Grow Your Own Medicine: Anise Hyssop

Have you ever considered the "medicine" available to you, grown in your own backyard (or farm).
From Basil to Coneflower and even Thyme, there are so many reported health benefits of many common (and not so common) herbs and flowers.
We started with Basil as it is probably the most common herb and arguably the easiest to grow.

Anise Hyssop 

Anise Hyssop

Anise hyssop can be started indoors 4-6 weeks prior to the last frost of the spring. Transplant outdoors after the final frost of the season, once plants are approximately 3-4 inches tall and show their first true leaves. 
Anise will grow in partial shade as well as full sun.
The plant grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and 1 foot wide and reseeds freely.  Anise Hyssop is an excellent addition to your garden as it is bee-friendly and edible.  Attracts bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds

Germination: 10-14 days
Days to Harvest: 60

From The Herbal Resource,
"The infusion or decoction is being used to bring relief for the symptoms of lung and upper respiratory problems like the common cold, bronchitis, catarrh, and asthma, as it is antispasmodic, sweat-inducing and an expectorant (helps with the coughing up of mucus). It can also bring relief in these conditions by preparing a poultice that is placed directly on the chest or through applying of Hyssop-oil containing ointment.
As a peripheral vasodilator, it is also diaphoretic (induces sweating) and has anti-inflammatory properties. The latter effect is used to naturally treat infections of the upper respiratory tract by inhaling vapors from hyssop decoctions.
Its sweat-inducing properties may relief the symptoms in patients with fever."

From Livestrong,
"When consumed in tea form, hyssop tea functions as an expectorant. Pregnant women should not drink hyssop tea."

"In addition, hyssop has antibiotic properties resulting from the plant's volatile oils. While the antibiotic properties of the volatile oils are generally strong, they only function on shallow wounds and fungus infections."
 
As an Anti-Inflammatory, "Hyssop contains several compounds that are also conducive to positive responses in the human body. Hyssop helps reduce the swelling of a wound or the effects of illness by constricting blood vessels. This constriction also slows excessive bleeding and causes the body to produce fewer wrinkles by tightening the skin. It is also helpful to joints affected by arthritis and improves circulation to the afflicted areas."

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