Ground Ivy

BotanicalBest taken away from food

What is it

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a low-growing perennial mint-family herb used in traditional European herbal medicine for coughs, sinus congestion, and digestive complaints.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Cough and upper respiratory complaints (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional use; limited modern clinical evidence.

How it works

Ground ivy contains volatile oils (pulegone, menthone), flavonoids (luteolin), triterpenes (ursolic acid) and tannins. The volatile oils contribute mild expectorant and antimicrobial effects, while flavonoids may have anti-inflammatory activity. Traditional use as a tea for upper respiratory complaints is supported by these constituents, but rigorous clinical trials are lacking. Pulegone is hepatotoxic at high doses, which contributes to safety concerns about prolonged or concentrated use.

Dosage

No established RDA. Traditional doses: 2-4 g dried herb infused per cup, taken 2-3 times daily.

When and how to take it

Traditional tea is taken between meals or as needed for respiratory symptoms.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried herb

Used in tea blends.

Traditional infusion.

Glycerite / tincture

Liquid herbal extracts.

Variable.

Safety

Short-term traditional use is well tolerated. Pulegone-rich volatile oil can be hepatotoxic at high doses or with concentrated extracts. Long-term safety is not well characterized.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding (volatile oils, traditional emmenagogue use). Caution in liver disease.

Interactions

May interact with hepatotoxic medications. Diuretic effects may add to potassium-sparing or potassium-wasting diuretics.

Frequently asked questions

Is ground ivy safe to drink as tea?⌄

Short-term moderate use is generally well tolerated; avoid concentrated extracts and prolonged use due to pulegone content.

Does it help with sinus congestion?⌄

Traditionally used for this; modern evidence is limited.

References

Ground Ivy on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Ground Ivy on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Ground Ivy (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.