Hyssop Remedies and Cures Hyssop Remedies and Cures Jul 25, 2016 Hyssop is a genus of plants including about a dozen aromatic herbal species related to the mint family of garden plants. It is an herbal remedy with roots back to the Biblical age, though some debate exists as to the exact plant referred to as 'hyssop' in the Bible. As an herbal remedy, hyssop is best known as a component of treatments for respiratory conditions. We have already received positive feedback from users on the use of hyssop for emphysema in particular. It is a powerful expectorant. Additionally, hyssop tea has been a traditional natural treatment for rheumatism, taken daily. However, there is some concern about some mild toxicity. Natural Cure Preparation: Native to the Mediterranean area, hyssop is a bushy evergreen that can be grown in most climates. The flowers or green tops of the plant are picked and steeped as a tea, infused, or otherwise treated to access their essential oils.

Emphysema Write a review Posted by Brianna (Dublin, Ireland) on 02/07/2010 i have only taken the herbs 4 times and i can feel an improvement already. i cant thank this man enough for all his help i just wish there were more people like him in the world.i have been very ill for the past 8 years with emphysema i have tryed a lot of remedys including hydrogen peroxide homeopathy and chinese herbs and conventional medicine nothing worked i have been a prisoner in my own home for the past 18 months unable to walk more than ten or fiftheen steps and have to stop to catch my breathe but since friday i can walk about 30 steps and i can feel myself getting stronger every day.so earth clinic can you please put this post on your website and let people know that there is hope out there for them and thank you earth clinic you are doing a wonderful job on your site please dont ever stop god bless ..brianna Boston, MA 02/14/2010 I cannot find Jacks Healing formula... did this ever even exist?

can someone help me find out this info?" EC: Jack's formula is down near the bottom of the page... Here's one: 05/15/2006: Jack from Toledo, OH writes: "HERE'S THE FORMULA I USED FOR CURING A BAD CASE OF EMPHYSEMA FOR "WILLARD BOOTH" OF MARION ARK 12 YRS AGO. INTO A GALLON POT, PUT THE SEED PODS (TOPS) OF 6 "GREAT MULLEIN" PLANT, BRING TO A BOIL, ADD 3 TBLS OF POWERED "LOBELIA", AND ALSO "HYSSOP" 1 OZ OF WHITE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, 2 TBLS OF POWDERED CAYENNE RED PEPPER. KEEP BOILING UNTIL ABOUT A PINT OF WATER HAS BOILED OFF, (IT WILL TURN DARK OR REDDISH LIKE COFFEE). LET COOL UNTIL YOU CAN STRAIN (I USED A NYLON STOCKING).

SWEETEN WITH SUGAR OR HONEY TO TASTE THIS WILL KEEP IN FRIG FOR A WEEK OR MORE ( look up "great mullein" and you'll be surprised at what all it can do!). Hyssop and lobelia are great expectorants!! I had Willard take 3 pop bottle caps a day but you can take more it won' t hurt you, you can also use a heating pad on chest and do a number of "VIGOROUS EXHALES" FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKING .... GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS..." 02/15/2010: Tricia from Ireland replies: "Brianna, I'm thrilled you are doing so well. I saw this recipe before and passed it by as I had never seen powdered lobelia or hyssop. I think the great mullein grows near our town . Can you let me know where you got the ingredients as I want to pass it on to somebody - thanks." 03/02/2010: Michael from Walllington, Nj replies: "Hi: i was reading the posts and some of this stuff is foreign to me.

I have empyhzema and it is starting to really affect my quality of life. I am not a cook and wouldn't even begin to know where to look for some of this stuff. are any of the remedies sold over the counter? And where would you purchase Food peroxide? i contacted my local GNC store and they have never heard of it. Thanks" EC: Hi Michael, You can find the herbs that Jack refers to sold online in herb speciality shops. Food grade peroxide is also sold online. Read more about it here: 07/01/2010: Bill from Prescott Valley, Arizona replies: "Where I can purchase "Great Mullein Buds" for emphysema? Thank you Bill McL" 07/15/2010: Lily from Brooklyn, New York replies: "Hi there, I am just reading all of your amazing stories and how I wish that it was happening for my partners mother. She has Emphysema and it breaks my heart to see her like this. I want to help her. She is on oxygen day and night and can not leave the house EVER. She has become a prisoner in her own home.

This has been going on for years. Please, please someone who is reading this can you please help me. I don't know where to buy the ingredients from? or to even get my hands onto the mullein plant." 07/31/2010: Rob from Tulla, Co. Clare, Ireland replies: "Hi I was reading Brianne from Dublin's post on her condition emphysema and that she can now walk further and it was down to the mullien recipe. I was wondering if Brianne would contact me and let me know how you are now. Thanks, Robert" 08/13/2010: Need Of Help from Crystal Lake, Il replies: "Hello- I have a question regarding the Mullein pods. - Can you harvest the pods anytime of year? O Right now, they would have the yellow flowers on them and no seeds yet. - If you harvest them now can you use them? - If you harvest them in the fall when there are seeds in the pods, can you still use them? O Someone said that they read that the seeds were poisonous, is that true?

- If a seed gets into the tea, will it ruin the whole batch of tea? - If you can pick the mullein tops anytime, how do you store the tea? - How long will the tea stay good? I would assume it will take some time to consume a gallon if you're only averaging 3 Tbsp. A day - Can you freeze the herbs to use again (since you said they were good for 2-3 batches of tea)? - Can you freeze the tea? Thanks a bunch! I am looking forward to making this! Hopefully it will cure, or at least help!" 08/17/2010: Marlane Ellis from Geelong, Victoria - Australia replies: "Hi, MSM powder has been shown to have a profound effect on Emphysema, Bronchitis, Asthma and other lung complaints. As MSM is sulfur based it is well absorbed by the body. In the case of Emphysema being a chronic condition it is advisable to take large doses to detox first. 6 teaspoons of powder to 3litres (5 pints) of water, drink it throughout the day. The effect should noticeable after 3 days.

MSM is classified as a food not a drug so anything that the body does not use will be excreted. MSM must be taken with vitamin C, your body will tell you what level of VitC you need, like MSM it will excrete the excess. In Australia and New Zealand we buy MSM with VitC already added. I don't know about other countries. I have used this and nebulised with Baking Soda and Magnesium Chloride for COPD and the results have been unbelievable. From not being able to walk as far as the toilet I now walk everywhere. Good luck - Marlane Ellis" 10/31/2010: Pete from Union , Nj replies: "Marlane, how much baking soda and magnesium chloride and how do you mix it for your nebuliser? would love to try it thank You Pete" 12/30/2010: Brian66 from Swansea, Uk replies: ""Hi I was reading Brianne from Dublin's post on her condition emphysema and that she can now walk further and it was down to the mullein recipe. I was wondering if Brianne would contact me and let me know how you are now.

I also have emphysema I have tried the hydrogen peroxide (h202)and no luck with it. If Brianne would mind telling me where to get the herbs I would been very grateful. Thank you Brian. Email b. Matthews2(at)ntlword(dot)com" 01/29/2011: Ap from N. Brunswick, Nj, Usa replies: "For Brianna from Dublin: I have just been diagnosed with emphysema. Please can you update me on your progress Since your 02/07/2010 post on Jack's herbal mix. I am new on this site and to posting in general. I don't want to bother you, but please I am looking for some hope. I alone and scared. I hope you are healthy and can help me. Many thanks. If anyone else on these boards has cured/healed emphysema, please help. Thx." 01/29/2011: Ap from N. Brunswick, Nj, Usa replies: "I have just found this site, so please forgive my many questions. Lily from Brooklyn, New York, U. S....

Hope you found some answers. Please help if you did... I am in NJ. Thx. Marcus from Lake Charles, Louisiana.. How did you get the 3% solution? Read somewhere to dilute from 35% is very dangerous... Need expert training. Please help. Is your dad still improving? hope he beat the disease. Thx" 02/05/2011: Brian66 from Swansea, Uk replies: "It realy makes me mad people post on here(and other sites)and tell us they are feeling much better after doing a certain cure, then someone desperate for more infomation asks the question, AND THEY DONT ANSWER, is it that they are because they are better and no longer care!!! Remember please if you are lucky to have found a cure on here come back regular to see if anyone is trying to get an answer about it from you.

brian" 02/05/2011: Brian66 from Swansea, Uk replies: "To marcus from lake louisiana, to dilute 35% FOOD GRADE hydrogen peroxide to 3%, is 1 part 35% food grade hp, to 11 parts distilled water. Food grade hp has no additives. Just google hp, loads of info there," 02/06/2011: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "Yes, Brian, it is frustrating to need more information and not get it but on the other hand I don't think at all that people don't answer because they don't care, I think that this happens because they haven't been on the site for awhile and didn't see your post! That has happened to me quite a few times so what I do is to post it again and sometimes the person sees it or else someone else might know the answer I am after. Other times unfortunately it wasn't possible to get any additional information. Maybe there should be a feature for people to be able to find out easily whether someone is trying to contact them. But again....

I would bet no one is out to keep information from other people, not on a site like this one anyway! Take my example, I travel a lot and when I get back I always try to find some time to sit down and go through the postings but if we have been away for over two weeks it is not easy! And sometimes I suppose people miss postings because they don't know till where they read the last time they were here. Maybe a way to mark read postings would be useful..... I try to keep track of things by remembering the last read posting but then I might be mistaken and I might be reading the same title because someone is answering the posting I read and not the real posting therefore missing what came after it." 02/06/2011: Carly from Seattle, Wa - Usa replies: "Hi Brian - People can't always check in every day... and in fact, a lot of people are only on here occasionally. I enjoy reading other peoples success stories, and if / when I have questions, and nobody responds... I will wait a few days and try again.

When I don't respond to someones question, it is most likely because I don't feel I have enough knowledge to give good or correct information, so it is better to wait for someone who knows more to respond. Try not to be angry, as it is not healthy for you mentally or physically. Good luck to you... Troy, MI 06/22/2009 Hi, I am not sure if this is exactly what you are trying to find, but Mountain Rose Herbs carries mullein seeds (link below), they also have the dried flowers and leaves. I have never purchase these particular items from them, but my experience buying other products has been a good one. Whole Foods Market also has mullein (in the loose tea and herbs section, near the vitamins), I am not sure if they carry the seeds though. I hope this helps. " 06/22/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn. replies: "Hello Jamie, I think the mullein plant grows quite rampantly in most of the United States, so why don't you either get you a good book on identifying herbal plants or go on line to see if you can't find a picture of it.

You can usually spot it at roadsides as you drive along the rural areas roads. Just learn to identify them by the roadside, but take a short hike in the woodland areas to pick those seed pods which should be ready to pick in the next couple of months. The reason to not gather them from the roadside, is you don't want all the pollution they absorb from the automobile exhausts fumes. Seed pods mean exactly what it says.

It is the pods containing the seeds and these will be found on the mullein plant on the tall stalk from the central part of the plant that bloomed and forms the seeds after the blooms." 01/18/2010: Jack from Toledo, Ohio replies: "HELLO JAMI FROM ADRAIN MICH; The "seeds" are not the part of the plant used "ITS THE ENTIRE "SEED POD" OR "TOPS OF THE GREAT MULLEIN PLANT which in the latter fall and winter months looks like a long black stick along highways or RR tracks,usually the leave's at the bottom will be dried and brown and at times you'll see some mint green leaves at the bottom of the plant which feels fuzzy like velvet,the seeds them selves can be transplanted most anywhere but they like well drained areas, and they only blossom in the 2nd season.They then grow anywhere from 3-6 feet or even more in some states,. and the seeds are about this size Jami ( .

) Just look up "pictures of Great Mullein plants" I break off the "SEED PODS" or just under the area where the flowers started growing and use the "ENTIRE POD OR TOP OF THE PLANT WHERE THE FLOWERS "HAD BEEN" When the terriable outbreak of Tuburculossis(sp?) in Ireland around 1900, Great Mullein was the primary way they used to clear the lungs of "TB" made into a tea,"But I've added more to it and it "WORKS EXCEEDINGLY WELL, JUST ASK SHARON S FROM CONN. She startted taking my formula in June of 2008 I believe? She told me her Dr.told her "Your lungs are clear, and your breathing is fine "!!" 11/18/2010: Jack from Toledo, Ohio replies: "Please accept my appologies for not being more active on this site. I'd Just Like to let you know the title of "Jack's healing formula" is for real and I can and will help all those I can.! I put up the complete formula on because I felt they would not try to capitolize on peoples health problems.

And I was correct! If anyone would like to contact me about "JACKS HEALING FORMULA" OR IS IN NEED OF HELP feel free to make contact with Me at Show Low, AZ 02/27/2009 Jack hope this finds you ok, first let me say this is the greatest site thanks e.c. , for all you do, jack i been a long haul driver for about 22 yrs so i know what it takes to be on the road, but here is why i am sending this i live in az where the plant grows wild in fact my wife and i went for a walk this afternoon and picked some of the plant you are talking about, GREAT MULLEN, so i have 2 ? ? , one does it make a difference what time of year the plant is at its best, they are still standing but they are dry, my wife has emphysema, MY SECOND ? HOW MUCH hyssop and lobelia do you put in the the with great mullein. so thanks for the formula posting on ec.

GOD BLESS BE SAFE AND KEEP THE RUBBER SID DOWN JIM" 02/28/2009: Jack from Toledo, OH replies: "DEAR JIM; I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS SPECIALLY AS A DRIVER MAKE SURE SHE NO LONGER SMOKES OR ITS ALL IN VAIN.... JUST AS THE MENU SAYS JIM 3 TBLS OF LOBELIA AND 3 OF HYSSOP MY FRIEND GOD BLESS AND ITS GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T GET THE ADDRESS OF MY SUPPLYER FOR HYSSOP AND LOBELIA HERE'S "JOE BASSETT'S" HEALTH FOOD NUMBER "HE HAS IT ALL IN "POWDERED FORM" 419-531-0334 PLS LET ME KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT OR POST A REPLY ON EARTHCLINIC" 02/25/2010: Valrena from Burlington, Ontario replies: "Hi Jack, I am one of those smokers you have talked about. I have tried quitting and have been in a depression now over 4 yrs.

I am hoping using you formula will help me lose this craving as well. My question is. You say to put ADD 3 tBLS OF POWERED "LOBELIA", AND ALSO "HYSSOP" . is it tablespoons of hyssop and is that a powder? 1 OZ OF WHITE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. I am allergic to the reg Apple cider vinegar. Do you think this small amount would hurt?? Pray for me people if this doesn't help me get rid of my cravings for that deadful smoke I don't know what to do. Thanks Jack I am trying. Valrena" 02/25/2010: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa replies: "Hi Valrena, I have never been a smoker but I felt that I should pass this on to you in case you don't know this. Did you know that niacin and nicotine are chemically linked? Niacin used to be called nicotinic acid. There are niacin receptors in the brain and when you quit, they feel deprived from what they were tricked into believing was a nutrient. You can use niacin to help you get past the craving for the nicotine.

I have heard this several times but as I said, I am not a smoker so I don't know what that addiction is like. There are also niacin rich foods that you could eat and perhaps that would help too. Olives, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, brewer's yeast, apricots, to name a few. Anyway, I thought this info was worth passing on. Take care, Lisa" 02/26/2010: Valrena from Burlington, Ontario replies: "Lisa thank you so much. I will look into it as I don't want to die screaming for a clean breath as Jack said. My Docs were so concerned they told me NOT to quit smoking as I was an emotional basket case. It has now been 5 yrs and I am still not back on track. So any hope is better than none. Thank you and I will let you know how it works. I love this site.

Valrena" 03/03/2010: Jack from Toledo, Ohio replies: "I'D REALLY LIKE TO "EMPHASIZE STRONGLY" ONCE THE TEA HAS BEEN MADE "DO NOT" THROW AWAY THE ROUGHAGE THAT YOU STRAIN OFF THE TEA! IT CAN BE BOILED 2-3 TIMES MORE SO YOUR GETTING ENOUGH FOR 3-4 MONTHS IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT ALL AT ONCE GB.....JACK" [YEA ] 03/05/2010: Gwen from Denver, Colorado replies: "OMGosh!!!!! Jack you were just on here yesterday! I wish to you MANY BLESSINGS, wealth, health, & prosperity! May God bring all good things & blessing into your life! Thank You! I'd been going through bad infection since the end of this past January. Started with a very bad abscessed tooth that blew up my face. Took 2 weeks treating holistically to get it down. Got about a week break, then it moved to the other side of my face. Took only 4-5 days to get that controlled.

Finally went to the dentist & he put me on antibiotics before he'll pull my teeth. Started that & went into sinusitis, a virus? I'm 60 years old & Wednesday night I had some kind of full blown asthma/bronchitis attack? Never happened before. My neighbor was thankfully there & hit me with an inhaler. I thought I was going to die. It was very scary. My lungs completely shut down! Today my chest was so tight I could hardly move, wasn't sure what to do but pray. Holy Spirit had me remember your recipe I had once read on EC. I had all the herbs, including the Mullein tops I harvested last summer. I whipped up a batch & I am completely cleared up tonight & have the strength to write to let you & everyone know, It Worked! Opens the lungs right up! Thank you Thank you THANK YOU Jack for passing this along......here's a big ol' hug & lots of love coming your way :) Gwen" 03/05/2010: Gwen from Denver, Colorado replies: "P.S. I forgot to mention for those wondering, I didn't bother, (too miserable), to "powder" the herbs.

just used them whole & followed cooking instructions. Worked fine! May the Blessing of the Living Holy Spirit be with US ALL! Gwen" 03/06/2010: Gwen from Denver, Colorado replies: "Hey Jack, Me again. Question, you stress to not throw out the herbs after first use, how do you preserve them until you use them again? Dry out? Freeze? Can't leave them at room temp. as the herbs will grow mold. Q. 2, do you add more vinegar, cayenne, or anything else into batch #2 & #3? Q. 3, I'm keeping the batch #1 left over herbs in my frig along with the batch of medicine I made, any other comments? How long does your batch stay potent & safe to use? Thanks again so much Jack. I know your loving care will help many & you'll be blessed many times over :) May the blessings of the ONE be with us ALL...... Gwen" 06/22/2010: Marcus from Lake Charles, Louisiana replies: "So the flowers or leaves of the mullein plant cannot be used?

Every place I check just sells the leaves and flowers....?" 07/07/2010: Bill from Prescott Valley, Arizona replies: "Marcus, if you find out where to get the mullein pods, can you let me know? Can't find them anywhere. Charcoal will take Benzene out of your body. Send me your e-mail address and I'll send you the writeup on it. Bill McL" 09/30/2010: Lily from Brooklyn, New York, U.s.a replies: "Hi... To Jack or Briana or anyone that has successfully created this recipe. Please I need you help. I posted a comment a couple of months ago and did not get a response. I need help. Since my posting my partners mother was rushed to hospital. She is still in the hospital now and very critical. It has been so hard.. We nearly lost her! She is recovering well. But I don't know what the future holds. She has COPD and Emphysema. I really need someones help. Please. Will anyone offer their assistants in helping me put together this recipe. I tried to locate the Mullein pods but I failed.

Can I use alternative dried herbs instead of fresh? Thank you for your time. Please god.. I need your help." 10/12/2010: Marcus from Lake Charles, Louisiana replies: "In the herb books I have read the flowers are a viable option. I would suggest using these, as they are not the only active ingredients in the concoction. It should work well." 11/08/2010: Marcus from Lake Charles, Louisiana replies: "When I spoke of flowers, I meant the Muellin flowers. They seem to be one of the more useful parts of the plant. If you are reading this you should be aware that I got my dad (77yo long time smoker) some food grade H2O2 and he uses a sinus pump filled with a 3% solution (inhales it about 12 pumps per day) and his emphysema has all but disappeared in 2 weeks time. Hyssop - Enfleurage--Aromatics from the Natural World Hyssop officinalis Grown and distilled in England In use as a medicinal herb since antiquity.

This oil can be quite toxic and is not recommended for use by non-professionals. The Essence of Herbs: Hyssop: Her Ancient Message Still Applies Hyssop: Her Ancient Message Still Applies Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:6/7 To say that Hyssop has a timely message for humanity and for me personally right now would be a gross understatement. A few months ago, I began to feel compelled to write a monograph about her, but the time was not yet ripe. I could feel that she wanted me to wait just a bit longer, and now as I am beginning to fully integrate her message, I can understand why. Collectively, humanity is at a critical juncture. Both on a personal level and globally, we need to take inventory of our values, our possessions, our relationships and our responsibilities -basically everything- and make some serious choices. What is most valuable to us and worth keeping?

What is no longer working and needs to be scrapped? According the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Five Element paradigm, the lungs are paired with the large intestines and are associated with the Metal Element (or more accurately, Phase). The Metal Phase represents evaluation and release- that is separating the pure from the impure- and eliminating what is left. It is crucial that we rid ourselves of that which no longer serves us in order to create space for new energies that will match our higher frequency. If we fail to do so, we become bogged down emotionally with attachments that drain us, and we find that instead of owning our possessions, our possessions own us. We become so hampered with responsibilities that are not ours that we have no energy left with which to take response-ability for what we must, such as a change of course or direction. The lungs are also where we hold onto grief that has not been completely released. When we are burdened, whether from sadness, emotional constraint, or a resistance to necessary surrender, we can begin to fear healthy release. We may come to equate pure space with emptiness and loneliness instead of using that void as a starting point for Divine inspiration and creation.

The analogy is also made in TCM that our lungs take in the breath of heaven, that is to say air, our physical connection to the intangible or the Divine. The Divine is Universal Truth and Love; a healthy ability to discern what is truly healthful to us and to disengage with what is not is a path to purifying our soul. Many references hold true that Hyssop purifies the soul, helps one break old patterns of unhealthy thoughts or behavior, like anger, addictions and lack of forgiveness. What is a grudge, dependence, or resentment? Simply stated, unhealthy emotional patterns are based in judgment and often rooted in our inability to let go of our own imperfections enough to have true compassion for ourselves and others. What is forgiveness? The ability to release a judgment that we have been holding onto -whether it is toward ourselves or someone else- is a letting go, a surrendering. Breathing deeply, we inhale the Divine into our body and exhale the emotional weight we no longer need to carry. On a physical level, Hyssop is one of the premier herbs for assisting the lungs in their ability to breathe deeply.

It has an expectorant quality that will purge phlegm, but more specifically will thin mucous, making it more watery and easier to dislodge. Often taken as a tincture or syrup for bronchial complaints, herbalists may combine Hyssop with Mullein, Thyme, Licorice, Basil or other herbs that loosen phlegm, circulate energy in the chest and soothe coughs. A hot infusion of fresh or dried Hyssop herb is an effective remedy for the recent onset of colds or flu because it promotes a light perspiration that helps the body rid toxins through the pores and lowers a fever. The crushed, fresh herb spread over bruises and contusions will help them to heal faster, and an infusion applied topically is helpful for achy joints. Steam from a hot infusion of Hyssop can help to soothe inflammations of the ear; its camphor-like aroma belies its ability to aromatically open areas of obstruction. In fact, the fragrance of Hyssop was once valued more highly than Lavender essential oil. The herb is considered very safe; however it can stimulate the uterus and shouldn’t be utilized by pregnant women without professional guidance.

Some sources suggest that it should not be used by children or by anyone with epilepsy because it may be a mild neurotoxin. Warnings that the herb can raise blood pressure indicate that it should never be used by anyone with hypertension. The essential oil (EO) has received much scrutiny due to the presence of the toxic ketone pinocamphene and cautions abound that advise consumers to dilute Hyssop EO in carrier oil to a concentration not exceeding 5% potency. This logic does not take into account the thousands of trace chemicals and chemotypes that are also present in a pure steam-distilled, single source product which create a natural balance. In my opinion, a single chemical extracted and given at high concentrated doses does not represent Hyssop as a whole. I personally use several drops at a time of a very high quality, medicinal-grade Hyssop EO undiluted directly on my skin and have never had any adverse effects. In fact, I have several case studies that show the use of this high-grade oil, applied neat to the top or back of the head can help balance hypo and hypertension.

Recently, one of my students was able to come off his high blood pressure medication after only 2 months of applying 4-5 drops of the oil this way on a daily basis. [Naturally, you must be responsible for your own choices if your instinct is to go against modern scientific reductionist data.] Hyssop can help restore the nerves and soothe grief by generating strength, promoting clarity of thought, relieving depression and easing chest tightness. The judgment we attach our process when we are dealing with unpleasant emotional states is needless and causes us to tighten up, hold our breath and run a hamster wheel of worry. We would serve our higher self better by not succumbing to the temptation to be so internally harsh. Once again, deep and calm breathing helps to soothe the body, calm the mind and release emotional constraint. This release is a sacrifice of unnecessary attachments such as objects, emotions and relationships that no longer serve the highest good. In the Bible the Jews in Egypt were compelled to protect themselves from the tenth plague by using a bunch of Hyssop to mark their doors with lamb’s blood.

In this way, they would be spared the harsh judgment that would be reined upon the Egyptians, specifically the imposed sacrifice of their first born children and cattle, the embodiment of their successors and their assets. "Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning." Exodus 12:22 Hyssop, besides being regarded as an ancient mystical herb, ritually used for purging and purifying, has also been shown to inhibit many pathogens, including a modern plague, AIDS. Some recent studies have shown that the herb inhibits the replication of HIV and were not harmful to uninfected cells. It is believed that the high content of caffeic acid, certain tannins and some unidentified high molecular weight compounds are the active compounds in Hyssop that are generating this promising research. It has been suggested in clinical trials that Hyssop may be effective at increasing CD4+ cells and supporting the immune system during HIV related infections. According to viablehealth.com, “Two recent studies have reported on preliminary anti-HIV activity from hyssop fractions.

A California research group identified a polysaccharide (deemed MAR-IO) that, depending upon concentration, inhibited the SF strain of HIV-1 in laboratory experiments designed to measure HIV-1 cell replication.” Interestingly, Hyssop also shows some potential in the treatment of liver-related disease, including all forms of Hepatitis. In TCM, the Liver is where we energetically store emotions such as resentment and anger as well as our repressed feelings and unarticulated personal expression. Holding these patterns of stagnation can lead to a plethora of physical and emotional problems. It is necessary for humanity to stop waiting for others to take responsibility for our own lives or the condition of the world today. Spiritual rebirth is from a place of Purity, and Purity comes from sacrificing that which we have outgrown. We must take inventory at all levels and begin purging superfluous attachments in order to start moving forward. Inspired by the clean and uncluttered space we open up, we can allow the Divine to enter and co-create the World we envision. This is Hyssop‘s message.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes. Posted by Natural Healing - My Jewish Learning Natural Healing Modern Untouchables: Our Sins Of Exclusion This commentary is provided by special arrangement with Canfei Nesharim. To learn more, visit . This week’s Torah portion, Metzora, can teach us about restoring balance both to creation and human society.

According to the Jewish tradition, tzaraat, a skin disease described in this week’s portion, results from lashon hara (gossip, or other derogatory or harmful speech). The portion describes the ritual healing of a person who has contracted tzaraat. To understand this healing in context we will examine a key cause–the sin of lashon hara–and the particulars of its cure. We will look at the plants used in the purification and how this can teach us about appreciating and protecting the earth’s botanical diversity and healing potential. Leprosy & Speech Speech represents the articulation of identity or belief, the generative force of creation. Within Jewish taxonomy, human beings are referred to as “medabrim” or “speaking ones.” Our power of logic-based communication distinguishes us from the rest of creation. Our words are powerful. Through prayer and blessing we have the potential to transform our reality and the world around us. This effect of speech is evident in the laws pertaining to tzaraat. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi explains that lepers are required to dwell outside the camp in solitude because their speech caused a separation between people (Erkhin 16b).

Therefore, the leper’sspiritual healing must occur in a state of separateness. Cedar & Hyssop When our speech becomes blemished, a strong remedy is required to heal it. The remedy described in Parashat Metzorah comes about through a cleansing immersion process involving two wild birds, a red wool string, and samples from two plant species: the cedar tree and the low-lying hyssop (Leviticus 14:4). The healing process is clearly spiritual–the plants are not ingested, merely held. And yet, the Torah requires their inclusion in the process. God is reminding us of the curative powers of plants, and invoking the symbolism found in the natural world to aid the spiritual healing of a person. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch teaches that the ritual healing of the leper is aimed at reintegrating the individual into the social community. The leper’s harmful words disturbed the social fabric that binds the community together, and therefore he must go through a reintegration process involving banishment to the field outside human encampment, and a cleansing ritual that brings in elements of the natural world.

For centuries, Jewish sages understood the birds and plants involved in the healing ritual to carry symbolic lessons through the nature of their being. Rashi explained that two wild birds are used in this purification ritual because birds are constantly chirping and twittering, alluding to the mindless chattering of one who slanders others. The Sfas Emes hints that the birds represent both the harm caused through negative speech, and the powerful expression of beneficial, life-giving speech. The Sfas Emes also explains that the two plants used in the healing ritual–cedar and hyssop–represent two poles of being brought into harmony through the actions of the cleansing ritual. Because cedar grows so tall and hyssop is a lowly shrub, together they represent the highest and lowest types of plant life. Symbolism in Healing Symbolism and representation are often the most important part of any healing ritual involving plants. Herbal and homeopathic healing traditions follow a practice of recognizing the healing power of herbs based on the physical qualities of the plant, such as their shape, texture, color, or resemblance to an organ.

In homeopathy this is referred to as the “law of similars,” and the principle that “like cures like” is a profound one in many natural systems of healing. We are reflected in nature, and nature is reflected in us. In the same vein, the Sfas Emes comments that the cedar is associated with pride and haughtiness, which lead a person to speak lashon hara. Just as the cedar is distanced above the earth, harmful speech comes from feeling “above” or distanced from others. In contrast, hyssop grows low to the ground. The priest sprinkles water on the leper using a bundle of both these plants during the healing ritual to be reminded that though loftiness is part of creation, it should be countered with humility. Because it is one of the few times that healing is discussed in the Torah, and certainly the most detailed instance, the case of the leper has become a paradigm for Jewish sickness and healing. The central use of two specific plant species in the ritual is very important. Their mere presence at the ceremony is enough to reap their curative powers, probably due to the powerful symbolism described above.

From this we can learn the profound importance of ensuring the survival of the vast diversity of plants on this earth. The use of plants for healing is an ancient and time-tested practice. Exploration into the rainforest and other areas of great biodiversity has yielded riches for the medical world. Indigenous peoples around the world maintain traditions rich in knowledge about the healing and curative powers of their local plants. Medicinal knowledge as well as agricultural practices can be learned from similar studies. We must remember that these plant foods and medicines are part of God’s gift to us to use for healing and result in a responsibility to pass on as resources for future generations. Like the leper, we may need their presence to stay healthy. God has provided us with abundance and healing through the natural world. These gifts are to be found in the specific plants and the diversity of uses in healing and nutrition. Plant medicines come to use in many different styles of healing. They are prepared in teas, tinctures, poultices, and capsules, are used in cooking as seasonings and vegetables, as sources of inspiration for lab-synthesized medical products, as fragrance or oils in aromatherapy, and in micro-doses in homeopathic remedies or flower essences.

In the case of the leper, the Torah requires their presence for the powerful symbolism they offer. The plants become our teachers, balancing specific energies and sharing metaphors for growth that impact both body and psyche. Our role in creation is symbiotic. We are both caretakers of nature and we can also be cared for and healed through nature. Like the opposing natures of the cedar and the hyssop, we contain both extremes. Through positive speech we can build relationships within both human communities and our natural environment that will support and encourage connection and life. Please consider making a donation today. Ramona Rubin received a masters degree in public health epidemiology at the University of Michigan where she worked with Michigan Integrative Medicine. Her focus is on connections between human health and the environment, particularly the spiritual connections between a healthy environment and mind-body healing. By Ramona Rubin | April 6, 2008 This commentary is provided by special arrangement with Canfei Nesharim. To learn more, visit . This week’s Torah portion, Metzora, can teach us about restoring balance both to creation and human society.

According to the Jewish tradition, tzaraat, a skin disease described in this week’s portion, results from lashon hara (gossip, or other derogatory or harmful speech). The portion describes the ritual healing of a person who has contracted tzaraat. To understand this healing in context we will examine a key cause–the sin of lashon hara–and the particulars of its cure. We will look at the plants used in the purification and how this can teach us about appreciating and protecting the earth’s botanical diversity and healing potential. Leprosy & Speech Speech represents the articulation of identity or belief, the generative force of creation. Within Jewish taxonomy, human beings are referred to as “medabrim” or “speaking ones.” Our power of logic-based communication distinguishes us from the rest of creation. Our words are powerful. Through prayer and blessing we have the potential to transform our reality and the world around us. This effect of speech is evident in the laws pertaining to tzaraat. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi explains that lepers are required to dwell outside the camp in solitude because their speech caused a separation between people (Erkhin 16b).

Therefore, the leper’sspiritual healing must occur in a state of separateness. Cedar & Hyssop When our speech becomes blemished, a strong remedy is required to heal it. The remedy described in Parashat Metzorah comes about through a cleansing immersion process involving two wild birds, a red wool string, and samples from two plant species: the cedar tree and the low-lying hyssop (Leviticus 14:4). The healing process is clearly spiritual–the plants are not ingested, merely held. And yet, the Torah requires their inclusion in the process. God is reminding us of the curative powers of plants, and invoking the symbolism found in the natural world to aid the spiritual healing of a person. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch teaches that the ritual healing of the leper is aimed at reintegrating the individual into the social community. The leper’s harmful words disturbed the social fabric that binds the community together, and therefore he must go through a reintegration process involving banishment to the field outside human encampment, and a cleansing ritual that brings in elements of the natural world.

For centuries, Jewish sages understood the birds and plants involved in the healing ritual to carry symbolic lessons through the nature of their being. Rashi explained that two wild birds are used in this purification ritual because birds are constantly chirping and twittering, alluding to the mindless chattering of one who slanders others. The Sfas Emes hints that the birds represent both the harm caused through negative speech, and the powerful expression of beneficial, life-giving speech. The Sfas Emes also explains that the two plants used in the healing ritual–cedar and hyssop–represent two poles of being brought into harmony through the actions of the cleansing ritual. Because cedar grows so tall and hyssop is a lowly shrub, together they represent the highest and lowest types of plant life. Symbolism in Healing Symbolism and representation are often the most important part of any healing ritual involving plants. Herbal and homeopathic healing traditions follow a practice of recognizing the healing power of herbs based on the physical qualities of the plant, such as their shape, texture, color, or resemblance to an organ.

In homeopathy this is referred to as the “law of similars,” and the principle that “like cures like” is a profound one in many natural systems of healing. We are reflected in nature, and nature is reflected in us. In the same vein, the Sfas Emes comments that the cedar is associated with pride and haughtiness, which lead a person to speak lashon hara. Just as the cedar is distanced above the earth, harmful speech comes from feeling “above” or distanced from others. In contrast, hyssop grows low to the ground. The priest sprinkles water on the leper using a bundle of both these plants during the healing ritual to be reminded that though loftiness is part of creation, it should be countered with humility. Because it is one of the few times that healing is discussed in the Torah, and certainly the most detailed instance, the case of the leper has become a paradigm for Jewish sickness and healing. The central use of two specific plant species in the ritual is very important. Their mere presence at the ceremony is enough to reap their curative powers, probably due to the powerful symbolism described above.

From this we can learn the profound importance of ensuring the survival of the vast diversity of plants on this earth. The use of plants for healing is an ancient and time-tested practice. Exploration into the rainforest and other areas of great biodiversity has yielded riches for the medical world. Indigenous peoples around the world maintain traditions rich in knowledge about the healing and curative powers of their local plants. Medicinal knowledge as well as agricultural practices can be learned from similar studies. We must remember that these plant foods and medicines are part of God’s gift to us to use for healing and result in a responsibility to pass on as resources for future generations. Like the leper, we may need their presence to stay healthy. God has provided us with abundance and healing through the natural world. These gifts are to be found in the specific plants and the diversity of uses in healing and nutrition. Plant medicines come to use in many different styles of healing. They are prepared in teas, tinctures, poultices, and capsules, are used in cooking as seasonings and vegetables, as sources of inspiration for lab-synthesized medical products, as fragrance or oils in aromatherapy, and in micro-doses in homeopathic remedies or flower essences.

In the case of the leper, the Torah requires their presence for the powerful symbolism they offer. The plants become our teachers, balancing specific energies and sharing metaphors for growth that impact both body and psyche. Our role in creation is symbiotic. We are both caretakers of nature and we can also be cared for and healed through nature. Like the opposing natures of the cedar and the hyssop, we contain both extremes. Through positive speech we can build relationships within both human communities and our natural environment that will support and encourage connection and life. Suggested Action Items: Blue Water Hyssop - Microcosm Aquarium Explorer Blue Water Hyssop Can grow immersed or rising out of the water. Florida Aquatic Nursery Overview Giant Bacopa is an aromatic (when emmersed), easy-to-grow midground to background stemmed plant. The growth rate is moderate, so there is no concern that this plant is going to take over the aquarium. Habitat: Giant Bacopa is a perennial creeping marsh plant that grows emersed in shallow areas and submerged in deeper waters. It is sometimes found in slightly brackish waters.

Maximum height: 60 cm (24 in) Lighting: Bright Water: Freshwater 72 °C (162 °F) - 77 °C (171 °F) Feeding CO2 not required. Fertilize regularly. Special Care Easily reproduced from cuttings planted in the substrate. Notes Use a plain gravel or sandy substrate. If allowed to grow emersed, Giant Bacopa will produce attractive blue flowers. Flowers that occur underwater will rot. Plant Giant Bacopa in groups about two inches apart for the most attractive effect. The bright, light green, smallish, oval leaves will provide a nice contrast to other plants in the aquarium. The leaves can turn reddish in very bright light. The tender leaves of Giant Bacopa are very tempting to herbivorous fishes, so avoid keeping plant-eating fishes with this plant unless you intend for it to be used as a vegetable food for those fishes.

Question: What, in the natural world, is 'hyssop'?
Answer: A herb