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Healthy Way: Issue 8 > Common Ivy |
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Common Ivy
In Ancient Egypt, Ivy was consecrated to Osiris, fertility god and the great god of the underworld. In Greek and Roman mythology, Ivy was the attribute of the gods of wine, Dionysus and Bacchus. Indeed, the ancients believed that a crown of ivy leaves would prevent the effects of inebriation. Greek priests presented a wreath of ivy to newlyweds as it was traditionally regarded as a symbol of fidelity. Hippocrates already describes the medicinal usage of Ivy roots, leaves and fruits.
Nowadays, Ivy is a plant that can be found easily in our gardens. Its latin name Hedera helix refers to how the plant twists and turns. It is a climbing plant, growing to 20-30 m high where it can find suitable surfaces such as trees, cliffs or walls, and also growing as ground cover where there are no vertical surfaces. We often see it on houses as it provides extra insulation in the winter and helps keep cool in the summer.
Such green walls also help filter out smog. It is the leaves that are now used medicinally. Common Ivy is an example of a herb which has an expectorant action on the chest. Expectorants loosen the mucus from the tubes of the lungs, encouraging its expulsion and elimination. Often, troublesome coughs indicate difficulty in eliminating mucus. A herb such as Ivy, a mucus thinner, helps to clear the chest.
Science has confirmed many of Ivy’s traditional indications. Its antispasmodic effect on tracea cells was demonstrated in a study published in Planta Med in 1997. Another study published in Micoses in 1998 demonstrated that one of Ivy’s components called alpha hederine, has an antifungal effect against yeast like Candida albicans.
Ivy is also used as an adjuvant in the treatment of asthma. Indeed, in 1998, Münch Med Wschr published the results of a trial in a group of children with bronchial asthma. The study found that Ivy leaf extract was effective in improving airflow into the lungs after only three days of use! It is important to be followed by a medical doctor for the treatment of asthma. The German commission E recognized Ivy for its benefits in cases of catarrhs of the respiratory passages and for the symptomatic treatment of chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions. Although there are no studies confirming its effects against inebriation, one can always decide to be a guinea pig! Just go out and pick some Ivy leaves, make a crown and have a drink or two...
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The herb thyme in A.Vogel combination Bronchosan® enhances the action of Ivy. This remedy is able to deliver a ‘double whammy’ to respiratory complaints.
Ivy relaxes the bronchial tubes, easing tightness and reducing spasms of coughing. Thyme thins mucus in the lungs, helping its expulsion. In other words, you’ll cough less but when you do cough, something will come out! The joy of this remedy is the speed at which it works. Often, 12 hours of use can easily make a big difference to your condition. |
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