[Growster...]

Some time ago, I read that in Victorian times, many houses were covered in ivy, and there was a particular reason for this, as well as making one's home look quite different (like hiding ugly or unfashionable brisks etc), there was another reason for letting it grow up your walls, especially reaching the bedroom height...

Apart from the obvious snigger in imagining distraught lovers clambering up - or down (somewhat tired maybe...), a crop of wall-hugging ivy, I understood that the ivy plant actually was bestowed with some healing qualities, and was actually good at 'sealing off' (for want of a better term), unpleasant vapours, and was also good at neutralising bad air for the benefit of the occupants of the bedroom.

Has anyone ever heard of this theory?

[mumofstig]

err, no 

All it seems to be good for, is providing a home for a squillion snails to over winter in 

[lancashiregardeninggal]

I just wiki'd it and apparently in some way is used to treat breast cancer - can't find anything else tho 

[Aunt Sally]

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/ivy-medicinal-uses.html

[sion01]

Ivy is also quite toxic so don't go making a salad with it