H
JLH); Sprain (f; WOI); Stomachache (f; MAD); Swelling (1; FNF); Tonsilosis (f; EFS); Urethrosis
(f; WOI); Uterosis (f; WOI); Varicosis (1; FNF); Virus (2; APA; FAD; PH2); Water Retention (f;
EFS; MAD); Worm (1; DEP; EFS; JFM; PH2); Wound (f; APA).
Dosages (Hyssop) — 1–2 tsp herb/cup water up to 3 ×/day (APA); 2 tsp (55.8 g) herb in tea
(MAD); herb mashed in honey taken several ×/day for worms (JFM); handful of herb boiled in
0.25 liter for toothache, applied topically (JFM); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (APA; PNC); 445 mg
capsules (PH2); 1–2 drop EO as expectorant (WOI).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Hyssop) — Class 2b. Emmenagogue and
uterotonic (AHP).“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Not to be
used by pregnant women (WAM).
Extracts (Hyssop) — Hyssop oil is powerfully neurotoxic, there have been several cases of
epileptiform seizures. Hyssop is a convulsant because of its pinocamphone (40%) and iso-pinocam-
phone (30%) content; this toxicity often refers to injections. At levels of 2.5 mg/kg, injections into
dogs produced almost immediate epileptiform seizures. With rats it took more than 130 mg/kg.
Intraperitoneal pinocamphone was a convulsant and lethal to rats at levels higher than 0.05 ml/kg.
“Even dermal administration of hyssop oil should be avoided in those vulnerable to seizures”
(Tisserand, 1995). Some EOs may be hazardous to people with epilepsy, especially those EOs that
are rich in artemisia ketone, camphor, pinocamphone, pulegone, and thujone. Some scientists
consider ketones in general to be highly stimulant to the CNS, and hence are contraindicated for
people with epilepsy (Tisserand, 1995). According to the Lawrence Review on Natural Products
(September 1996), hyssop, an ingredient in cold and cough preparations, appears to exert its
demulcent and expectorant effects via its EO. However, injections of the oil may be convulsant
and neurotoxic at 130 mg/kg, and a rodenticide at 1250 mg/kg, probably due to isopinocamphone
and pinocamphone. Pinocamphone may be present at quantities as high as 13,000 ppm, isopinocam-
phone at 6500 ppm. Intraperitoneal injections from 4 ml/kg to 200 ml/kg produce a generalized
crisis in rats leading from CNS convulsions to death. Anti-HIV and antiviral activities need to be
confirmed (LRNP, September 1996). Oral administration of the oil can also be dangerous. Three
cases of clonic spasms have been reported, two adults each taking 10–30 drops each pure EO, and
a 6-year-old child taking 2–3 drops a day over several days (KOM). Remember, I council in all
cases against pure EO. Diosmin and ursolic acid are antiinflammatory, the latter a COX-2 inhibitor.
As the best source of diosmin, it could well be a very useful herbal tea for varicose veins. On a
dry weight basis, it can attain 6% diosmin. Dry hyssop of that strength would only take 10 grams
to provide the 600 mg diosmin considered antiinflammatory and capillary-protective. That’s why
I have it in my CapillADE. The activities of diosmin suggest that it might be most useful in several
conditions, diabetic retinopathy, edema, hemorrhoid, hyperglycemia, inflammation, and varicosities,
especially in concert with OPCs and the related rutin.