Evidence supporting the use of: Hyssop
For the health condition: Cough (damp)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) has been traditionally used in various systems of herbal medicine, including European and Middle Eastern traditions, as a remedy for respiratory ailments such as coughs, particularly those described as "damp" coughs characterized by the presence of phlegm or mucus. The herb contains volatile oils, such as pinocamphone and isopinocamphone, as well as flavonoids and tannins, which are thought to have expectorant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Historical texts and traditional herbal formularies often recommend hyssop tea or syrup to help clear mucus from the respiratory tract, thereby alleviating productive coughs.

Despite widespread traditional use, scientific studies directly evaluating hyssop's efficacy for damp cough are limited and mostly preliminary. Some in vitro and animal research suggests that hyssop extracts may have bronchodilatory and mild expectorant effects, but robust clinical trials in humans are lacking. The rating of 2 reflects the strong basis in tradition with minimal but plausible scientific rationale, though not enough to reach a higher level of evidence. Therefore, while hyssop continues to be used in folk and complementary medicine for coughs associated with excess mucus, its use is primarily justified by historical precedent rather than modern clinical validation.

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