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How Biblical Herbs Improve Your Health Without Expense or Harm
How Biblical Herbs Improve Your Health
ne morning I woke up to the Holy Spirit whispering one word…”Betony”. While I was mystifi ed because I had never heard that word before, in my spirit I sensed it was some sort of herb or plant.
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I immediately jumped out of bed and looked it up on the internet…and….yes! Betony (Stachys offi cinalis) is a type of mint. Apparently, it was once considered so important that there was a popular Italian saying “sell your coat and buy betony”. It was in medicinal and monastery gardens throughout Europe and was extensively valued and used for
WITHOUT EXPENSE OR HARM
By Leah McCulloch
centuries.
Modern research backs the value of Betony suggesting that because of its mildly sedative and anti-inflammatory action it can relieve nervous stress, emotional tension, anxiety and headaches. It also improves digestive issues, boosts the functioning of the liver, plus helps relieve bloating and many other symptoms. Also because of its anti-bacterial and antioxidant effects it can help with infection, pain and swelling. Not to mention it may help with respiratory illness. Something we could all use right now!
So what happened? Why don’t we use it anymore?
Where herbs used to be a valued part of our diet contributing taste and many medicinal benefi ts, now we opt for the three taste sensations of modern diet – sugar, salt and fat as well as the convenience of modern medicine. But I believe God is calling us back to using the herbs He created specifi cally for our use and health. They are less expensive and far gentler than most pills we take. I have planted Betony in my garden this year…I am excited to taste and use it!
Quick quiz…which Biblical herb was commanded by law to be used to cleanse people and homes? (Hint: Leviticus 14 and Numbers 19). And of which herb does it say in Psalm 51:7
Purify me with ???, and I shall be clean;
Which herb was used by the Children of Israewl to dip in lamb’s blood and mark their door lintels and posts so the Angel of death would Passover them in Egypt (Exodus 12:22)? And fi nally, which herb branch was used to pass up the jar of sour wine to Jesus just before He said “It is fi nished” and died (John 19:28-29).
If you said Hyssop to any of the above questions you are right! This remarkable herb was referenced many times in the bible regarding cleansing of sins. If the Bible says Hyssop will cleanse us and make us clean spiritually, can it help us physically as well?
Well, yes. Extensive studies show that Hyssop is a powerhouse of goodness and antioxidant activity including over 20 compounds which help such diverse issues as healing respiratory infections (as an antiseptic and antibiotic it kills bacteria and heals cuts, wounds, and bites), increasing circulation, relaxing muscle pain and spasms, improving digestion, stimulating immune response, and fi nally, improving skin health.
Modern medicine would say that no one substance could produce that many outcomes…they try to focus on one result per medicine. But God’s intent is that we utilize the incredibly powerful and complex herbs he has given us as part of our daily diet before we get sick. I have learned that there are no frivolous words in the Bible, it’s not poetry it’s an instruction manual for living a profound life! I encourage you to experiment with reintroducing herbs into your daily diet in their fresh, dried or essential oil forms. Do you want to know How To Increase Your Mental Clarity, Memory, Alertness and Mental Health With One Simple Herb? Click here. (please link to https://paintopraise.com/memory)
Leah Catherine runs the Healthy.
Holy.Healed Summitt which helps participants walk in optimal health, be holy and set apart for God, and healed of emotional trauma. She has dedicated her life to helping people radically alter their life and faith to walk in the fullness that God has called them to.
— Vera Nazarian,
The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
Growing & Caring for Hyssop
The hyssop is a beautiful perennial with distinctly gorgeous fl owers. They’re easy to grow and are the perfect companion plant to have in your garden. You too could have this iconic herb in your home garden! With these helpful tips, you can have a hyssop that is sure to turn heads.
First, a little background about the star of our show. The hyssop originates from southern and eastern Europe, as well as parts of the Middle East. While easily identifi able by their unique beauty, hyssop is not just a pretty face. Rather, hyssop has been used as a cure-all medicine spanning all the way back to ancient times. Even today, hyssop is often brewed into tea and promoted as a natural medicine for digestive and respiratory illnesses.
Hyssop is classifi ed as a perennial, which means it is meant to live for multiple years (as opposed to annuals which only live for one growing season). During mid to late summer, they bloom beautiful flowers. Depending on the variety, these flowers can range from purple, blue, white, or pink.
Hyssop typically grows to about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads as wide as 1 to 3 feet long. However, with proper pruning, they can be easily managed into smaller sizes.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Hyssop usually requires full sun, though it is tolerant of partial shade. If you’re planting hyssop in a hotter zone such as 9 or 10, it might be a good idea to plant it in a location that gets a little shade to cool it off during the blistering summers. It can be conveniently planted in a container and pruned to preserve a smaller shape, or it can be planted inground.
They are hardy to zones 3 through 10. Though, in zones 6 or higher, it is managed as a semi-evergreen plant. Semievergreen plants undergo a rapid process in which they shed their foliage and regrow it within a short amount of time. When pruning a semi-evergreen plant, do not prune them in the fall. Rather, wait until spring to begin trimming your plant to manage its size; you may continue to do so all throughout the growing season.
When selecting an appropriate soil to grow your hyssop in, opt for a soil that is well-drained and on the drier side. Hyssop is tolerable of poor soil as well as drought. They have a preference for alkaline soil, though they can withstand a pH range between 5.0 and 7.5.
HOW TO PLANT HYSSOP
Hyssop can be planted through either seeds, propagating cuttings, or division. Hyssop can also be purchased at your local plant nursery or home improvement store and transplanted in-ground or in a container.
Hyssop seeds can be started 8 to 10 weeks before your fi nal frost date, either indoors or outside in the garden. Hyssop seeds should be planted 0.25” (0.6 cm) beneath the surface, and individual plants should be spaced 6” to 12” (15 to 30 cm) apart. Typically, it takes between 14 and 21 days for the seeds to germinate. If you opted to plant indoors, you can transplant in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
For a stronger hyssop plant, you can start sewing your seeds in a cold frame or a greenhouse in the early spring. After, you can transfer your seedlings into their individual container and overwinter them in a cold frame or greenhouse. That following spring, your hyssop will be ready to be planted permanently after danger of frost has passed.
If you’re planting via propagation, you can use either halfripe wood cuttings or greenwood cuttings. Half-ripe wood cuttings should be rooted in a cold frame or greenhouse during June/July. Propagating greenwood cuttings should be approached with the same method, during April/May.
For those opting to plant via division, start by dividing the main hyssop in the early spring, when the new growth is just starting. Take your trowel and dig a clump of the plant, but still leave the primary hyssop intact. Gently loosen the roots with your fi ngers and replant your hyssop in a location with well-draining soil and full sun.
WATERING, TRIMMING, & HARVESTING
Hyssop, like many other plants, enjoy being watered regularly. Hyssop do however, prefer drier conditions, so opt for watering your hyssop plants about once or twice a week.
To prune your hyssop, trim your plant heavily, during the early spring. You can trim again after the flowers have developed on your plant. Not only does properly trimming your hyssop help keep it down to a manageable size, but it also helps your plant look bushier because it encourages new growth.
Hyssop is best used when freshly cut. Though, it is totally possible to dry and freeze hyssop to use later on.
PESTS
It’s not always pleasant to think about the possibility of your plants becoming sick or infested with pests, but keeping an eye out for any irregularities can help prevent future heartbreak.
While hyssop is highly resistant to most pests and diseases, they can sometimes be affected by nematodes. Nematodes are a type of microscopic, eel-like roundworm that mainly attacks the roots of your plants.
You might suspect your hyssop has been affected by nematodes if your hyssop has begun to wilt or the leaves have started yellowing. Take a trowel and dig up the roots and take a good look; if you notice any galls (abnormal growths) or swollen roots, then that’s even more evidence of a nematode infestation.
Unfortunately, there is no chemical fi x to rid your plant of nematodes. The only option you can take in this case is to destroy any plants that have been affected. Throughly cleansing your gardening tools is also effective in preventing the spread. Moving forward, you must replant any future hyssop in a new location of the garden to avoid the risk of repeat infection.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Growing hyssop in your garden can be a very gratifying experience. People of ancient civilizations saw the potential in hyssop and its legacy has carried on for thousands of years. Hyssop’s benefi cial uses are endless. I implore that everyone gives hyssop a chance and add it to their garden because you won’t regret planting this beautiful herb!
Works Cited
Dyer, M.H. “How to Divide Hyssop.” Garden Guides. https://www.gardenguides. com/ 100122-divide-hyssop.html. Accessed 19 April 2021.
“Growing Guide: Hyssop.” Cornell University. http://www.gardening.cornell. edu/homegardening/scene825e.html. Accessed 19 April 2021.
Holmes, Kier. “Gardening 101: Hyssop.” Gardenista. https://www. gardenista.com/posts/gardening-101-hyssop-hyssopus-offi cinalisperennial-herb/ Accessed 19 April 2021.
“How to Manage Pests: Nematodes.” University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7489. html. Accessed 19 April 2021.
“Hyssopus Offi cinalis.” Missouri Botanical Garden. http:// www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/ PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b939. Accessed 19 April 2021.
Tilley, Nikki. “Tips For Growing Hyssop Plant In Your Garden.” Gardening Know How. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/ hyssop/growing-hyssop-plant.htm. Accessed 19 April 2021.
