Ground Ivy – Glechoma hederacea

Here she is, pushing up in the woodland, look out for her in all sorts of places, such as hedgerows, and damp meadows, once you know her you’ll see her again and again as she is very common in the UK.
This hairy, creeping perennial of the Labiate ( mint) family will reward you with beautiful pale violet/blue flowers from March to June, the aerial parts are ready to share their medicinal properties from April – June.
If you have a good clean source, it is worth picking and having fresh as a tea but it is not so great for drying for tea as it loses potency quite quickly so I would suggest to make a tincture.

When I see someone with ear problems I think immediately of Glechoma, I have used this plant with all sorts of ear conditions ranging from Tinnutus  and Vertigo ( mixed with Ginkgo) to ear ache and infection with Plantago lanceolata.

It will also happily work in a ‘sinus congestion mixture’ with Eyebright and Plantago, in a sore throat gargle with Sage.

Any Cattarhal condition involving the mucous membranes of  upper respiratory tract – Ears, Nose & Throat but also the mucous membrane of the gut and bladder as the anti-inflammatory effect can sooth bladder irritation and gastritis ( stomach inflammation)

I have mentioned before how organs have affinities with each other, looking at the Traditional Chinese Medicine model, they say that the ‘Kidney’s open up into the Ears’
Interestingly, Ground Ivy has a tradition of use in being used for Kidney Stones and Gravel, I must remember that as it is not my usual ‘go to’ for this condition.

The old Herbals mention using Glechoma as a wound healer and in the early 20th Century it was used for lead poisoning and to treat TB.
It also makes a pleasant addition to salads and soups and was even used to clarify Beer and flavour Jam.