In folk medicine, hyssop herb has been widely used for many years. Mention of her repeatedly found in the Bible. The homeland is considered the Mediterranean countries. Another name is blue hypericum.
This plant is a shrub and belongs to the family Labiaceae. The stems reach half a meter in height and branch strongly. The leaves are almost sessile and are located opposite. Flowering is observed from June to the end of September. Inflorescences can be white, pink, lilac or dark blue, depending on variety.
How to prepare
First of all, it is worth noting that hyssop grass grows in Russia, the countries of the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia, preferring well-lit open areas with adequate soil drainage. Currently, more and more often the plant is found among the herbs of pharmacist's gardeners of experienced gardeners and is used by them as a spice. It has a pleasant aroma reminiscent of a mixture of sage and ginger, and has a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Hyssop herb is also used for medicinal purposes. It contains about 1% of the essential oil, as well as tannins, organic acids (such as oleanolic and ursolic), flavonoids and tannins.
The collection of blue hypericum is carried out during the flowering period, only the tops of the shoots are cut. Then they are dried, laid out in shaded places in the fresh air or in rooms with good air circulation. After they form bundles and store in a suspended position. Ready-made grass can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Dosage Forms
Hyssop officinalis herb is used to make infusions. To apply the infusion inside, a tablespoon of the dried raw material is poured with hot water (200-250 ml) and insisted on a water bath for half an hour. Then the infusion is filtered and the liquid is brought to its original volume.
Outwardly, hyssop grass is suitable for making compresses, as well as rinsing and rinsing. Then, for infusion, take one teaspoon of dried shoots in one glass of water.
Alcohol rinse is prepared from 20 g of dried hyssop. It is poured with vodka (100-120 ml) and left for one week without access to light. Filter using gauze.
Medical use
Hyssop herb is recommended by phytotherapists for diseases of the respiratory system, such as asthma, bronchitis, or for colds. Infusion as an expectorant is drunk 3 times a day in half a glass. For various disorders of the digestive system (flatulence, constipation) and inflammatory processes in it (for example, with chronic colitis), the infusion is taken at a dose of 100 ml before meals three times a day. It has antispasmodic properties and soothes gastric spasms of hyssop grass. Its use as an anthelmintic is quite common in folk medicine.
Many doctors consider this plant indispensable in the treatment of conjunctivitis, stomatitis, bruises or wounds, eczema, remembering the antiseptic and bactericidal properties of the herb. Hyssop in the form of tincture for rinsing is diluted in warm water at the rate of a teaspoon per glass.
Since blue hypericum is able to increase blood pressure, it is used to treat angina pectoris. They are also used for neurosis, anemia, fungal infections and rheumatism.
Hyssop infusion from belching
With various errors in the gastrointestinal tract, a symptom of regular burping is possible. This is nothing more than a waste of gas from the stomach through the esophagus and oral cavity. There is a fairly simple method to get rid of this unpleasant process.
For infusion, hyssop grass (100 g) is poured with cahors (2 l) and placed in a shaded place for 10-14 days. The container with the contents during this period is periodically mixed or shaken. Then place the mixture in a water bath and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
When the infusion has cooled, it is filtered. Take 50 ml three times a day about half an hour before a meal. Throats must be made small, holding the liquid in the mouth.
Contraindications to the use of hyssop
When using the plant, it should be remembered that it belongs to the poorly poisonous. If the dosages recommended by the doctor are exceeded, convulsions can occur, it is very likely that a sharp decrease in blood pressure and, as a result, heart palpitations.
Categorically, you cannot use blue St. John's wort with increased nervous excitability (for example, with epilepsy), as well as pregnant and lactating women, children under the age of two years. Doctors reduce the dosage to older people.
Other uses of the plant
Thanks to the essential oil contained in the shoots, hyssop is often found in perfumes and cooking. Soups, salads, vegetable and meat dishes, sausages and fruit refreshments are prepared with it. As a spice, it is great for pickles when pickling tomatoes and cucumbers. The plant is also used in the production of liquors and absinthe.
Hyssop is quite unpretentious and grows quickly, so it perfectly complements the flower beds in an informal natural style. Experienced gardeners manage to form hedges from it for landscape zoning of the site.
Among other things, hyssop officinalis is one of the best honey plants and is sure to attract bees to collect nectar and pollinate plants in the garden. A long flowering period will fill the air with a pleasant spicy aroma for almost the entire summer season.
The healing properties of hyssop have always attracted human attention to this plant. Its application is really very wide, and the minimum requirements for growing allows you to occupy a worthy place in the list of the best spicy herbs.