Seibel J, et al. (2018). In vivo and in vitroinvestigation of anti-inflammatory and mucus-regulatory activities of a fixed combination of thyme and primula extracts. Values are reported as stated in the respective publications. If information is missing (e.g., composition of herbal preparation), the study in question does not provide details Alamgeer, et al. (2014). Pharmacological evaluation of antihypertensive effect of aerial parts of Thymus linearis benth.

Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mansfeld, H.-J., Höhre, H., Repges, R., & Dethlefsen, U. (1998). Therapy of Bronchial Asthma with Dried Ivy Leaf Extract. Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 140(3), 26–30. Ernst E, Marz R, Sieder C. A controlled multi-centre study of herbal versus synthetic secretolytic drugs for acute bronchitis. Phytomedicine 1997;4:287-93.Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme, [19] or garden thyme) [20] is a commonly used culinary herb. It also has medicinal uses. Common thyme is a Mediterranean perennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and full sun. Lassig, W., Generlich, H., Heydolph, F., & Paditz, E. (1996). Efficacy and safety of ivy-containing antitussives: Prospan® cough syrup for children for recurring obstructive respiratory diseases. TW PADIATR, 9(9), 489–491.

Measuring the efficacy of therapies for acute URTIs and bronchitis is challenging as symptoms typically recede after 5–11 days, regardless of intervention [ 27]. Correspondingly, the clinical condition of participants improved in both treatment and comparison groups. Values for the minimal clinically important difference (MID), or the smallest change perceived by patients as important, are available for two of the tools used to measure cough severity in the studies in our review: 17 mm for the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and 2 points for the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ, Online Resource 2) [ 28]. One RCT reported VAS differences of 11.1 and 17.9 mm between treatment and placebo groups at day 3 and at the end of the treatment period, respectively [ 23]. Based on the MID, the effect of ivy leaf treatment at 3 days was likely too small to be perceived as important by patients but the difference after 7 days was potentially clinically noticeable. The CCT reported an LCQ difference of 4.3 at the end of the treatment period, indicating a potentially clinically noticeable difference [ 26]. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182 Lee, Seung-Joo; Umano, Katumi; Shibamoto, Takayuki; Lee, Kwang-Geun (2005). "Identification of Volatile Components in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Thyme Leaves (Thymus vulgaris L.) and Their Antioxidant Properties". Food Chemistry. 91: 131–137. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.05.056.

Combination of ivy, thyme and liquorice root

n.a. = not applicable, NR = not reported, DE = dry extract, LE = liquid extract, E% = ethanol %, Values are reported as stated in the respective publications. If information is missing (e.g., composition of herbal preparation), the paper does not give any more details. Brand names are marked by quotation marks. *Number of participants included in analysis (I/C = number in Intervention/Control group) **C/A = Children/Adults, ***11 countries in Latin America. We comprehensively searched medical databases with no restrictions regarding time or language. An extensive hand-searching process added further studies for review, so we can be confident as to the completeness of the evidence identified. However, several limitations have to be taken into account. Firstly, the databases covered mainly focus on the American and European literature. As hedera helix products are also marketed in the Middle East and East Asia, some studies published in local journals and not listed in MEDLINE or EMBASE could have been missed. Furthermore, a large number of included studies was sponsored by the manufacturers [ 22, 25– 29, 31] or funding was not reported. Studies sponsored by the manufacturer are prone to publication bias [ 37]. One study was published in a section of a phytotherapy journal in which articles originating from pharmaceutical companies could be published without any editing or review [ 29].