Ivy is native to central, western, and southern Europe, including the Mediterranean areas, and western Asia. The drug is mainly imported from Eastern Europe.
Ivy in herbal medicine
In herbal medicine, the leaves of ivy (Hederae folium) are used. Leaves of non-flowering branches (juvenile form) collected in spring and early summer from the lower part of the plant are mainly suitable.
Ivy: characteristics of the climbing plant.
Ivy is a well-known evergreen climber that can climb up to 20 m high on buildings, installations, trees or other “scaffolding”. The non-flowering shoots, called the juvenile form, climb with the help of aerial roots.
While the leaves of the juvenile form are small and 3-5-lobed, the leaves of the mature form are larger and ovate. In late summer, inconspicuous, light green flowers appear in spherical inflorescences. The fruits of the plant are green when unripe, and blue-black when ripe.
Ivy as a medicine
Ivy leaves used as a drug are 4-10 cm long, dark green and heart–finger shaped. Clearly stand out on the dark green background the light leaf veins, which are also clearly visible in the cut drug. The young leaves are partially hairy, while the older ones are glabrous.
In addition to the leaves, brown to dark green petioles also occur in the drug.
The smell and taste of ivy
The smell of ivy leaves is only very faintly perceptible. The leaves smell quite peculiar and somewhat musty.
The taste of ivy leaves is mucilaginous, slightly scratchy and faintly bitter.
