Herbs and plantsHyssop — an old herb for coughs and bronchial problems?
- 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 notes that a recommendation from 1861 advised hyssop for asthma, whooping cough, and chronic bronchitis.
- The herb was also listed in old pharmacopoeias from 1813–1826.
- Hyssop oil was said to have expectorant effects, 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
Hyssop herb was listed in several old pharmacopoeias, including those from 1813–1826.
In a recommendation cited from 1861, hyssop herb was recommended for asthma, whooping cough, and chronic bronchitis.
Hyssop oil was said to have expectorant effects, while the extract and syrup were described as being used for coughs and bronchitis.
For respiratory conditions, drinking a hyssop infusion every 3–4 hours was described.
In a mixture recommended for catarrh of the respiratory tract, hyssop makes up two of the five listed ingredients.
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.
The review indicates that hyssop may have beneficial effects in COPD, but its clinical effectiveness requires further research.
Aim of the study: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common pulmonary diseases. Current treatment 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 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 vinifera L. were found to have useful effects on asthma. Considering the beneficial mechanisms of action described for these medicinal herbs, they could be used as complementary therapy for COPD and asthma. However, more experimental and clinical research should be done to confirm their clinical effects.
“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: The medicinal benefits of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) have been recognized since ancient times for respiratory and digestive diseases, although the effects of hyssop on viral infections have not been mechanistically investigated. In this study, we examined whether hyssop extract activated antiviral innate immunity, which acts as a sentinel for the immune system, through activation of endosomal TLRs that recognize nucleic acids and their downstream signaling.
Results: After 24 h, 40 µg/ml of the extract significantly reduced cell viability to below 50% compared with the control and had a maximum effect on cellular function. The hyssop-treated PBMCs showed increased expression of endosomal TLR genes, as well as MyD88 and NF-κB. Moreover, the release of INF-α and β notably increased in the cell culture supernatant, while the levels of inflammatory cytokines decreased markedly (P < 0.05). The hyssop extract was capable of inducing antiviral innate immune responses and may therefore hold promise for antiviral drug strategies.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
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