Ivy is best known today as the cover for unsightly buildings and is highly ornamental.

Ivy was formerly held in high esteem. Poets’ crowns were made of ivy leaves. Because ivy is a symbol of marital fidelity, Greek priests used to make wreaths of it for newlyweds. It is said that drinking the wine in which ivy leaves were boiled will take away intoxication.

Ivy has held meanings of friendship and matrimony because ivy clings forever to a tree once entangled. This is the major point of its symbolism. Even though ivy maintains its own root system and life force, nothing can separate it from a tree it has once embraced.

Throughout history, the flowers were used to aid in healing burns. Culpepper in The Complete Herbal and English Physician writes: “It also quickly heals green wounds, and is effectual to heal all burnings and scaldings.” He also states: “The fresh leaves of Ivy, boiled in vinegar, and applied warm to the sides of those that are troubled with the spleen, ache, or stitch in the sides, do give much ease. The same applied with some Rosewater, and oil of Roses, to the temples and forehead, eases the headache, though it be of long continuance.” [Culpeper’s Complete Herbal & English Physician, p. 100.]

Ivy is often found in bath products, organic lotions, organic creams, anti-cellulite products and many other organic skin care products. I use it primarily in my organic herbal moisturizer because of its healing effect on burned, scalded, or stressed skin, and it works synergistically very well with other herbs, such as chamomile, hops, and bladderwrack.

Chemical constituents: The leaves and berries contain saponins, ederin, chloroginic caffeic acids, and flavonoids.