Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THR).

Prospan Cough Syrup. A traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve chesty coughs associated with the common cold based on traditional use only.

MHRA website https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/9fedadb9a5d4d67ce404dfd7b02212fce4108a3e

The EMA/HMPC monograph on Hedera helix.

EMA website https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-hedera-helix-l-folium-revision-2_en.pdf

Side effects/precautions: Hypersensitivity; caution with antitussives (codeine/dextromethorphan), gastritis/gastric ulcer; do not use if pregnant/breast feeding; may cause allergic reactions, gastrointestinal reactions. From Patient information leaflet re Traditional Herbal Medicines in the UK (UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)).

Medicines and Health Care Regulatory Authority, 2013 Licensed Traditional Herbal Remedies

Toxicity due to saponins.

Professor Anthony Dayan, 2021

Moderately toxic if ingested. Can be allergenic

Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Experimental and chemical investigations revealed that common ivy (Hedera helix susp. helix) contains 3 compounds which are powerful irritants and moderate sensitizers.

Pubmed website https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3652685/

According to Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, those who have drunk excessive amounts of wine may be promptly cured of their symptoms by drinking a decoction of ivy leaves, boiled in yet more wine.

Culpeper, Nicholas. (1981). Culpeper's Complete Herbal & English Physician, Pitman Press Ltd. Faximile of 1826 Edition ed p81

Notes by Henry Oakeley from Lindley's 'Flora Medica' (1838): Common ivy is not one’s first choice as an edible plant, but Lindley described it as being employed to prevent drunkenness and to ‘dissipate the effects of wine’ and being an emetic. One suspects that one might not be well enough to get drunk after eating it, but perhaps inducing vomiting removed residual alcohol from the stomach. His hangover cure was noted by Culpeper in 1649 but given boiled in alcohol, ie ‘the hair of the dog’ remedy. We grow it in the beds outside 8, St. Andrew’s Place. Ivy was also used as a ‘sudorific’ – to make people sweat – for sweating was seen as beneficial, as it heralded the reduction of a fever.

Lindley, John. (1838). Flora Medica, Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania

Europe, Southwestern Europe, France

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus

Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy

Europe, Middle Europe, Austria

Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium

Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands

Europe, Middle Europe, Germany

Europe, Middle Europe, Poland

Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland

Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark

Europe, Northern Europe, Norway

Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland

Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain

Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden

Europe, Middle Europe, Czech Republic

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey

Europe, Eastern Europe, Central European Russia