A HERBALIST'S VIEW OF
GROUND IVY

A creeping woodland plant, Ground Ivy Glechoma hederaeaforms carpets of beautiful mauve flowers on the woodland floor in May.

Herbalists use extracts of the plant to treat catarrh and sinus congestion. It was once used to make ‘gill tea’ sold on the streets of London to ward off colds and influenza. The leaves have a strong smell when crushed. They were used to flavour ale before the introduction of hops, a use which accounts for one of its alternative names: ‘ale hoof’.

      Caroline Wheeler
July 2, 2006 8:01