Ground Ivy
Botanical Description & Habitat
Glechoma hederacea, Nepeta hederacea, and glauchoma herderacea
Family
Labiatae (Lamiaceae, Araliaceae)
Common Names
| Alehoof | Cat's paw |
| Cat's foot | Creeping Charlie |
| Gillrun | Hedge-maids |
| Turnhoof |
Habitat
Grasslands, open woods, clearings, hedgerows throughout Europe, Northern Asia and Japan.
Medicinal Parts
Flowering herb, leaves, collected April to June.
Historical Properties & Uses
Ground ivy is best known as a tonic and bechic, mild expectorant. It is also commonly used as an astringent, anticatarrhal, vulnerary and diuretic. Some use as anodyne, antiscorbutic, sudorific, cardiotonic, diaphoretic, refrigerant, alterative and febrifuge. Still a popular homeopathic remedy for respiratory problems such as asthma.
Ground ivy has been a popular remedy for whooping cough, and is still found in European proprietary whooping cough remedies.
Method of Action
Ground Ivy has Spasmolytic and Antitussive Action
The active constituents of ground ivy include saponins and glycosides. These have spasmolytic activity and probably responsible for the anti-whooping cough properties. These components probably also add some sedative and expectorant actions.
According to labels on proprietary products, ground ivy reduces the frequency of coughing attacks and reduces the severity of paroxysmal cough. In atomizer form, ground ivy is administered to children.
Tannin Components Account for Astringent, Antidiarrhetic Actions
Ground ivy also contains substantial tannic acid and a bitter alkaloid called glechomine accounting for the diuretic, diaphoretic, antibiotic, antidiarrhetic, astringent, alterative and febrifuge activities. Glechomine has also been shown to be a anti-inflammatory agent.
In the British Pharmacopoeia, ground ivy is recommended for chronic respiratory catarrh, bronchitis, tinnitus aurium, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, cystitis and gastritis. It thus acts as an expectorant, anticatarrhal, astringent, vulnerary, diuretic and stomachic. Combine with colt's foot, myrrh, inula and licorice for coughs.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Ground Ivy, insofar as its diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuremic effects of glucose elevating agents.
The effects of dopamine and diuretic agents are additive. Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive drugs, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine.
Possible Interactions
In conjunction with ACTH or corticosteroids, this diuretic is more prone to produce hypokalemia. Use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs. The diuretic action of this herb may reduce renal clearance of lithium. An initial dose of captopril (an antihypertensive) may cause a severe drop in blood pressure within three hours if the person is also using a strong diuretic.
Ground ivy and sparteine may have synergistic oxytocic activity.
Cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics may sensitize the myocardium to the cardiotonic effects of this herb, though the chances are very few of this happening.
Ground ivy is synergistic with parenteral calcium salts, pancuronium, succinylcholine, rauwolfia alkaloids, ephedrine, epinephrine, and other adrenergic agents.
The inotropic action of Ground ivy may be reduced by propranolol, but the effects of the two substances on av are additive.
The topical application of this astringent herb in conjunction with the acne product tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin a acid) may adversely affect the skin.
The tannin in ground ivy may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in a tea made from this herb may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
Comments
Prolonged use of this diuretic may affect certain lab test results such as electrolytes especially potassium and sodium, bun, uric acid, glucose, and pbi.
Strong diuretics such as this in conjunction with indomethacin may produce natriuretic effects.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Ground ivy, in large doses, can be poisonous. It has been considered poisonous to horses.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Infusion
Use 2-4g of dried herb
Liquid Extract
Use 2-4ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol
References
Braun, H. & Frohne, D. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Duke, J.A. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1985.
Lewis, D. Anti-inflammatory Drugs from Plant and Marine Sources, Birkhuser Verlag, Berlin, 1989.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Ohigashi, H. & T. Mitsyui. Antimicrobial substances in higher plants. Botyu Kagak, 38(3), 165-180, 1973.
Schauenberg, P. & F. Paris. Guide to Medicinal Plants, Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1977.
Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, Beaconsfield, England, 1988.
Multimedia
Glechoma hederacea
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
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