Ground ivy: Good Against Cellulite And Good Against Rheumatism

About Ground Ivy

Ground ivy is known by a variety of names, including Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, and Ground -Over the-Gill. 
We can meet ground ivy anywhere: gardens, next to fences, in bright forests, on the river and sea sides, and in orchards. Ground ivy thrives in damp, shady areas, but also grows well in sunny locations.
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is found in the greater part of Europe, Asia and North America. It belongs to the Usiatica group: ground ivy is similar to its cousins: sage, mint and lavender. 
Ground ivy spreads by seed and the vining stems which root at their nodes. Ground ivy leaves are round or heart-shaped with scalloped margins, and has four-sided stems. Flowers are small: funnel-shaped and lavender to blue in color. Ground ivy seasons from May to June and is harvested as a whole plant. Before use you should dry it in order to keep its aromatic features. Plant is dried well if it hasn’t changed its color.
The most important ingredient ground ivy chemical structure is heterozyde marubine, which works as a strong stimulant for bronchies. Ground ivy also contains essential oils, tannins, cellulose, wax, sugar, and significant amount of vitamin C. It is interesting that ground ivy pleasant smell is followed by its bitter and harsh taste.

What Does Ground Ivy treat?   

Following German authors ground ivy has been known as ‘healing herb ever since’. Under slogan ‘against all shivers and fivers’ ground ivy entered collection of medical preparation in Caroline times. Even then it was used to treat diseases connected to lungs, precisely tuberculosis, ephisema, and chronic bronchitis. Ground ivy has been used as diuretic, to treat diarrhea, headaches, stomach ache, in treatment of neurasthenia and hysteria, and as a cure for poisoning with leads.
Ground ivy is also used to treat slashes, ulcers, burns, sore nasal passages and sinuses, open wounds, rheumatism, and even cellulite. Because it contains high levels of vitamin C, it is used as a resource for organism strengthening.
Ground ivy of course also found its place in cosmetics, particularly in skin treatment.

Ground ivy in recipes 

Ground ivy is used in teas, wines, fresh juices, peals, syrups, hot compresses, legs and arms baths, and even as complement to some meals.

• For organism strengthening

Ingredients:
20 g Ground ivy, 20 g Wormwood, 20 g Milfoil, 20 g Clover, 20 g dandelion root

Mix the ingredients.
One spoon of the exact mixture should be put 2 dcl hot water and cooked for additional 20 minutes. Filtrate, and do not add sugar! Drink slowly, half hour before meal. 

• Against Hypoacidity

Cover 20 g dry ground ivy with one liter boiling water. Cover, and leave 30 minutes. Filtrate and do not add sugar. Drink 2 to 3 cups before meal. Serial treatment should regulate problems that occurred from stomach acid lack.
 

• Against Chronic Bronchitis

20 g fresh ground ivy put into 1 liter milk (best is goat milk) and cook 15 to 20 minutes. Drink warm, ½ glass before bed time or when string breathing or cough attack.
  

• Ground Ivy Syrup

Distillate 200 g fresh plant juice, and mix with 200 g brown sugar. Leave mixture till it evens. Take 0, 3 dcl syrup every day, and put into chamomile tea.

• Ground Ivy Wine 

Put 100 g fresh ground ivy (without roots) into 1 liter white wine. Leave it there 8 to 10 days. Filtrate and drink 0, 3 dcl before meal. Liquid works as diuretic, it improves menstrual cycle and cleans organism from all toxins.    

• Bath for tired body and against cellulite
  

Take 500 g fresh or dry ground ivy leaves, cover them with cold water and cook in covered container for 45 minutes. Stay in bath 5 to 20 minutes. Bath is recommended for people with rheumatism, problems with bones, stomach and for people with cellulite problems.