To get an idea about the natural and clinically proven expectorant, i.e., ivy leaf, let’s understand a little bit about the types of coughs and cough medicines.
A prominent type of cough medicine is called expectorant, which is used to help clear the mucus (phlegm) from your airways. It doesn’t stop the cough like cough suppressants do. Most often, you don’t want a productive cough, i.e., one who wants to subdue or suppress the cough, which can cause irritation. This is expected, as coughing is your body’s way of clearing out your airways of bacteria and other germs. 1
How the expectorant works:
- By lubricating your airways
- It helps to loosen up the mucus and make the secretions in your airways thinner.
- By loosening up the mucus, expectorant helps to make your cough more productive.
- All this at the end can help you cough up mucus effectively and clear your throat.
Coughing out the mucus can help with the discomfort one may feel from chest congestion. In addition, since the mucus may also contain infectious debris such as bacteria and viruses, coughing it up lowers one’s risk of infection.
Ivy leaf extract 2
Hedera helix L, the common ivy, English ivy, European ivy, or just ivy, is a species of flowering plant. It is the most common ivy source for medical purposes. There are multiple components in this plant, and the main categories includes triterpene saponins, flavonoids, etc. Hederocoside C (HDC) is a principal active ingredient of Hedera helix leaf that can be used to treat respiratory disorders. Reason being its expectorant, antibacterial, bronchodilator, and bronchospasmolytic properties.
Since decades, the dry ivy leaf extract has been used for the treatment of respiratory diseases accompanied by a productive cough. The tolerance and safety of different ivy leaf extract- containing preparations has been tested and also has been confirmed in several studies around the world.
How does dried ivy leaf extract work? 3
Dried ivy leaf extract, the active ingredient in cough syrups, liquefies the sticky mucus trapped in the airways of the lungs. It can then act as an expectorant, allowing the mucus to be coughed up more easily since the air passages are relaxed and widen. As a result, you can breathe better. So that’s what makes it so useful—a naturally sourced and clinically proven remedy that can be the best natural remedy to treat respiratory tract disorders.
Following are the three main actions:
- Loosens and clears mucus
- Relieves congestion
- Soothes airways
Product offered: 4
- BLM-Helixcontains ivy leaf extract, which is a natural mucolytic expectorant. It is naturally sourced, alcohol-free, non-drowsy, dye-free, gluten-free, and sucrose-free remedies.
- BLM-Helix helps to provide significant relief against few respiratory diseases like bronchitis and cough.
- BLM-Helix is of natural origin and it does not cause any type of drowsiness or dizziness.
- Safe to use in children
- Clinically backed and proven to relieve the symptoms within 48 hours.
- Best Nutraceutical products
Formulation: Syrup
Recommended dosage: 5ml three times a day
Composition:
Each 5 mL contains:
Ivy leaf dry extract (as content of hederocoside C): 0.7gm/100 ml.
Indication
- Acute inflammation of respiratory tract
- Chronic inflammatory bronchitis in adults
Clinical study: 5
- Aim: The assessment of the therapeutic effects of the herbal medicine containing Ivy leaf dry extract, administered twice a day in children with productive cough
- Subjects: 5162 patients treated for productive cough (75.7% productive cough was intense, 61.6% occurred at night, 49.8 % very common (several times per hour) and in 62.7% it affected daily activity.
- Dose: Syrup in doses twice a day for 2 ml or 4 ml.
- Outcome: Changes in severity of productive cough and satisfaction of guardians of children
- Result: Percentage of children with intensive, very common, night and affected daily activities cough decreased significantly.
- Very satisfied with the therapeutic effect of the preparation containing ivy leaf dry extract administered twice a day were 68.2% of children guardians.
- Conclusion: The use of herbal medicine containing ivy leaf dry extract administered twice a day may be a good alternative to current therapeutic regimens in the treatment of productive cough in children.
Key features: 6
- Clinically backed with 11 clinical studies and 9 scientific studies
- Alcohol-free
- Sugar-free
- No artificial colour
Summary:
Ivy leaf extract is a natural remedy for respiratory disorders to be used in both children and adults. BLM-Helix works by opening up the airways, relaxing the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract, soothing inflammation, and thinning out sticky mucus. Proven to be safe for use in cough due to acute URTIs and bronchitis. Use of Ivy leaf extract syrup is recommended and supported by effectiveness comparable to other medicines and a high level of satisfaction with its use by patients and guardians of children.
References:
- https://homeocan.ca/en/ivy-leaf-a-natural-and-proven-expectorant/
- Kuang Y, Li B, Fan J, Qiao X, Ye M. Antitussive and expectorant activities of licorice and its major compounds. Bioorg Med Chem. 2018 Jan 1;26(1):278-284. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.11.046. Epub 2017 Dec 2. PMID: 29224994.
- Sierocinski E, Holzinger F, Chenot JF. Ivy leaf (Hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections: an updated systematic review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Aug;77(8):1113-1122. doi: 10.1007/s00228-021-03090-4. Epub 2021 Feb 1. PMID: 33523253; PMCID: PMC8275562.
- Biezen R, Brijnath B, Grando D, Mazza D. Management of respiratory tract infections in young children-A qualitative study of primary care providers’ perspectives. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2017 Mar 7;27(1):15. doi: 10.1038/s41533-017-0018-x. PMID: 28258279; PMCID: PMC5434780.
- Olszanecka-Glinianowicz M, Doniec Z, Schönknecht K, Almgren-Rachtan A. The herbal medicine containing of ivy leaf dry extract in the treatment of productive cough in children. Wiad Lek. 2020;73(4):668-673. PMID: 32731694.
- https://allergyresearchgroup.blog/hello-ivy-so-long-cough/
