> Supplement Index > American Ivy / Vitis Hederacea / Virginia Creeper / Parthenocissus quinquefolia L. / Woodbine > American Ivy General Information American Ivy Uses & Scientific Evidence For American Ivy Dosage Information American Ivy Safety & Interaction Information - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - American Ivy General Information American Ivy is one of many ivy species (Hedera) with medicinal qualities. This ivy is a climbing or creeping vine with sticky disks on branched tendrils that attach themselves on trees, stone walls, and churches, etc. It is a woody vine and a member of the grape family with five leaflet clusters and little berries. American Ivy has astringent, diuretic, stimulating, diaphoretic, and cathartic properties. Native Americans used a tea made from the plant for jaundice, a root tea for gonorrhea, scrofula, dropsy, bronchitis, pneumonia, cholera, and diarrhea. They used a tea made from the leaves to wash swellings and poison-sumac rash, and mixed the tea with vinegar for wounds and lockjaw. During the Great Plague of London, the berries were used to help induce sweating, and for their antiseptic properties. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - American Ivy Uses & Scientific Evidence For Juice made from American Ivy is said to cure a headache, when applied to the nostrils, and an infusion of the leaves and berries will alleviate a severe headache. It also is used to treat dropsy, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Externally, a decoction of leaves will destroy head lice in children. Fresh leaves when bruised, will provide relief from bunions, corns, swollen glands, and ulcers. The berries of the American Ivy have been used to lessen the symptoms of rheumatism. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - American Ivy Dosage Information American Ivy comes in various forms and is an ingredient in many products. For best results, read and follow product label directions. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - American Ivy Safety & Interaction Information The berries and leaves of American Ivy are toxic. Touching the autumn foliage can cause dermatitis. It is suggested that you use American Ivy only under the supervision of your physician. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease is not known. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - -