Common (English) ivy – Plant of the Day

Folklore Ivy was associated with the Roman god of revelry. According to Mrs Grieve (A Modern Herbal, 1931) “Ivy was in high esteem among the ancients. Its leaves formed the poet’s crown, as well as the wreath of Bacchus, to whom the plant was dedicated, probably because of the practice of binding the brow with ivy leaves to prevent intoxication, a quality formerly attributed to the plant. We are told by old writers that the effects of intoxication by wine are removed if a handful of ivy leaves are bruised and gently boiled in wine and drunk.”

Grieve also says that Greek priests presented ivy wreaths to newly-married couples and ivy has long been regarded as the emblem of fidelity. She adds that “the custom of decorating houses and churches with ivy at Christmas was forbidden by one of the early councils of the church, on account of its pagan associations.” The plant was in fact sacred to the druids and considered the female counterpart to the masculine holly.

Plant Medicine Ivy’s use as a cough medicine today was said to have been discovered by an early 20^th century doctor in the south of France who noticed children from the region did not suffer from bronchitis and that they drank from cups made from the wood of the ivy plant.

Ivy is used in plant medicine today for the symptomatic treatment of chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions and as an effective anti-inflammatory for bronchial conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

Ivy extracts are widely used in cough medicines in Europe, as an expectorant and for bronchitis. The leaf extract is approved by the German Commission E and European Medicines Agency for use against chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions and productive coughs, due to its actions as an expectorant.

CAUTION In order to treat any condition with a plant medicine it is important to take the correct dose and plant medicine for your individual needs – always first consult a NIMH registered medical herbalist in order to treat a child, if you are pregnant, have any medical condition or are taking any medication.

To treat a cough, ivy leaves can be taken as a tea (finely chopped or ground, dried) using 0.5g of dried leaf (one teaspoon is 0.8g) per cup 1-3x daily for up to 20 days. The tea tastes quite pleasant but it is most often taken as a tincture (the plant material extracted in alcohol), 1-3ml daily. It is also commercially available in capsule, syrup or cough drop form – take according to the label. To treat a chronic condition the specific prescription depends on the degree of breathing impairment, age and other factors so first consult a NIMH medical herbalist. Not for long term use without consultation. Do not exceed recommended dose.

Do not exceed the recommended dose. No contraindications are reported for medical conditions or medication (though CYP enzyme inhibition has been shown in a lab study so contraindications may be possible). Leaves may cause skin reactions such as hives in some, due to the chemical falcariol (these people will also likely react to carrots and other members of Apiaceae). Ivy leaf medicines must not be given to children under two years of age because of the risk of worsening respiratory symptoms. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea have been reported.

Further information on any risk associated with ivy leaf medicines, including the appropriate precautions for their safe use, can be found in the monograph on the European Medicines Agency website: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/hederae-helicis-folium.