8 Important Benefits of English Ivy

English Ivy is one beautiful plant among the many plants we have in our house. Thus, as per my keenness, I did my study on it.

If you are a plant lover and enthusiast like me, I believe you should do your research before getting a new one.

Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of English Ivy, where you can get it, and its health considerations.

Overview of English Ivy

English Ivy is a houseplant and plant that can grow wildly, making it a jungle.

It may not flower properly while kept indoors, but growing it outdoors can give you nectar-rich flowers and berries.

You do not need to pamper this plant much or give it extra attention.

So, now you know that English Ivy is a low-maintenance plant, let us go through its general overview.

8 Important Benefits of English Ivy

English Ivy is a boon to the lives on Planet Earth. No doubt, it looks beautiful in your house. 

This plant is a ‘beauty with benefits’ – you will be surprised to find out.

Now, let us quickly delve into the benefits of English Ivy, also scientifically known as the Hedera helix.

1. Excellent Medicinal Uses

English Ivy aids in better lung function and proper breathing and cures respiratory ailments.

Likewise, the Ethanol extract of English Ivy stimulates the body’s beta-2 adrenergic signaling system, which releases epinephrine quickly.

Epinephrine is a bronchodilator that helps widen the bronchi and bronchioles (lung components).

Besides that, English Ivy is anti-inflammatory. It helps cure conditions like inflammation and arthritis.

English Ivy consists of compounds like saponins and flavonoids and some traces of Polysaccharides.

This compound has a soothing effect, as they contain properties that relieve mucous membranes by forming a protective film.

Therefore, applying this plant to your skin can help in swelling, burns, and nerve or joint pain.

To apply it, clean and disinfect your wounds, crush the plant and apply it to the surface like an essential oil for the skin.

2. Humidifies Indoor Air 

If you are living in a small congested room, English Ivy plays a significant role in maintaining the air circulation of your room.

With a high transpiration rate, English Ivy takes in the carbon monoxide present in the indoor air and breathes out fresh oxygen.

Thus, this refreshes the dry indoor air and helps you breathe in good humid conditions.

Good humidity protects you from a dry throat, dry or chapped lips and skin, nasal irritations, etc.

Also, in hot climatic conditions, where some people are bleeding from their noses, it can be stopped or reduced by maintaining good humidity. 

3. Purifies the Air 

English Ivy helps improve air quality by preventing pollutants from the air. It is one of the best plants for taking care of the respiratory health of people.

NASA claims that English Ivy is best for removing benzene from the air.

As the study concluded, the plant removed 89.8% of benzene from the air in 24 hours. On an hourly basis, the plant removed benzene by 3.7%.

English Ivy is among the top 10 air purifying plants.

4. Regulates the Temperature of  Your Indoors

English Ivy helps maintain the temperature of your indoors while regulating the warmth and coolness of your house according to the atmospheric heat.

English Ivy has insulating properties for cold seasons and cooling-off features for hot.

Now, isn’t it great that you will have a natural thermostat for your house? You can grow the plant to keep your summers cool and your winters warm. 

5. Does not Require High Maintenance 

English Ivy is a low-maintenance plant. You do not need a lot of effort to keep it healthy and growing.

For instance, you can use general all-purpose potting mix soil to grow it. You do not need to add any such specific amendments.

For all the busy bees out there, water the plant once a week, depending on the conditions of your homes, the climate, and pot sizes.

Besides, there is no need for exceptionally bright sunlight to grow English Ivy. You can raise it in low-light spaces, too.

You can easily prune it according to your room’s size, the kind of looks you want to give it, or the aesthetics required by your space.

Read the article Best Soil and Fertilizer for English Ivy to know more.

6. Builds a Protective Shield for your House 

Hedera Helix grows up to 20-80 feet tall and can spread over 3 to 50 feet. You can see it grow thickly clustered against the walls.

The filthy green and black spots you find in the damp areas of your homes can be removed by growing this plant.

As per the study by NASA, the English Ivy plant can reduce molds by up to 78%.

The plant has been helpful in getting rid of fecal and dirty matter.

 7. Provides Food and Shelter for Birds and Insects 

English Ivy is an evergreen plant that blooms abundantly throughout, attracting a wide range of birds and animals.

When most plants do not produce flowers during autumn, the English Ivy plant blooms yellow flowers rich in nectar.

The dark berries growing in the plant serve as food for many birds. Also, Insects gather around the flowers to sip the sweet nectar.

Also, since the plant can survive cold and low light conditions, it is a lifeline for many animals during winter.

For bee-keepers, English Ivy is very beneficial for you as it provides food to your bees during the off-season.

Health Considerations of English Ivy 

Besides being a beneficial plant, English Ivy has a few health considerations that you should consider.

Taking the plant orally could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or even neurological disorders.

Make sure you keep it out of reach from children and pets. The pets could also hyper-salivate if they take in the plant.

In case of emergency, contact the following helpline numbers.

• Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

If you are a sensitive to plants, use gloves while handling it.  This will keep you away from allergies and rashes.

Where to Buy English Ivy?

While you can sweetly ask your plant-lover friend to gift you an English Ivy Plant, you could also try propagating the plant by just getting the stems.

Also, you can go to your nearby nurseries or plant shops to fetch an English Ivy. However, to have it delivered to your doorstep is sheer luxury.