Common English ivy, or ‘Hedera helix’ as it is botanically referred to, is a plant that most of us know as the beautiful greenery that adorns many a cosy English cottage. But besides being decorative, Hedera helix also has a long medicinal history that dates back to ancient Greece when it was used by Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine.
Over the years, Ivy extract has been used as an anaesthetic, antiseptic, haemorrhage and dysentery treatment, as well as to reduce swelling of the brain and feet.
Today, The German Commission E, a Scientific Advisory Board equivalent to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in America, has approved Hedra helix as a treatment for catarrhs of the respiratory tract and symptoms of chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions like bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, emphysema and pneumonia.
English Ivy’s Health Benefits & Uses
English Ivy leaf extract has a wide variety of health benefits, making this pretty leaf a wildly underrated herb if you ask us. It can help to:
- Relax airways that are in spasm as a result of respiratory illnesses
- Ease thick mucus in the respiratory system
- Reduce inflammation caused by respiratory infections and allergies
- Ease both wet and dry coughs
- Alleviate breathing difficulties caused by allergic reactions
Did You Know English Ivies Are Nature’s True Air Purifiers?
According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), these plants are one of the top 10 air-purifying plants, now they’re probably not going to be as effective in your home as an air purifier, but their ability to remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene, is pretty impressive!
Properties of English Ivy
The hedera helix plant has a broad range of medicinal properties that are frankly nothing to sneeze at, these include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiarthritic
- Antioxidant
- Antiviral
- Antispasmodic
- Antimicrobial
- Antitumor
What Are The Side Effects of English Ivy?
Herbs are generally safe for consumption in both adults and children, however you may just be the 1 in 10,000 people who are allergic to ivy, if you are, you may experience one or more of these side effects after consuming english ivy extracts and products:
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling
- Reddening of skin
- Itching
Embracing Herbal & Complementary Medicines
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