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Ivy Leaf

    Brands

    DEA Class; (Herb/Suppl)

    Common Brand Names;

    Gum Ivy, Hedera helix, Hedera taurica, Hederae Helicis Folium, Herbes à Cors, Hiedra Común, Ivy, Lierre, Lierre Commun, Lierre Grimpant, True Ivy, Woodbind.

    •  Expectorant

    Ivy leaf (Hedera helix) is an evergreen, climbing vine native to Europe and Asia. The leaves are sometimes used to make extracts for medicine.

    English ivy might help thin mucus in the airways. This might improve lung function in people with breathing difficulty. English ivy might also have antioxidant effects.

    People use English ivy for bronchitis, burns, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

    Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for…

     

    • Bronchitis. Early research shows that taking cough syrup (Prospan; Panoto-s; Athos; Abrilar) or herbal drops (Prospan Herbal Drops) containing English ivy leaf extract by mouth, alone or with usual treatment, for about 1-3 weeks might improve lung function in children ages <1 to 15 years, as well as adults, with sudden or recurring bronchitis. however, it’s too soon to tell if the improvement is due to english ivy extract, the usual treatment, or natural course of the disease.
    • Liver disorders.
    • Spleen disorders.
    • Gallbladder disorders.
    • Gout.
    • Joint pain and swelling.
    • Scrofulosis.
    • Skin wounds.
    • Nerve pain.
    • Ulcers.
    • Parasites.
    • Other conditions.

    History of kidney stones

    Cough syrup (Prospan; Panoto-s; Athos; Abrilar) containing English ivy leaf extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth three times daily for 1 week. English ivy leaf might cause skin irritation when taken by mouth. English ivy leaf extract might cause mild stomach problems.

    Not enough is known about the safety of applying English ivy to the skin. In some people, contact with English ivy leaf might cause allergic skin reactions. But this is fairly uncommon.

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    Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of English ivy during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

    The appropriate dose of English ivy depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for English ivy. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

    Ivy Leaf or English Ivy