Hyssop is an evergreen perennial plant found in southern Europe and Asia. It was thought to be used as a cleansing agent thousands of years ago.

The dried herb tops of hyssop are taken by mouth. The usual doses are:

• infusioninfusionthe process of steeping or soaking plant material in hot or cold water to isolate its active ingredient (similar to a tea): 16 g to 31 g of herb per day
• fluid extractextractto get, separate, or isolate a desired active ingredient: 2 g to 4 g of dried equivalent 3 times per day
• tincturetincturea desired active ingredient that is extracted from alcoholic solution (similar to an alcohol extract): 2 g to 4 g of dried equivalent 3 times per day

Your health care provider may have recommended using this product in other ways. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.

Hyssop has been used to:

• help loosen mucusmucusa moist and sticky substance produced by the mucous membranes in the airways, making it easier to cough up (expectorantexpectorantan agent that thins mucus (phlegm) so that it can be absorbed or coughed up)
• help relieve gas
• aid in digestion

There are very few reliable studies on the use of hyssop in humans.

Your health care provider may have recommended this product for other conditions. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.

Few side effects are linked to hyssop when taken in small doses. At high doses, vomiting and seizures have been reported.

Hyssop may interfere with anti-seizure medications, anti-diabetes medication, or medications that suppress the immune system.

Do not give hyssop to children. Do not use hyssop if you are allergic to it or to any plants from the Lamiaceae family. See your doctor before taking hyssop if you are pregnant or breast-feeding; and if you have epilepsy, fever, or diabetes.

Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare practitioner about any natural health products you may be taking.