Super Powered Plants Interview

Why is the Ivy Leaf on the Ingredient Of Choice This Winter?

Super Plants are powering in helping alleviate the symptoms of colds during the winter.

Statistics show that adults can get up to 4 colds per year, while children are at even greater risk and may get as many as 10 colds annually.

Unfortunately the worst is yet to come this month according to new data from Flutracking - a survey run out of the University of Newcastle and backed by various Aus and NZ gov't health bodies - shows that in Australia on average, the peak of the cold and flu season does not occur until August.

Ivy Leaf provides a powerful kind of action that has been clinically shown to relieve the chesty coughs and congestion that is due to be occurring this month.

Interview with Professor Marc Cohen

Question: What is a super plant?

Professor Marc Cohen: All plants are super in their own way. There are some plants that can support human functioning and improve our resilience to a range of conditions and plants that can help with a wide range of human conditions may be called super plants.


Question: What are examples of super plants?

Professor Marc Cohen: Many herbs and spices such as garlic, ginger and tulsi can be considered super plants as they have been traditionally used to help with pain, inflammation, infection, digestive and metabolic conditions and may help our bodies regain balance when we are ill.


Question: How can we fight the average cough naturally and reliably? There's nothing worse than being constantly disrupted by a nasty cough, which can leave you feeling tired and unrested.

The type of cough you have can determine the relief approach:
If you have a chesty cough, it's important to help your body remove mucus. A steam inhalation may help – either in the shower, or by filling a bowl of boiling water and adding eucalyptus oil.

A proven way to help relieve chesty coughs is with Ivy leaf extract. Research has found that it can help relieve coughing and ease congestion during a cold,. One study found that after taking products containing the specific Ivy extract (EA 575®), 95% of patients showed improvement in their symptoms after 7 days.

Dry coughs may be eased by traditional remedies such as salt gargles, honey, thyme, marshmallow extract and liquorice root. Studies also show benefits from zinc supplementation. A small systematic study found that people who took zinc supplements were quicker to recover from their colds, and cough symptoms were relieved.

And don't forget to keep hydrated and rest up when you can.


Question: How can ivy leaf help alleviate the symptoms of coughs?

Professor Marc Cohen: The research and clinical trials around Ivy leaf extract show three main actions: it encourages a productive cough, it helps thin and clear mucus from the airways, and it helps act as a bronchodilator to ease breathing symptoms associated with a cold. The clinical evidence also shows it's suitable for both adults and children over 2 years.

Rather than simply seeking to suppress the cough, the aim is to help the eliminative process by encouraging the clearance of mucus from the chest and helping the cough to do its job more effectively.


Question: What do different types of coughs means?

Professor Marc Cohen: The type of cough you have may determine the approach you need to follow, to help you find respite from symptoms and recover as quickly as possible. What type of cough do you have?

Chesty cough
A chesty cough occurs when excess mucus builds up in the airways and it may also be accompanied with discomfort and congestion. A chesty cough is typically identified if you're coughing up mucus. A chesty cough can be caused by a cold in typical mild cases. But if symptoms persist, or concern you, you should see your healthcare professional.

Dry cough
Usually caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract (the nose and throat), and mainly occurs when you have a cold or flu, although other irritants can also cause a dry cough. But if symptoms persist, or concern you, you should see your healthcare professional.

Dry, barking cough Usually caused by a viral infection, you may also notice a high-pitched sound when you breathe in. A visit to the doctor is usually in order to determine symptoms diagnosis and next steps for alleviation.

Rapid coughing
This type of cough tends to get worse at night, and you may cough 5 to 15 times in succession. A visit to the doctor is usually in order to determine symptoms diagnosis and next steps for alleviation.

For more information, visit https://www.flordis.com.au


Interview by Brooke Hunter
Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash