Common hyssop
Useful properties, cultivation, recipes and contraindications for the use of hyssop
Botanical characteristics of common hyssop
This tall dwarf shrub with woody roots belongs to the lamb family. On long, thin and branched stems there are opposite leaves, which are small from above, and closer to the bottom are larger in size. Small flowers of the plant are arranged in 3–7 pieces in the leaf axils. The flowers form an inflorescence-spike at the top of the stem. Hyssop flowers come in a variety of colors, ranging from blue to purple. The seeds of the plant are brown and very small. They ripen for a very long time, it may take several months. The flowering of the plant begins in June and lasts all summer and even mid-autumn. The plant has a very strong but pleasant aroma.
Wild hyssop can be seen in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and the Altai mountains. It is also grown in Ukraine and the Caucasus.
Cultivation of common hyssop
Hyssop is propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and seedlings. Seedlings are grown in nurseries for about two months. Before planting the plant, the soil must be fertilized with mineral fertilizers. Seeds are sown either before winter or in early spring. Shoots appear after 1 or 2 weeks.
For plants to be strong and suitable for planting, you need to thin them out. Hyssop is very good at transplanting. When planting a plant, the distance between rows of 30–35 cm must be observed. The crops should be regularly watered with cool water, and it is also necessary to loosen and weed in rows. Full fertilization should be applied every spring. Summer is the time to cut the greenery of the plant. As it grows back, about two more cuts are made per season.
Hyssop loves fertile and light soil; it grows in one place for 5 years. The main thing is to create favorable conditions for him to grow well.
Hyssop essential oil
Essential oil is extracted from hyssop leaves by steam distillation. This oil is yellow-green in color, light and fluid, with a tart sweet aroma. The oil improves a person's well-being, improves mood and increases stamina. It is used for angina. Due to the property of the oil to reduce bronchial spasms, it is used for asthma.
Hyssop oil is a good remedy for rheumatism. It has antiseptic and antispasmodic properties.
Hyssop essential oil soothes the nervous system, so it is recommended for nervous exhaustion, depression and stress. And also this oil helps against allergic diseases of any kind. For those with low blood pressure, hyssop oil helps to increase it.
Rubbing with hyssop oil. For this procedure, take 10 drops of hyssop oil and mix them with 20 ml of ordinary vegetable oil, you can add eucalyptus or thyme. Rubbing with this oil is done for severe colds or bronchitis.
Bath with hyssop oil. Take 5-10 drops of plant oil and add them to your bath. They take such baths with nervous exhaustion, stress and depression. You need to stay in the bath for up to 7 minutes, no more.
Oil for external use. This oil can be used to smear wounds, acne, eczema, hematomas, warts and even bruising.
Hyssop oil should not be used by pregnant women, people with epilepsy and frequent muscle cramps.
Useful properties of hyssop
The beneficial properties of hyssop have long been widely used in traditional medicine. The leaves of the plant contain omanic acid, tannins, ursolic acid. Hyssop flowers contain diosmin and hyssopin.
Hyssop is used as an expectorant for colds and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. This plant contains substances that have an anti-inflammatory effect, promote mucus production, accelerate the diuretic process in the body and remove inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Hyssop is found in many herbal mixtures.
Hyssop preparations have lactogenic and antibacterial properties. Hyssop normalizes digestion, relieves inflammation of the urinary tract. This plant eliminates excessive sweating. Also, hyssop is an excellent remedy for removing worms from the body.
The use of common hyssop
In folk medicine, hyssop is used in the form of an infusion, decoction, oil and tea. For the preparation of preparations, the leaves and flowering tops of the plant are used.
Hyssop has analgesic properties. Hyssop infusion is used for sore throat as a gargle. Compresses are made from the infusion, which must be applied to the site of the injury or to a wound that does not heal for a long time. Hyssop drinks are useful for elderly people, as they normalize the stomach and stimulate the appetite. A decoction of the plant helps with conjunctivitis. Infusion of plant inflorescences is used as an anthelmintic and astringent. Hyssop can also be used externally - for example, for stomatitis or bad breath. Diuretic teas are brewed from hyssop. With the infusion of hyssop, lotions are made that contribute to the resorption of severe hematomas.
Hyssop recipes
Infusion of hyssop for asthma. Take one handful of chopped plant herb and pour 1 liter of boiling water over it. Pour everything into a thermos and after 5 minutes close the lid tightly. An hour later, you need to strain the finished infusion and pour it back into a thermos. 20 minutes before meals, use a ready-made hot infusion, 1 glass per day. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Hyssop mixture for choking. To prepare it, you need to take dry hyssop leaves and crush them into powder. Take 100 grams of powder and mix it with 100 grams of any honey. This mixture is taken before meals three times a day, 1 teaspoon, washed down with water. This same mixture helps with tinnitus and shortness of breath.
A decoction of hyssop for sweating (including with menopause). Take 1 teaspoon of hyssop herb and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Leave to infuse for 2 hours. After straining the broth, it can be used 3 times a day, 100 ml before meals. This broth will improve digestion and restore the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindications to the use of hyssop
Hyssop preparations are contraindicated in pregnant women and people with kidney disease. If symptoms of diarrhea appear due to taking hyssop, then you must immediately stop taking it. It is categorically impossible for nursing mothers to use preparations from hyssop, since it contains substances that, in extremely rare cases, can reduce lactation, and in some, even contribute to its termination.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
