharmacopoea Borussica tertia z 1813 r., w Farmakopei Szwedzkiej – Pharmacopoea Svecica z 1826 r.

Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi w praktycznej fitoterapii

Henryk Różański

In a recommendation quoted from 1861, hyssop herb was prescribed for asthma, whooping cough and chronic bronchitis.

„Hyssop oil rubbed into the skin kills mites. Dr. Fr. Oesterlen (1861) recommends Herba Hyssopi for treating asthma, whooping cough and chronic bronchitis. St. Hildegard described hyssop as a plant that strengthens the liver and cleanses the lungs. Hyssop – Hyssopus, Swarzędz, August 2009.”Olejek hyzopowy wcierany w skórę zabija roztocze. Dr Fr. Oesterlen (1861) Herba Hyssopi poleca w leczeniu astmy, krztuśca i chronicznego nieżytu oskrzeli. Św. Hildegarda opisała hyzop jako roślinę wzmacniająca wątrobę i oczyszczającą płuca. Hyzop – Hyssopus, Swarzędz, sierpień 2009 r.

Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi w praktycznej fitoterapii

Henryk Różański

Hyssop oil was said to have expectorant properties, while the extract and syrup were described as being used for coughs and bronchitis.

„Hyssop essential oil is rich in pinocamphone (about 50%) and pinene. Hyssop oil – Oleum Hyssopi – is available abroad. Hyssop oil is expectorant, warming, bactericidal, pain-relieving, and promotes bile production and flow. It can be taken in doses of 5 drops several times a day, on juice, sugar, molasses or honey.”Olejek eteryczny hyzopu jest bogaty w pinokamfen (ok. 50%) i pinen. Olejek hyzopowy – Oleum Hyssopi jest dostępny za granicą. Olejek hyzopowy działa wykrztuśnie, rozgrzewająco, bakteriobójczo, przeciwbólowo i żółciotwórczo oraz żółciopędnie. Można go zażywać po 5 kropli kilka razy dziennie, na soku, cukrze, melasie lub miodzie.

Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi w praktycznej fitoterapii

Henryk Różański

For respiratory conditions, drinking an infusion of hyssop every 3–4 hours was described.

„For respiratory conditions, drink half a glass of infusion every 3–4 hours, with honey or raspberry juice. Take powdered hyssop herb – Pulvis Hyssopi – three times a day, half a teaspoon each time, preferably with raspberry juice or honey. Powdered hyssop herb can be mixed with honey.”Przy schorzeniach układu oddechowego 1/2 szklanki naparu co 3-4 godziny, z dodatkiem miodu lub soku malinowego. Sproszkowane ziele hyzopu – Pulvis Hyssopi zażywać 3 razy dziennie po pół łyżeczki, najlepiej na soku malinowym lub miodzie. Sproszkowane ziele hyzopu można zmieszać z miodem.

Ziele hyzopu – Herba Hyssopi w praktycznej fitoterapii

Henryk Różański

In a mixture recommended for catarrh of the respiratory tract, hyssop makes up two of the five ingredients listed.

„Prescription: Herbal mixture recommended for treating catarrh of the respiratory tract. Three parts milkwort herb. Two parts hyssop herb. Two parts thyme or wild thyme herb. One part licorice root. Two parts elecampane root. Mix the herbs. Pour one glass of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of the mixture, cover, leave for 20 minutes, then strain.”Rp. Mieszanka ziołowa zalecana w leczeniu nieżytów układu oddechowego. Ziele wielosiłu 3 cz. Ziele hyzopu 2 cz. Ziele tymianku lub macierzanki 2 cz. Korzeń lukrecji 1 cz. Korzeń omanu 2 cz. Zioła wymieszać. 1 łyżka mieszanki na szklankę wrzącej wody, przykryć, pozostawić na 20 minut, przecedzić.

Wielosił – Polemonium w praktycznej fitoterapii.

Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 2 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

A review indicates that hyssop may have beneficial effects in COPD, but its clinical effectiveness requires further study.

Aim of the study: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common pulmonary diseases. The current therapeutic outcomes are not satisfactory and may cause adverse events such as cardiovascular complications. In this study, we aimed to discuss some effective medicinal herbs for the management of COPD.

Results: We found that Zataria multiflora, Thymus vulgaris L, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Crocus sativus L., Nepeta bracteata Benth., and Hyssopus officinalis have beneficial effects on COPD due to their properties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In addition, considering asthma COPD overlap (ACO), medicinal herbs including Cordia myxa, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Cinnamomum verum, Viola odorata, Borago officinalis, Linum usitatissimum and Vitis viniferia L. were found to have useful effects on asthma. Considering the mentioned beneficial mechanisms of action of these medicinal herbs, they could be used as a complementary therapy in COPD and asthma. However, more experimental and clinical research should be done to confirm their clinical effects.

Herbal Treatment of COPD and Asthma According to Persian Medicine: a Review of Current Evidence. · Tanaffos 2023

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so

Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO

Type of studydiscussion of other studies

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

In a laboratory study, hyssop extract stimulated selected antiviral responses and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines.

Aim of the study: From the ancient, medicinal benefits of Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) have been implicated for respiratory and digestive diseases despite the effects of Hyssop on viral infections have not been mechanistically investigated. In this study, we examined whether the Hyssop extract activated anti-viral innate immunity, as a sentinel for immune system, through activation of endosomal TLRs recognizing nucleic acids and their downstream signaling.

Results: Post 24 h, 40 µg/ml of the extract significantly inhibited the viability of less than 50% of cells compared to the control and had a maximum effect on cellular function. The Hyssop-treated PBMCs demonstrated an elevated expression of endosomal TLRs genes, as well as MyD88 and NF-κB. Moreover, the release of INF-α and β notably enhanced in cell culture supernatant, while the content of inflammatory cytokines remarkably diminished (P < 0.05). The Hyssop extract was capable of inducing antiviral innate immune responses so can be promising in antiviral drug strategies.

The impact of Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) extract on activation of endosomal toll like receptors and their downstream signaling pathways. · BMC Res Notes 2022

Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so

Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO

Type of studylaboratory study (on cells)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.