Botanical Index No. 477

Ground Ivy

glechoma hederacea

Medicinal Actions

Alexeteric, Alterative, Analgesic, Antidote, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antiscorbutic, Antiulcer, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Hive

Primary Conditions Treated

lead Collyrium Poison Vermifuge Vulnerary Adenopathy Aging Anemia Asthma Arthrosis Backache Bladder Stone Bleeding Bronchosis Bruise Cancer Carbuncle Catarrh Cold Corn Cough Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Earache Enterosis Epithelioma Erysipelas Fever Fistula Gastrosis Gout Headache Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hysteria Inflammation Kidney Stone Jaundice Leukorrhea Marasmus Measles Mucososis Nephrosis Neurasthenia Osteosis Otosis Pain Phthisis Pneumonia Psoriasis Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Rickets Scabies Sciatica Scrofula Scurvy Sniffle Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Stone Swelling Tinnitus Toothache Trauma Tuberculosis Ulcer Urogenitosis Water Retention Worm Wound

General Dosage

2–4 g dry herb, or in tea, 1–3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid herbal extract 3 ×/day; 2 g in tea; 1 tsp herb in tea; 30–50 g plant juices.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages”. 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. 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. But, all plants contain cytotoxic compounds and many, if not most, contain ursolic acid. 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.

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