Ground Ivy - Glechoma hederacea

Family: (Mint) ^[E-flora]

Habitat / Range
Mesic waste places, lawns, and open forests in the lowland zone; frequent in SW BC, infrequent in C and SC BC; introduced from Eurasia. ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Origin Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Synonyms

• Nepeta glechoma. ^[PFAF].
• Nepeta hederacea. ^{[PFAF][E-flora]}.
• Calamintha hederacea. ^[PFAF].
• Chamaecissos hederaceus. ^[PFAF].
• Glechoma hederacea var. micrantha Moric. ^[E-flora]
• Glechoma hederacea var. parviflora (Benth.) House ^[E-flora]

Identification

"Glechoma hederacea is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. It is not frost tender. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Mar to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.^{" [PFAF]}

General: Perennial herb from slender stolon and fibrous roots; stems reclining, trailing, 10-40 cm long, hairy, at least at nodes, to almost glabrous, 4-angled; rooting at nodes. ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
Leaves: Stem leaves only, opposite, heart- to kidney-shaped, 1-4 cm wide, coarsely blunt-toothed, green or tinged with purple, glabrous or hairy; stalks 1-3 cm long. ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
Flowers: Inflorescence loose, of few-flowered axillary flower clusters; bracts bristle-like; stalks short; corollas tubular, hairy within at base of lower lip, mostly 13-23 mm long, purplish-blue, purple-spotted on lower lip, the upper lip shallowly 2-lobed, the larger lower lip with short lateral lobes and broad middle lobe; calyces tubular, 3-7 mm long, 15-veined, minutely rough-hairy, upper 3 teeth longer than lower 2. ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
Fruits: Nutlets, 4 clustered together, egg-shaped, brown. ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
Characteristics: The plant has a mild unpleasant smell; the taste is hot and bitter. ^[PDR]

Hazards

• "A report in the medicinal uses says the plant should be used with caution, no reason is given. Another report says that the plant might be toxic to horses[222]. Avoid if pregnant as abortifacient. Contraindicated in epilepsy. Avoid if kidney disease [301]." ^[PFAF]
  
• "Ground ivy is contra-indicated in epilepsy(G7) although no rationale for this statement has been found. Excessive doses may be irritant to the gastrointestinal mucosa and should be avoided by individuals with existing renal disease." ^[HerbalMed3]
• "Health risks or side effects following the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded. Fatal poisonings were observed among horses following intake of large quantities of the fresh plant. Mice who were fed solely on the plant died after 3 to 4 days." ^[PDR]
• "“Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Animals grazing the plant are often intoxicated; symptoms include accelerated weak pulse, conjunctival hemorrhage, difficulty in breathing, dilation of the caecum, dizziness, elevated temperature, gastroenterosis, and megalosplenia. Grazing horses have suffered fatalities, as have mice fed only on this plant 3–4 days (PH2). CAN cautions that the pulegone in the volatile oil is an irritant to the GI tract and kidneys. Because of the irritant oil, its use in nephrosis, pregnancy, and lactation is to be avoided. Contraindicated, reportedly, in epilepsy, lactation, nephrosis, and pregnancy. In view of the lack of toxicity data and the reported cytotoxic activity of ursolic acid, excessive use of ground ivy should be avoided (CAN). But, all plants contain cytotoxic compounds and many, if not most, contain ursolic acid (JAD). Pulegone is an irritant, hepatotoxic, and abortifacient principle. In view of the lack of toxicity data and the possible irritant and abortifacient action of the volatile oil, the use of ground ivy during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided (PHR)" ^{[HMH Duke]}

Edible Uses

Ground ivy is listed by the Council of Europe as a natural source of food flavouring (category N3). This category indicates that ground ivy can be added to foodstuffs in the traditionally accepted manner, although there is insufficient information available for an adequate assessment of potential toxicity.(G16)^[HerbalMed3]

• Young Leaves: "Raw or cooked[9]. The leaves have a bitter flavour[5], they can be mixed into salads to add a slight aromatic tang[7]. They can also be cooked like spinach, added to soups etc or used as a flavouring [2, 183]. Available very early in the year. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[2, 177, 183]. It is often used mixed with verbena leaves [7]." ^[PFAF] "In Ludlow, Shropshire, there was a customary Easter dish of leg of pork stuffed with Robin-runin-the-hedge, which is ground ivy (Burne. 1883)." ^{[DPL Watts]}
  
• Hops Substitute: "It has been added to beer in much the same way as hops in order to clear it and also to improve its flavour and keeping qualities[4, 183]. This species was the most common flavouring in beer prior to the use of hops from the 16th century onwards[238]." ^[PFAF] "Before the introduction of hops into England, ground-ivy was used to clarify beer and to improve its flavor and keeping qualities. It was from this use that it acquired the common names, alehoof and tun- hoof, the beer being fermented in huge casks caned "tuns." Even the name "gill" probably comes from the French guilleT, meaning "to ferment beer." After the introduction of hops, ground-ivy was still used to cure "sick" beer, that is, beer that had become doudy or discolored. Culpepper, the British herbalist, writing in the 17th century, says of ground-ivy, "It is good to tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it in a night that it will be fitter to be drank the next morning; or if any drink be thick with removing or any other accident, it will do the like in a few hours."" ^{[Whitney MWPP]} "From its former use in brewing, for its tonic bitterness, such names as the very widespread Alehoof (Grigson. 1955, Bloom), which means literally that which causes ale to heave, or work (Britten & Holland)." ^{[DPL Watts]}

Medicinal Uses

Ground ivy is a safe and effective herb that is used to treat many problems involving the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, throat and digestive system[254]. A well-tolerated treatment it can be given to children to clear lingering catarrh and to treat chronic conditions such as glue ear and sinusitis[254]. Throat and chest problems, especially those due to excess catarrh, also benefit from this remedy[254]. ^[PFAF] "The medicinal parts are the herb collected during the flowering season and dried, the fresh aerial parts collected during the flowering season, and the whole plant." ^[PDR]

• Leaves & Flowering Stems: The leaves and flowering stems are anodyne, antiphlogistic, appetizer, astringent, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, pectoral, gently stimulant, tonic and vermifuge[4, 9, 21, 100, 147, 165, 178].
  • Harvesting: They are best harvested in May whilst still fresh[4] ^[PFAF]
  • Properties: Dried for later use[238]. ^[PFAF]
• Leaves: "The leaves are used in the treatment of hypersensitivity in children and are useful in the treatment of kidney diseases and indigestion[4, 9, 21, 100, 147, 165, 178]." ^[PFAF]
  
• Herb: "Ground ivy is stated to possess mild expectorant, anticatarrhal, astringent, vulnerary, diuretic and stomachic properties. Traditionally, it has been used for bronchitis, tinnitus, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, cystitis, gastritis, and specifically for chronic bronchial catarrh.(G6, G7, G8, G49, G64)" ^[HerbalMed3]
  • Herb Dosage: "Dosages for oral administration (adults) for traditional uses recommended in standard herbal reference texts are given below. Dried herb 2–4 g as an infusion three times daily.(G6, G7) Liquid extract 2–4 mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol) three times daily.(G6, G7)" ^[HerbalMed3]
• Bitter Tonic: "To use ground-ivy as a Bitter Tonic, just chill unsweetened Gill Tea in the refrigerator and sip a glassful of it, very slowly, about a half-hour before breakfast. The taste of all these concoctions is aromatic-bitter, with a bit of herbiness. Just as some sweets are more palatable than others, and some sours taste good and others indif- ferent or bad, so there are bitters and bitters. To my taste, ground-ivy furnishes a good bitter, and a small wineglassful of the infusion, taken ice-cold, half an hour before breakfast, stimulates my taste buds, tones my stomach, and gives me an excellent appetite for that important meal. My wife sometimes joins me in this eye-opener, but she mixes her ground-ivy infusion with orange juice to improve the taste." ^{[Whitney MWPP]}
• Juice: The old books say that the expressed juice of fresh ground-ivy, snuffed up the nose, is a sure cure for headache. This juice was also used for bruises, such as black eyes. If a little got into the eye, apparently no harm was done, for the infusion was also recommended as a wash for "sore or weak eyes." The juice was even dropped in the ears to cure "the humming noise and ringing sound... and for them that are hard of hearing." ^{[Whitney MWPP]} "A natural follow-on from the reputation for clearing the head has been to bring that property to bear on deafness (reported from Lincolnshire142) and, of course, headaches, too. The method of administering it for the latter is not mentioned in the one unlocalised Irish record,143 but in the case of a seventeenth-century one from Staffordshire the juice was put up the nostrils,144 while in the Highlands the dried leaves have been made into a snuff.145" ^[MPFT] "In Scotland, snuff from the dried leaves was used for the complaint, and for headaches (Beith)." ^{[DPL Watts]} "Applied externally, the expressed juice speeds the healing of bruises and black eyes[4]. Use with caution[21]." ^[PFAF]
• Poultice: When the green plant was bruised and applied as a poultice, it was reputed to cure such horrors as "abscesses, gatherings, tumours, fistulas, hollow ulcers, and green wounds." ^{[Whitney MWPP]}
• Chinese Medicine: "Ground Ivy is used to treat carbuncles, erysipelas, lower abdominal pain, scabies, scrofulous, irregular menstruation, coughs, dysentery and jaundice. Efficacy has not, however, been proven for these indications." "The plant further enjoyed a reputation, if a more minor one, for healing externally. In Cornwall, wounds and lesser cuts have been bound with its fresh leaves, a secondary function of which has been to draw out thorns and splinters.156" It has been valued for wounds in Caernarvonshire, for adder bites in the Highlands, and with lard as an ointment for corns in Suffolk. It's also been used for "flushing out the kidneys (Kilkenny,163 Tipperary164), stimulating menstruation in cases of chlorosis (‘Ulster’165), healing sores and blisters (Louth166) and making ulcers disappear (Westmeath,167 Wexford168)." ^[MPFT]
• Eye Medicine: "The deriving of an eye lotion from the plant evidently goes back a very long way...147" ^[MPFT] "Ground Ivy has been just as famous as an eye medicine. A leechdom for eyestrain from as early as Anglo-Saxon times required it to be boiled in sour beer, and the result used to bathe the eyes (Cockayne), and similar eye recipes are to be found in herbals from that time onwards.... a Dorset remedy for sore eyes is to make an ointment with it (Dacombe). A Warwickshire remedy is to take a large handful of this herb, just cover it with water, and simmer for about 20 minutes, strain it, and use the liquid to bathe the eyes (Vickery. 1995)....There is even a story of a fighting cock that got wounded in the eye. “Its owner chewed a leaf or two of ground ivy, and spat the juice in the damaged eye to make it heal quickly” (Palaiseul)." ^{[DPL Watts]}
• Tonic: "Ground-ivy’s more broadly cleansing action has caused its second most widespread use, as a purifying tonic. ... the plant was boiled with the young shoots of nettles to produce a very bitter drink known as ‘gill tea’, which children were made to drink on nine successive days every spring. Like other purifying herbs, this one has been credited, too, with clearing up skin complaints of a variety of kinds..." ^[MPFT]
• Homeopathic: "Uses in homeopathy include diarrhea and hemorrhoids." ^[PDR]
  • Homeopathic Dosage: "5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every 30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic); parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute, 3 times daily; chronic: once a day; suppositories: 1 suppository 2 to 3 times daily (chronic and acute) (HAB34)" ^[PDR]

Medicinal

"In folk medicine, the drug is used internally for inflammation of gastrointestinal mucous membranes and diarrhea. Ground Ivy is also used for mild respiratory complaints of the upper bronchia; in the symptomatic treatment of coughs; and as a diuretic in cases of bladder and kidney stones. Externally, the drug is used for the treatment of poorly healing wounds, ulcers and skin diseases. In Italy, it is used for arthritis and rheumatism." ^[PDR]

"While I would not quite go along with Gerard in saying, "It [ground-ivy] is proved to be the best medicine in the world," I would join Culpepper in saying, "It is a singular herb for an inward wounds, and. . . [expels] melancholy by opening the stoppings of the spleen."" ^{[Whitney MWPP]}

"Those who are exposed to possible lead poisoning, such as painters, and those who handle lead-bearing agricultural sprays, should take four wineglasses of cold ground-ivy infusion per day, and when used for this purpose the addition of orange juice would be advantageous, as it would increase the vitamin C content. When the body is well supplied with vitamin C, any lead that is accidentally introduced into the system combines with this vitamin and is harmlessly excreted through the kidneys. If vitamin C is not present, the lead accumulates, and if one is continuously exposed to it, it can soon reach dangerously poisonous levels. Of course, the vitamin C is destroyed if the process of eliminating unwanted lead, so the supply must be continually renewed. Those exposed to lead contamination have a far higher vitamin C requirement than do people not so exposed." ^{[Whitney MWPP]}

Select Indications (Ground Ivy) — Asthma (f; CRC; FAD); Arthrosis (f; CRC; PH2); Backache (f; CRC; FAD); Bronchosis (f; CAN; PH2); Bruise (f; CRC; FAD); Catarrh (f; CAN; PHR); Cold (f; CRC; DEM); Cough (f; PHR; PH2); Cystosis (f; CAN; PH2); Dermatosis (f; PHR; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; PHR; PH2); Enterosis (f; PHR; PH2); Gastrosis (f; CAN; PHR; PH2); Gout (f; CRC; MAD); Headache (f; CRC; MAD); Hemorrhoid (f; CAN; CRC; PH2); Inflammation (1; CRC; PHR; PH2; PNC); Pain (f; CRC; PH2); Pulmonosis (f; CRC; FAD); Respirosis (f; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; PH2); Stone (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Ulcer (1; CAN; CRC; PHR); Water Retention (f; CAN; CRC; PH2); Wound (f; CRC; PHR; PH2) ^{[HMH Duke]}

• "Ground Ivy is the aboveground part of Glechoma hederacea, gathered when in flower (from April to June). It is air-dried in the shade to keep loss of the essential oil to a minimum." ^[PDR]
• "Mode of Administration: The drug is used internally as well as externally." ^[PDR]
• "Preparations: The liquid extract (1:1) is prepared by using 25% ethanol." ^[PDR]
  • Infusion: "The infusion was given in Ireland for bronchitis, and “boil ground ivy and drink the water” is an Irish cold cure (Moloney). Actually, “Gill-tea”, as it was called, mixed with honey or sugar to take away the bitterness, has always been a favorite remedy for coughs and colds (Clair). It could be combined with wood sage in a tea to treat a cold – that is a New Forest gypsy remedy (Boase)." ^{[DPL Watts]}
  • Tea: "A tea made from it used to be popular for eczema in the north of Scotland. It was said that the fairies taught Donald Fraser, of Ross-shire, to use it (R M Robertson). It was one of the cries of London, and, drunk as a tea, sold as a “blood purifier” (Thornton), and was always used in this way in Dorset (Dacombe) and Hampshire (Hampshire FWI). And it was used for asthma – an Irish recipe advised the patient to drink of a potion made of ground ivy (or dandelion), with a prayer said over it before drinking (Wilde. 1890)." ^{[DPL Watts]}
• "Daily Dosage: The normal single daily dose of the dried drug is 2 to 4 gm internally; externally, crushed leaves are placed on the affected areas." ^[PDR]
• "Dosages (Ground Ivy) — 2–4 g dry herb, or in tea, 1–3 ×/day (CAN; PH2); 2–4 ml liquid herbal extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2 g in tea (HHB); 1 tsp (0.8 g) herb in tea (MAD); 30–50 g plant juices (MAD)." ^{[HMH Duke]}
• "Storage: Ground Ivy should be stored where it is not exposed to light." ^[PDR]

Pharmacology

"The drug is said to be an anti-inflammatory, which is believed to be due to the tripterpen content. No detailed information is available." ^[PDR]

"Extracts (Ground Ivy) — Documented pharmacological activities support some of the herbal uses. Ethanol extracts are antiinflammatory and antiedemic; 2-alpha and 2-beta-hydroxyursolic acids protect mice from ulcers. Ursolic acid also demonstrates cytotoxic activity against lymphocytic leukemia, human lung carcinoma, and marginal activity against human colon and mammary tumors. Astringent and antiinflammatory activity is attributed (CAN) to its rosmarinic activity (which deserves a whole lot more praise than those two minor activities)." ^{[HMH Duke]}

"... the herb had the power to clear the brain, usually within twenty-four hours. Many subsequent authors have attested to its action on the mucous membranes, which have caused it to be extensively prescribed and used for cleansing the system as a whole as well as, more specifically, as an expectorant or inhalant for colds, coughs and respiratory complaints in general. Records of its folk use for this last purpose are very widely spread but especially frequent from the‘Celtic’west." ^[MPFT]

"Activities (Ground Ivy) — Alexeteric (f; CRC); Alterative (f; CRC); Analgesic (f; CRC); Antidote, lead (f; CRC); Antiedemic (1; CAN); Antiinflammatory (1; PHR; PH2; PNC); Antipyretic (f; CRC); Antiscorbutic (f; CRC); Antiulcer (1; CAN); Astringent (f; CAN; CRC); Cardiotonic (f; CRC); Collyrium (f; CRC); Depurative (f; CRC; FAD); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CAN; CRC; PH2); Expectorant (f; CAN; MAD); Poison (f; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic (f; CAN); Tonic (f; CRC; PNC); Vermifuge (f; MAD); Vulnerary (f; CAN)." ^{[HMH Duke]}

Phytochemicals

• Volatile oil (traces): chief components (-)-pinocarvone, (-)- menthone, (+)-pulegone. also including germacran D, germacran B, cis-ocimene ^[PDR]
• Sesquiterpenes: glechomafuran, glechomanolide ^[PDR]
• Hydroxy fatty acid: 9-hydroxy-10-trans, 12-cis-octadecadiendic acid ^[PDR]
• Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid ^[PDR]
• Flavonoids: including cymaroside, cosmosyin, hypersoside isoquercitrin ^[PDR]

Nutritional

Ground-Ivy – Glechoma hederacea ^{[Turner, Kuhnlein]}

Cultivation

• Groundcover: "A good ground cover plant for shady places. It is rather vigorous though and can swamp smaller plants [197]." ^[PFAF]
• Landscape Uses: "Container, Ground cover. Prefers a heavy soil and dappled shade[17, 31]. Prefers a moist well-drained soil, succeeding in sun or shade[188]. A very invasive plant, spreading freely at the roots[1, 31, 238]. A good bee plant[108]." ^[PFAF]
• Propagation: "Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ as soon as it is ripe, or in the spring. Division in spring or autumn[188]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring." ^[PFAF]

GLECHOMA GROUND IVY

John M. Miller & Dieter H. Wilken

"Perennial herb, glabrous to sparsely hairy, flowers only bisexual or only pistillate. Stem: prostrate to decumbent, occasionally erect, generally rooting at lower nodes. Leaf: petioled; blade round to reniform, crenate to toothed. Inflorescence: flowers 2–5 in leaf axils; bracts minute or 0. Flower: calyx 5-lobed, tube 15-veined, lobes unequal, upper >> lower; corolla 2-lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, ± flat, lower lip 3-lobed, central lobe > lateral lobes; stamens 4, fertile, upper pair >> lower; style lobes +- equal."

Unabridged references: [Cronquist & Reveal 1984 Intermountain Flora 4:317–318] ^[Jepson]

Local Species;

• Glechoma hederacea - ground-ivy ^{[PCBC][E-flora]}

References

1. [E-flora]http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Glechoma%20hederacea Accessed March 26, 2015
2. [Jepson]2013. Glechoma, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=10536, accessed on Feb 19 2015
3. [PFAF] http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Glechoma+hederacea, Accessed March 26, 2015