Bronchial Soothe is a dietary supplement that contains ivy leaf (Hedera helix L.) extract. The ivy is an evergreen vine native to the damp woods of western, central, and southern Europe. The leaf has a long history of use as a beneficial herb. The German Commission E has an approved monograph for ivy leaf for bronchial passageway support.

A recent in vitro study confirms the antispasmodic activity of ivy.

How Does It Work?:
The best defense against irritation of the lung and bronchial passages is healthy mucosa beginning with the nose, mouth, and throat, and continuing to the bronchial passageways and lungs. Bronchial Soothe soothing ivy leaf syrup supports lung and bronchial passageway health and function in children and adults.

Ivy leaf extract is a source of saponins. The saponins include hederagenin glycosides hederacoside C and á-hederin and the oleanolic-acid glycosides hederacoside B and â-hederin. The saponins range in concentration from 5-8%. Ivy leaves also contain sterols, flavonoids, and polyalkynes: falcarinol, falcarinone, 11-dehydrofalcarinol. Other constituents include the polyacetylenes falcarinone and falcarinol; the sterols stigmasterol, sitosterol, cholesterol, campesterol, á-spinasterol; cholrogenic acid; caffeic acid; the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons germacrene; â-elemene; and elixin.

Saponins are glycosidic plant constituents. They have a bitter taste and are stimulating to the mucous membranes.† Their action is thought to be mediated by the gastric mucosa, which reflexively stimulates mucous glands in the bronchi via parasympathetic sensory pathways.

The efficacy and safety of ivy leaf have been evaluated in several clinical trials. In an open trial, 26 children, aged from 4 to 10 years, were given 1-2 teaspoons/day of an ivy leaf preparation for four weeks. The results indicated that the ivy leaf preparation was supportive of lung health. The effectiveness was also reflected in the spirometric examinations (measurement of air capacity of the lungs) and by auscultation (process of listening for lung sounds).

In a comparative, double-blind, randomized and controlled study involving 99 patients, age 25 to 70 years, ivy leaf drops were tested against a synthetic mucolytic (ambroxol). The efficacy was evaluated using both spirometry and auscultation. After four weeks of Favorable Effects, the drops were found as effective as the synthetic preparation in supporting lung health.

More recently, a randomized, double-blind, crossover study involving 25 children, 10 to 15 years of age, was reported. The lung health effects over a period of 10 days was shown to be clinically relevant and statistically significant after the administration of an ivy leaf pediatric syrup or ivy leaf drops.

In a multicenter, post-marketing surveillance study, an ivy leaf syrup was shown to be a very well tolerated and effective agent in the support of lung health, in children aged 6 to 15 years, according to the subjective assessment by experienced pediatricians. The results of this study were positive for ivy syrup's beneficial effects.

In a multicenter, open label, non-controlled study, ivy leaf syrup [Bronchial Soothe (ZE 233)] was given to 136 children. At the end of the study, more than 80% of the physicians involved considered the effectiveness of ivy leaf preparations to be “good” or “very good.

In a randomized controlled study, two ivy leaf syrups were compared, [one of which was Bronchial Soothe]. The preparations were given to children (N=52) for 10 days. Both ivy leaf preparations were shown to be equally effective. No adverse events or abnormal laboratory levels were observed.