Hedera helix is the scientific name for common ivy, also called English Ivy. It grows in almost every country, from Europe to Asia. Commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant, ivy is also considered an invasive species. Its berries, mildly poisonous to humans, have a long history of being used in homeopathic medicine.
As an ornamental plant, hedera helix is cultivated for several reasons. It can provide romantic beauty to a garden, and its thick weave of stems can create a shelter for birds and other animals. A gardener has several different species of ivy to choose from, each which provides a different color, leaf shape, or growth rate.
Hedera helix produces berries, which many animals, such as birds, use for food in the winter. Dogs, cattle, sheep, and humans often react badly to exposure to common ivy, however. Ingestion of the bitter berries can cause difficulty breathing, comas, vomiting, and death. Exposure to the leaves can also cause skin lesions in some people, such as with poison ivy.
This plant has other negative qualities besides its poison. Its speed of growth and the plant's tendency to smother other plants has made it an invasive species in Australia. Even a plant cultivated in a garden can spoor and spread beyond its boundaries, and start to take over the surrounding wilderness.
In some places, hedera helix has spread so thickly over a stretch of countryside that it chokes out all other growth. Such a thorough plant invasion is often called an "ivy desert." Kudzu, an ivy species native to Australia, has gained notoriety for engulfing entire fields and abandoned houses.
The leaves, berries or essential oil of hedera helix are often used in homeopathic medicine. The reasoning behind homeopathic medicine is "like cures like," meaning that if an herbal remedy causes specific reactions in a healthy person, it should be used to treat those disorders in an unhealthy person. Ivy has been used throughout history as an alternative treatment for various lung and throat disorders, such as bronchitis. It has also been prescribed as a wash for irritated eyes.
The use of ivy in medical treatments, even though it has a long history, has not undergone extensive research. There is some debate about proper dosage or treatment. Hedera helix is not recommended as a home remedy, due to its toxicity, and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.