|
|
 | Ivy (Ground) Other Names: Nepeta Glechoma (Benth.). Alehoof. Gill-go-over-the-Ground. Haymaids.
Botanical Name: Glechoma Hederacea
Family: N.O. Labiatae |
Description: |
Ground Ivy is one of the commonest plants, flourishing upon sunny hedge banks and waste ground in all parts of Great Britain. The root is perennial, throwing out long, trailing, unbranched square stems, which root at intervals and bear numerous, kidney-shaped leaves of a dark green tint, somewhat downy with manycelled hairs, and having regular, rounded indentations on the margins. The leaves are stalked and opposite to one another, the undersides paler and dotted with glands.
The flowers are placed three or four together in the axils of the upper leaves, which often have a purplish tint and are two-lipped, of a bright purplish blue, with small white spots on the lower lip, or more rarely white or pink and open early in April. The plant continues in blossom through the greater part of the summer and autumn.
Its popular name is attributed to the resemblance borne by its foliage to that of the true Ivy.
It varies in size, as well as the degree of colour in the flower, according to its situation and remains green not only in summer, but, like the true Ivy, at all times of the year, even throughout winter, unless the frost is very severe.
Green (Universal Herbal, 1832) tells us that Ground Ivy expels the plants which grow near it, and in consequence impoverishes pastures. Cattle seem in general to avoid it, though Linnaeus says that sheep eat it; horses are not fond of it, and goats and swine refuse it. It is thought to be injurious to those horses that eat much of it, though the expressed juice, mixed with a little wine and applied morning and evening, has been said to destroy the white specks which frequently form on their eyes.
The whole plant possesses a balsamic odour and an aromatic, bitter taste, due to its particular volatile oil, contained in the glands on the under surface of the leaves. It was one of the principal plants used by the early Saxons to clarify their beers, before hops had been introduced, the leaves being steeped in the hot liquor. Hence the names it has also borne; Alehoof and Tunhoof. It not only improved the flavour and keeping qualities of the beer, but rendered it clearer. Until the reign of Henry VIII it was in general use for this purpose.
The plant also acquired the name of Gill from the French guiller (to ferment beer), but as Gill also meant 'a girl,' it came also to be called 'Hedgemaids.'
Some hairy tumours may often be seen in the autumn on the leaves of Ground Ivy, caused by the puncture of the Cynips glechomae, from which these galls spring. They have a strong flavour of the plant and are sometimes eaten by the peasantry of France. |
Medicinal Usage: |
Diuretic, astringent, tonic and gently stimulant. Useful in kidney diseases and for indigestion.
From early days, Ground Ivy has been endowed with singular curative virtues, and is one of the most popular remedies for coughs and nervous headaches. It has even been extolled before all other vegetable medicines for the cure of consumption.
An excellent cooling beverage, known in the country as Gill Tea, is made from this plant, 1 OZ. of the herb being infused with a pint of boiling water, sweetened with honey, sugar or liquorice, and drunk when cool in wineglassful doses, three or four times a day. This used to be a favourite remedy with the poor for coughs of long standing, being much used in consumption. Ground Ivy was at one time one of the cries of London for making a tea to purify the blood. It is a wholesome drink and is still considered serviceable in pectoral complaints and in cases of weakness of the digestive organs, being stimulating and tonic, though it has long been discarded from the Materia Medica as an official plant, in favour of others of greater certainty of action. As a medicine useful in pulmonary complaints, where a tonic for the kidneys is required, it would appear to possess peculiar suitability, and is well adapted to all kidney complaints.
A fluid extract is also prepared, the dose being from 1/2 to 1 drachm. It has a bitter and acrid taste and a strong and aromatic odour.
The expressed juice of the fresh herb is diaphoretic, diuretic and somewhat astringent; snuffed up the nose, it has been considered curative of headache when all other remedies have failed. A snuff made from the dried leaves of Ground Ivy will render marked relief against a dull, congestive headache of the passive kind.
The expressed juice may also be advantageously used for bruises and 'black eyes.' It is also employed as an antiscorbutic, for which it has a long-standing reputation. Combined with Yarrow or Chamomile Flowers it is said to make an excellent poultice for abscesses, gatherings and tumours.
In America, painters used the Ground Ivy as a preventive of, and remedy for lead colic, a wineglassful of the freshly-made infusion being taken frequently.
The infusion is also used with advantage as a wash for sore and weak eyes.
Gerard says:
'it is commended against the humming noise and ringing sound of the ears, being put into them, and for them that are hard of hearing. Matthiolus writeth that the juice being tempered with Verdergrease is good against fistulas and hollow ulcers. Dioscorides teacheth that "half a dram of the leaves being drunk in foure ounces and a half of faire water for 40 or 50 days together is a remedy against sciatica or ache in the huckle-bone."
Galen hath attributed all the virtues to the flowers. Ground Ivy, Celandine and Daisies, of each a like quantity, stamped, strained and a little sugar and rose-water put thereto, and dropt into the eyes, takes away all manner of inflammation, etc., yea, although the sight were well-nigh gone. It is proved to be the best medicine in the world. The women of our Northern parts, especially Wales and Cheshire, do turn Herbe-Ale-hoof into their ale - but the reason I know not. It also purgeth the head from rheumatic humours flowing from the brain.'
Culpepper, repeating much that Gerard has already related of the virtues of Ground Ivy, adds that it is:
'a singular herb for all inward wounds, ulcerated lungs and other parts, either by itself or boiled with other like herbs; and being drank, in a short time it easeth all griping pains, windy and choleric humours in the stomach, spleen, etc., helps the yellow jaundice by opening the stoppings of the gall and liver, and melancholy by opening the stoppings of the spleen; the decoction of it in wine drank for some time together procureth ease in sciatica or hip gout; as also the gout in the hands, knees or feet; if you put to the decoction some honey and a little burnt alum, it is excellent to gargle any sore mouth or throat, and to wash sores and ulcers; it speedily heals green wounds, being bruised and bound thereto.'
He concludes his account of the herb by saying:
'It is good to tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it in a night that it will be the 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.' |
Ancient Lore: |
ALEHOOF GLECHOMA HEDERACEA
The juice dropped into the ear doth wonderfully help the noise and singing of them, and helpeth the hearing which is decayed.
It is also called Cat's-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by-ground, Gill-creep- by-ground , Turn-hoof and Hay-maids. This well-known herb spreads and creeps along the ground. Roots shoot forth at the corners of tender-jointed stalks, set with two round leaves at every joint. The hollow, long flowers are of a blueish-purple colour with small white spots on the lips that hang down.
Where to find it.. It is found under hedges, on the sides of ditches, in shadowy lanes and on waste land. Flowering time: Early to late spring. The leaves stay green until the winter.
Astrology: It is a herb of Venus and therefore cures, by sympathy, the diseases she causes; and those of Mars by antipathy.
Medicinal virtues: A herb for all inward wounds, exulecrated lungs, or other parts, either by itself, or boiled with other similar herbs. It easeth griping pains, windy and choleric humours in the stomach, spleen or belly; it helps the yellow jaundice by opening the stoppings of the gall and liver, and melancholy by opening the stoppings of the spleen. It expels venom or poison and also the plague.
It provokes urine and women's courses. The decoction of it in wine drank for some time eases those that are troubled by sciatica, or hip gout, and also the gout in the hands, knees or feet. If you add to the decoction some honey and a little burnt alum, it is excellent as a gargle for any sore mouth or throat, and to wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts of man or woman.
It speedily helps green wounds, if bruised and bound thereto. The juice of it boiled with a little honey and verdigris doth wonderfully cleanse fistulas, ulcers and stayeth the spreading or eating of cancers and ulcers. It helpeth the itch, scabs, wheals and other breakings out in any part of the body.
The juice of Celandine, Field Daisies, and Ground-ivy clarified and a little fine sugar dissolved therein, and dropped into the eyes, is a sovereign remedy for all pains, redness and watering of them; also for the pin and web, skins and films growing over the sight. It helps beasts as well as men. The juice dropped into the ear helpeth the hearing.
Modern uses: Generally known as Ground-ivy among modern herbalists, the herb is collected in late spring when the flowers are still fresh. It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, kidney disease, abscesses, gatherings and tumours, eye problems and freckles. For abscesses, it is combined in equal parts with Chamomile flowers and used as a poultice. For treating coughs, it is combined in equal parts with Horehound and Colt's Foot and made into a syrup. An infusion can be made by adding 1 oz (28 g) of the herb to 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water. Strain and administer in doses of 2 fl oz (56 ml) three times a day. |
|
|