Hyssop Drug Interactions, Uses, Side Effects & More

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Hyssop

0 medications have a known interaction with Hyssop, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Hyssop. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Hyssop combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Monograph

Hyssop: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Hyssop is a Mediterranean mint-family herb traditionally used for coughs, colds, and digestive complaints, but solid human evidence for these uses is lacking. The dried herb in tea is generally considered low-risk for most adults, but the concentrated essential oil can cause seizures and should not be used internally. Avoid hyssop products during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Scientific name: Hyssopus officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae
Part used: Above-ground parts (leaves, flowers, and stems) and the essential oil
Common forms: Tea, capsules, tablets, tincture, essential oil

People commonly use it for

Coughs and colds
Sore throat and congestion
Digestive upset and gas
Aromatherapy
Insect repellent

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

The herb is likely low-risk in small culinary or tea amounts, but the essential oil can be toxic and cause seizures.

PregnancyLikely Unsafe

When used orally. Hyssop may produce uterine stimulant and menstrual stimulant effects.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a perennial herb in the mint family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, and it is now grown in gardens in many parts of the world. The plant has narrow green leaves, woody stems, and small blue, pink, or white flowers. It has a pungent, slightly bitter, minty smell and taste.

People have used hyssop in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. It is most often taken as a tea made from the dried leaves and flowers, but it also comes in capsules, tablets, and tinctures. A concentrated essential oil is made from the plant and is used in aromatherapy and perfumes. Hyssop also shows up as a flavoring in some foods and liqueurs.

How it works

Hyssop contains a mix of plant compounds, including volatile oils (such as pinocamphone and isopinocamphone), flavonoids, tannins, and rosmarinic acid. These are the substances that give the herb its smell and its possible biological effects.

In laboratory studies, hyssop extracts have shown antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and some compounds may relax airway or gut muscles, which is one proposed reason for its traditional use in coughs and digestion. However, most of these mechanisms come from test-tube or animal research and have not been confirmed in well-designed human studies. The same volatile oil compounds that may be active are also linked to the herb's potential for causing seizures at high doses.

Effectiveness

Does Hyssop work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 6 uses evaluated

6 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Hyssop, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 6 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Bruises