The botanical source of hyssop in the Bible, is shrouded in debate. The Bible mentions hyssop many times (Leviticus 14:1–7). A brush made of hyssop branches was used to mark the houses of the Jews with lamb’s blood to protect them from the impending plague. David mentions hyssop in Psalm 51:7: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
There are references to hyssop in the burning of the heifer (Numbers 19:6) and for sprinkling on a dead person (Numbers 19:18). In 1 Kings 4:33, Solomon “treated about trees from the cedar that is in Libanus [Lebanon], unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall.”
Rabbi Saada Gaon (882–942 AD) and Maimonides (1155–1204 AD) believed that Marjarano syriaca syn origanum syriacumsyn origanum maru is the true hyssop, because it is identical to the Israeli za’atar. In Arabic, za’atar refers to marjoram and other genera in its family with similar scent and taste (e.g., thyme, satureja, savory) that are often used as marjoram substitutes. It is also called ezov in Hebrew and Biblical hyssop in English.
Fleischer et al. (1988) concluded that Biblical hyssop was not Hyssopus officinalis, or azob in Greek, which means “holy herb.” Dioscorides wrote that hyssop was used to clean temples,similar to the Biblical descriptions of its use in Leviticus 14:1–7, 33–53 and Psalm 51:7.
On the other hand, the Encyclopedia Britannica (2015) states, “Ezov, the hyssop of the Bible, a wall-growing plant used in ritual cleansing of lepers, is not Hyssopus officinalis … it may have been a species of caper or savory.” Capparis spinosa is a caper found in the region. Stanley (2001), Balfour (1897), and several other authors support that hyssop was C. spinosa.
Botany of hyssop in the Bible
Hyssopus officinalis is a perennial shrub that grows up to two feet. The stems have a woody base, and the plant bears white fragrant flowers. The plant grows in the wild in the Middle East, Southern Europe, and central Asia. It is a naturalised species in the United Kingdom, and immigrants brought it to North America.
The plant grows in rocky, dry, and stony locations, and in the cracks of old walls. It is a hardy species and can withstand desiccation. Beekeepers use the plant to attract bees and produce a pleasantly scented honey. Harvesting is often done with flowers intact. The shoot is cut and dried in a cool, shady, and airy place to prevent discolouration.
Use of Hyssop as a spice
The spice, which has a sage and mint flavour, can be preserved for up to one and half years. Fresh and dried herbs and flowers are used as a spice in salads, soups, dessert, liqueurs, cakes, and other bakery products. It is widely used with wormwood, fennel, and anise to flavour absinthe.
The leaves are used in Eau de Cologne and in liqueurs, such as Chartreuse. The spice is also used in perfumery, soaps, and cosmetics.
Hyssop medicinal properties
Medicinal properties of H. officinalis are also similar to M. syriaca. The herb is used in tonics for its calming effects. A poultice made from the herbs is used to heal wounds and reduce swelling caused by sprains. Tea made from the leaves is used to treat flatulence and stomachache. Hyssop is believed to irritate the mucous membranes, thus herbalists recommend its use only when the infection of the respiratory tract has subsided. Pregnant women should not use the plant; when ingested in large quantities, it can induce miscarriage.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, a hot infusion with vapors was used to treat ear ailments. The bruised leaves were rubbed on rheumatic joints to relieve pain. The juice from the leaves was used as an insect repellent, and to remove lice and intestinal worms. Some people use hyssop as a gargle and bath oil (WebMD). The muscle-relaxing property has been indicated in trials on guinea pigs by Lu et al. (2002). The antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties have been tested and validated in animal trials (Kizil et al., 2010). The U.S. FDA declared hyssop “Generally Recognized as Safe,” although convulsions in rats have been observed during experimental trials.
Like M. syriaca, steam distillation extracts an essential oil from the shoots. The oil is pale yellow to brownish yellow, and the average yield is about 0.6 percent. The oil is used in aromatherapy but only under expert supervision, as it can cause convulsions. According to Mitic et al. (2000), the main components of the oil are cis-pinocamphone (42.9 percent), trans-pinocamphone (14.1 percent), germacrene-D-11-ol (5.7 percent), and elemol (5.6 percent).
The oil has a camphoraceous, herbaceous, spicy, earthy, and woodsy fragrance. It blends well with angelica, basil, bergamot, cajeput, camphor, celery, sage, clove, eucalyptus, fennel, geranium, lavender, lemon, lime, myrtle, orange, rosemary, and sage (www. ElizabethVanBuren.com). It is used to treat skin, digestive, and respiratory ailments. The oil may be used in a nebulizer diffuser, acupressure, and reflexology.
Read more on Herbs from the Bible in Holy Herbs: Modern Connections to Ancient Plants (https://amzn.to/2DaQNz8).
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