Glechoma, Ground Ivy

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:

-opens Obstructions of the Kidneys and Bladder; Dysuria, Strangury
-Jaundice
-Stones of the Kidneys (int. and in baths and fomentation)

2. Clears Wind and Damp, Benefits the Kidney and Bones:

-Lower Back Pain and weakness associated with Kidney weakness.
-Arthritis, Arthralgia, Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, “Gout of the hands, knees, or feet”.
-“boiled in Mutton broth it helps weak and aching backs” (Gerard)
-used for Diabetes also

3. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Reduces Swelling:

-clears Venom and Poison, including the Plague, Spotted Fevers
-Applied topically and taken internally for Scabs, Itches, Scabies, Erysipelas, spreading Ulcers and Cancers, Swollen Abscesses, Scrofula, Sores, Malignant Lesions and Tumors.
-“Running Ulcers” (usually Basal Cell Carcinoma), Fistulas
-juice or fresh herb is taken internally for various Cancers.
-Dysentery and Influenza (TCM)

4. Moves the Blood, Promotes Healing:

-internal Bruising, Trauma, Wounds and Fractures.
-expels the Afterbirth.
-Ulcers including Lung Ulcers

5. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Stops Coughs:

-Coughs, Asthma, Bronchitis, Consumption (West, TCM)
-Chronic Bronchitis and chronic Cough with excess Phlegm;
-some preferred it before all other vegetable medicines in the cure of Consumption.

6. Externally:

-ointment for all Burns and Scalds.
-juice has been applied to Fistulas, Spreading Ulcers, Tumors and Cancers
-juice is applied with Honey for Sores and Ulcers, including poor healing Ulcers and Wounds.
-Eye drops for sore, red, inflamed Eyes; also opacity and films of the eyes.
-juice was used for Ulcers of the Mouth, Throat and Genitals.
-Poor hearing, Deafness and Tinnitus, being applied topically (either the steam or juice dropped in)
-Applied fresh to Abscesses and Boils.
-juice or powdered leaves has been credited with curing chronic, obstinate Headaches when used as a snuff
-given in enemas for Colic pains

Main Combinations:

1. Cough, Bronchitis, Consumption:
i. Ground Ivy with Licorice
ii. Ground Ivy with Plantain
iii. Ground Ivy with Juniper berry
iv. Ground Ivy with Plantain, Comfrey, Licorice
v. Ground Ivy, Elecampane, Horehound, Licorice
vi. Ground Ivy with Coltsfoot, Licorice (Pectoral Infusion from Pharmacopoeia medici practici universalis, Bruxelles, 1817)
vii. Ground Ivy with Maidenhair, Speedwell, Hyssop (equal parts) (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
viii. Ground Ivy with Speedwell, Coltsfoot, Licorice, Bittersweet (Pharmacopoeia Rossica, 1803)
ix. Ground Ivy with Pearl Barley, Licorice, Coltsfoot, Speedwell, Red Poppy flower, Mullein flower, Aniseed, Figs (Pharmacopoeia regni Poloniae, 1817)
2. Whooping Cough: Give Ground Ivy in milk and water every morning and evening. ‘It will cure him’. (The Physicians of Myddvai, translated by John Pughe esq., 1861)
3. Chronic Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Consumption as well as Backache, Diabetes and Arthritis, Ground Ivy with Licorice (as in Gill’s Tea)
4. Chronic Cough, Consumtpion: “Take the reddish tops of Ground Ivy what suffices, being bruised let them be made into a cake, and presently dried in the Sun, then reduce it into a fine powder, and keep it in a glass; this Plant retains its virtue, with its smell and color excellently well for a long time, beyond all Conserves and Syrups, and is of wonderful efficacy in a great and obstinate cough: Give from 0.5-1 dram twice a day, with a distilled water, or decoction”. (The London Practice of Physic; Dr. Willis, 1689)
5. Asthma, Ground Ivy with Horehound, Arum, Orris, Gum ammoniac
6. Chronic Lung diseases, Ground Ivy with Elecampane, Comfrey, Horehound, Ginger
7. Scarlet Fever, Ground Ivy with Red Sage, Centaury, Pleurisy root and Vervain (½ oz. ea.). Simmer in 2 pints of water down to 1 pint; it may be sweetened with Honey if needed. Dose: 1 tablespoonful, 3 times daily; the bowels must be kept open. (The Medical Herbalist)
8. Breast Cancer”
i. Ground Ivy, Cleavers
ii. Ground Ivy and Wintergreen, boiled in Wine (‘Highly Commended’) (Platerus Golden Practice of Physick, Plater, 1664)
9. Fistulas, Running Ulcers and Cancers, Ground Ivy juice is mixed with Honey and Verdigris (Culpeper)
10. As a wash for Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth or Genitals, add Burnt Alum and Honey to a strong decoction of Ground Ivy and use as a wash. (Culpeper)
11. Eyedrops: The Juice of Celandine, Field Daisies, and Ground Ivy is clarified, and has a little sugar dissolved in it, and Rose Water is added. This is dropped into the eyes for heat, redness, itchiness, watering and pain of them. It is also good for all skins and films of the eyes. “It is proved the best medicine in the world”. (Gerard, Culpeper)
12. Opcaity of the Eye: “Let some Ground Ivy juice be put therein, and the opacity will be removed, the eye becoming spotless and clear”. (The Physicians of Myddvai, translated by John Pughe esq., 1861)