A powerful plant to be handled with care

Although toxic in high doses, ivy is valued in regulated herbal medicine for its effects on respiratory conditions and its softening action on the skin when used externally. It is present in certain standardized pharmaceutical syrups.

Description

Cut leaves, dark green to brown, leathery texture, strong vegetal odor, bitter and astringent taste.

Nomenclature

• Common name: Climbing ivy
• Latin name: Hedera helix
• Family: Araliaceae
• Part used: Leaf
• Shape: Cut
• Origin: Europe, Western Asia
• English name: Ivy leaf
• Name in German: Efeublatt
• Name in Spanish: Hoja de hiedra
• Name in Italian: Foglia di edera
• Name in Arabic: ورق اللبلاب

Main virtues

Expectorant (supervised use), external soothing (poultices for joint or skin pain), soothing for chesty coughs in standardized forms.

Main constituents

Triterpene saponins (hederacoside C), flavonoids, phenolic acids, traces of essential oil.

Traditional use and dosage

• Oily macerate (external use): Leaves infused in warm vegetable oil to relieve muscle tension or detoxifying cosmetic treatments.
• External decoction: 1 handful of leaves in 1 liter of water, boil for 10 minutes, filter for bath or compress.
• Internal use: Prohibited for self-medication – reserved for formulations supervised by a healthcare professional.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• ⚠ Potentially toxic plant: unsupervised ingestion formally not recommended.
• Risk of digestive disorders, skin or neurological reactions in case of overdose.
• Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children.
• Always use in a controlled form and in accordance with regulations.

History and use

Used since ancient times for its medicinal and symbolic properties (Bacchus plant), climbing ivy has long been incorporated into folk remedies for coughs and pain. Its modern use is exclusively in standardized preparations or for controlled external use.

Miscellaneous information

• Packaging: airtight bag or opaque box, reserved for professional or informed use.
• Storage: away from light, in a dry place, out of reach of children.
• Shelf life: 12 to 18 months.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• List of regulated plants (DGCCRF – France)
• European Pharmacopoeia – Expectorant syrups based on Hedera helix

Note to project creators and formulators:

Please note that we do not provide any technical documentation (datasheet, certificate, analysis, etc.) for quantities less than 1 kg. Documentation is reserved exclusively for registered professionals (SIRET number or equivalent required) and for clearly identified projects. Thank you for your understanding.

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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