Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
A blue-flowered herb of the mint family, used for colds, coughs and poor appetite and as a flavoring. Its essential oil can cause seizures at high doses.
Safety at a glance
- Pregnancy1 note →
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- Toxicity1 note →
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Hyssop?
- Plant family
- Lamiaceae, the mint family
- Parts used
- The above-ground parts, as an herb, and the essential oil
- Where it grows
- The eastern Mediterranean to central Asia
- Genus
- Hyssopus
- Species
- officinalis
Also called
Hyssopus
Traditionally used for
- Colds (traditional)
- Cough (traditional)
- Loss of appetite (traditional)
- Flavoring
Traditionally described as
- Kills bacteria and fungi (in lab tests)
Health topics
Where Hyssop appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.
- Asthma and Wheezing
In one trial, hyssop syrup helped asthma with a mucus-producing cough but worsened it in people with a dry cough.
- Cough
Traditionally used for coughs. Not tested in trials.
- Immune Support (Colds and Flu)
Traditionally used for colds. Not tested in trials.
- Loss of Appetite
Traditionally used for loss of appetite. Not tested in trials.
How it's prepared
Common ways Hyssop is prepared or sold. This isn't advice on how to take it; see Safety below.
- Essential Oil
Hyssop essential oil is used to flavor foods and drinks and in cosmetics.[1]Study
- Tea / Infusion
Herbalists steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water, and advise against large doses or long-term use.[2]General reference
- Tincture
Herbalists use it as a tincture.[2]General reference
Safety
Pregnancy
Very little research has looked at hyssop in pregnancy. It might make the womb contract or bring on menstruation.[1]Study
Toxicity testing
Hyssop essential oil contains pinocamphone, a substance that can cause seizures. In rats, high doses of the oil caused seizures and death. At high doses the oil may cause drowsiness and seizures in people.
There isn't enough information to set a safe dose. The herb is thought to be relatively safe in the amounts used in food.[1]Study
Technical detail: 80 mg/kg essential oil in Wistar rats produced subclinical spikes on EEG; 1.25 g/kg caused myoclonus, tonic-clonic seizures and lethal status epilepticus.
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Hyssop has been used for colds, coughs, loss of appetite, fungal infections and cramps. Its name comes from the Hebrew ezob, meaning "sacred herb". Its essential oil is used to flavor foods and drinks and in cosmetics.[1]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
In lab tests, hyssop essential oil killed a range of bacteria and fungi, and leaf extract slowed the growth of HIV. In animal studies, extracts made animals drowsy.[1]Study
Research in people
In a 2024 Iranian trial, 60 people with mild to moderate asthma took hyssop syrup or a plain sugar syrup twice a day for 4 weeks, alongside their usual treatment. People whose cough brought up mucus improved in breathing tests, asthma control and wheezing, but people with a dry cough got worse. The authors say it may suit only asthma with a productive cough.[3]Study
In short
High doses of the essential oil can cause seizures; little is known about safety in pregnancy.
Sources
- [1] Hyssopus Essential Oil: An Update of Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Safety Profile · DOI: 10.1155/2022/8442734Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Hyssop — Herban Herbalist materia medica — Herban Herbalist (herb shop)General reference
- [3] Effect of Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Syrup on Mild to Moderate Asthma: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled TrialPeer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.