Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Ivy (commonly referring to Hedera helix, or English ivy) has a long history of traditional use, particularly in European herbal medicine, for respiratory ailments such as coughs and bronchitis. This traditional use extends to viral infections that affect the respiratory tract, largely due to ivy's expectorant and bronchodilatory properties. Ivy leaf extracts are included in several herbal cough remedies and syrups, and are officially recognized in some pharmacopeias for these purposes. However, while there are several clinical studies supporting the use of ivy extract for improving symptoms of bronchitis (which may be viral in origin), these studies often focus on symptom management (like cough relief) rather than direct antiviral action or infection clearance. There is limited scientific evidence demonstrating that ivy possesses direct antiviral effects against specific viruses. Therefore, its use for "viral infection" is primarily based on traditional use for symptom relief, rather than robust scientific validation of antiviral properties. The overall evidence supporting ivy for general viral infection is weak, and it should not be considered a substitute for antiviral medications or other evidence-based treatments.

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