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GROUND IVY (Glechoma hederacea L.) ++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).
Indications (Ground Ivy) — Adenopathy (f; MAD); Aging (f; CRC); Anemia (f; MAD); Asthma
(f; CRC; FAD); Arthrosis (f; CRC; PH2); Backache (f; CRC; FAD); Bladder Stone (f; PH2);
Bleeding (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; CAN; PH2); Bruise (f; CRC; FAD); Cancer (f; FAD);
Carbuncle (f; PH2); Catarrh (f; CAN; PHR); Cold (f; CRC; DEM); Corn (f; CRC); Cough (f;
PHR; PH2); Cystosis (f; CAN; PH2); Dermatosis (f; PHR; PH2); Diabetes (f; CRC); Diarrhea
(f; PH2); Dysentery (f; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; PHR; PH2); Earache (f; CRC); Enterosis (f;
PHR; PH2); Epithelioma (f; CRC); Erysipelas (f; PH2); Fever (f; CRC); Fistula (f; CRC);
Gastrosis (f; CAN; PHR; PH2); Gout (f; CRC; MAD); Headache (f; CRC; MAD); Hemorrhoid
(f; CAN; CRC; PH2); Hepatosis (f; MAD); Hive (f; DEM); Hysteria (f; MAD); Inflammation
(1; CRC; PHR; PH2; PNC); Kidney Stone (f; PH2); Jaundice (f; FAD); Leukorrhea (f; MAD);
Marasmus (f; CRC); Measles (f; DEM); Mucososis (f; PH2); Nephrosis (f; CRC; FAD; PH2);
Neurasthenia (f; MAD); Osteosis (f; CRC); Otosis (f; MAD); Pain (f; CRC; PH2); Phthisis (f;
MAD); Pneumonia (f; CRC); Psoriasis (f; MAD); Pulmonosis (f; CRC; FAD); Respirosis (f;
PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; PH2); Rickets (f; CRC); Scabies (f; PH2); Sciatica (f; CRC);
Scrofula (f; PH2); Scurvy (1; CRC); Sniffle (f; MAD); Sore (f; PH2); Sore Throat (f; CRC);
Splenosis (f; MAD); Stone (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Swelling (1; CAN; CRC); Tinnitus (f; CAN);
Toothache (f; CRC); Trauma (f; CRC); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Ulcer (1; CAN; CRC; PHR);
Urogenitosis (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CAN; CRC; PH2); Worm (f; MAD); Wound (f; CRC;
PHR; PH2).
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).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Ground Ivy) — Not covered (AHP).
“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 hemor-
rhage, difficulty in breathing, dilation of the caecum, dizziness, elevated temperature, gastroen-
terosis, 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).
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.