אֵזוֹב – Hyssop – Hyssopus Officinalis
Printable Version
In the
Torah, hyssop is used in ritual purification from the spiritual sickness of tzara’at
(Vayikra chapter 14), and from the impurity of death (Bamidbar
chapter 19). Due to its antimicrobial and
anti-viral properties, hyssop
is known for its cleansing effect through topical and internal preparations, as
well as through inhalation. The stalks were burned and the smoke inhaled to
clear the respiratory passages. Hyssop is one of the most ancient of ritual
herbs. It has been used for millennia for cleansing and consecration. In
the Middle Ages, the presence of hyssop was thought to repel plague and bring
purity to the home. It was also used to repel insects.
The Romans prepared an herbal wine containing hyssop. In ancient Greece, the
physicians Galen and Hippocrates valued hyssop for inflammations of the throat
and chest, such as pleurisy and other bronchial complaints. The herb is
especially useful in helping the immune system to combat respiratory infections
and colds. Hyssop, taken in warm infusions, acts as an expectorant and helps
expel phlegm and break up congestion in the lungs. It is also a beneficial herb
for treatment of the virus, Herpes simplex. An infusion may also be used
to relieve the distress of asthma. Hyssop is a diaphoretic, and acts to promote
perspiration. It will help to reduce fever and eliminate toxins through the
skin. Hyssop also acts as a carminative and digestive aid, relieving flatulence
and relaxing the digestive system. This versatile herb is also a nervine, which
calms anxiety. It
is possible that the Hebrew word for hyssop – אֵזוֹב/Ezov is connected to the root ע-ז-ב – leave,
exchanging the alef with the ayin. To cleanse and purify is
indeed to take leave of what we don’t want. I find it fascinating that hyssop
is used as a purifier both in the Torah and in folk medicine. In the Torah, for
spiritual cleansing, to purify the impurity of the spiritual disease of
tzara’at arising from arrogance, from the impurity of death and to purify
Israel from the impure, necromantic Egypt.
In folk medicine, hyssop is a cleansing herb that eliminates toxins and
viruses.
Hyssop – The Humble Herb of Freedom
During the month of Nissan – the month of our
liberation – we emerge from all kinds of slavery. The humble hyssop that grows
out of the hard bedrock symbolizes this redemption process. When the Israelites
were enslaved in Egypt, we were instructed to dip the hyssop in the blood of
the Pesach sacrifice and sprinkle it on our doorposts as a sign for Hashem
to pass over us during the first-born plague of the Egyptians:
ספר שמות פרק יב פסוק כב וּלְקַחְתֶּם אֲגֻדַּת אֵזוֹב וּטְבַלְתֶּם בַּדָּם אֲשֶׁר בַּסַּף
וְהִגַּעְתֶּם אֶל הַמַּשְׁקוֹף וְאֶל שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת מִן הַדָּם אֲשֶׁר
בַּסָּף וְאַתֶּם לֹא תֵצְאוּ אִישׁ מִפֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ עַד בֹּקֶר:
“You shall take a bunch of
hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and
the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall
go out of the entrance of his house until the morning” (Shemot 12:22).
Perhaps hyssop was chosen to accompany us out of
exile due to its humble nature- it reflects the rock-bottom level of the
Israelites prior to the Exodus. The low maintenance hyssop grows all over
Israel between rocks and terraces. It is a perennial shrub, tolerant to a wide
range of weather and drought conditions, preferring white, grayish dirt. Its
easy growth has drawn people to the hyssop herb since Biblical times. When the
Torah described King Solomon’s wisdom, it used hyssop as an example of the
lowest kind of plant that King Solomon’s knowledge encompassed.
ספר מלכים א פרק ה פסוק יג וַיְדַבֵּר עַל הָעֵצִים מִן הָאֶרֶז אֲשֶׁר
בַּלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד הָאֵזוֹב אֲשֶׁר יֹצֵא בַּקִּיר...
“He spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Levanon to
the hyssop that emerges from the wall…” (I Melachim 5:13).
There was no way we could have taken ourselves out
of the Egyptian slavery, where we were “bare and naked” (Yechezkiel 16:7).
By teaching us total surrender to the power of the Almighty, the lowly hyssop
propelled us up from our lowermost point to the greatest spiritual heights. The
spirit of the humble hyssop helps us to internalize that there is still no way
we can accomplish anything except through Hashem’s blessing. This attitude
merits redemption because Hashem does kindness to the lowly and raises up the
poor (Tehillim 113:7).
Herb of Purification
(Tehillim 51:7).
Hyssop Purges Negative Emotions and
Helps Us Manifest Our Higher Self
In most traditions, hyssop is a
cleansing herb that purifies and sanctifies spaces for rituals. It is more
purifying than strictly protective. Dried hyssop may be infused in floor washes
or scattered around the home. I hang a bunch in our home for the beneficial
effect and great smell! Hyssop is used to clear away sins, regrets and worries
that are blocking our spiritual progress. When we open our wild hearts to
humble, rugged, ageless hyssop, it helps us to improve strength, stamina,
energy, attitude, and outlook. It also generates compassion. Hyssop calms the
internal struggle of conflicting realities, while increasing self-acceptance
and the overcoming of unworthiness. It fortifies our resolve to walk our path,
supports the courage needed to follow our heart’s desire and builds endurance
needed for self-discovery. Hyssop expands lung energy by releasing guilt. Add
hyssop oil to water and spread the mixture in a room to uplift or transmute the
dense thought forms vibrating in the space. Rubbing hyssop oil on the shoulders
helps release tension caused by carrying emotional burdens. Hyssop oil used on
the lung and large intestine meridians releases mucus congestion in the lung
and bronchial tubes and purges grief held within the subtle body’s energy. Hyssop facilitates the purging of old beliefs
that no longer serve us and our spiritual growth. It clears the resonance of realities
long outgrown and opens the energy to manifest our higher self (Based on
Deborah Eidson, Vibrational Healing: Revealing the Essence of Healing
through Aromatherapy p. 131).
Hands On:
Harvest hyssop when the herb
reaches is maximum height. Frequent cuttings from the tops of mature plants
will keep the foliage tender for use in salads, soups, or teas. Used sparingly
in culinary preparations, hyssop's tender shoots are a digestive aid,
especially with greasy meats. When harvesting the herb for medicinal purposes,
use the flowering tops. Gather the herb on a sunny, spring day after the dew
has dried. Hang the branches to dry in a warm, airy room out of direct
sunlight. Remove leaves and flowers from the stems and store in clearly
labeled, tightly sealed, dark-glass containers.
Hyssop Tea
(Infusion)
Place 3 tablespoons of dried,
or twice as much fresh, hyssop leaf and blossom in a warm glass container.
Bring 2.5 cups of fresh, nonchlorinated water to the boiling point, and add it
to the herbs. Cover and infuse the tea for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and drink
warm. The prepared tea will store for about two days if kept in a sealed
container in the refrigerator. Hyssop tea may be enjoyed by the cupful up to
three times a day. Combine hyssop with white horehound for additional
expectorant action to relieve cough. For sore throats, a warm infusion of
hyssop combined with sage (Salvia officinalis) is a home remedy
recommended by herbalists.
Hyssop Tincture
Combine four ounces of finely
cut fresh or powdered dry herb with one pint of brandy, gin, or vodka, in a
glass container. The alcohol should be enough to cover the plant parts. Place
the mixture away from light for about two weeks, shaking several times each
day. Strain and store in a tightly-capped, dark glass bottle. A standard dose
is 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.
Homemade Za’atar Mixture
1 cup fresh picked hyssop leaves
4 tablespoons sesame seed
½ a teaspoon sumac
1 tsp sea salt
1. Pick hyssop leaves when young and fresh.
2. Dry hyssop leaves by hanging them upside down
for a few days.
3. Remove the stalks and grind the hyssop leaves in
a coffee grinder.
4. Mix with toasted sesame seeds and a little
sea-salt.
5. Optionally add a little sumac spice)
Now you have your Za’atar ready to mix with olive
oil and served as a dip for whole-wheat bread, grains and vegetables.
Link to other articles about hyssop
http://rebbetzinchanabracha.blogspot.co.il/search?q=hyssop
No comments:
Post a Comment